Arriving in Maricopa, I quickly found the train station, bought a bike box, and packed up my gear. The bike box was so big I needed only to remove my pedals and handlebars (hanging by the brake and shifter cables), leaving the wheels on so I could actually roll the bike into the box and tape the flaps shut behind. The attendant took the box unceremoniously, and I wasn't sure whether to yell "goodbye!!!" to its retreating form, or plead with the attendant and make him promise to be careful. Hanging on to appearances and composure I did neither, instead turning to pursue the next item on the agenda -- could this finally be the town where I would find cricket tacos?
Walking up the main strip confirmed what riding down it an hour before had decided - No, no it would not. The town seemed to have been built yesterday, constructed entirely of pre-fabricated Standard American Boxes. Was this section of Earth really just a blank slate for Jack in the Box Carl's Jr McDonald's Basha's Subway Fry's Carwash Carlot Parking Lot? Apparently so, although the jagged and dark peaks on the near horizon hinted at something else.
After finding a reasonable burrito at a cheap price and devouring it on a sunny sidewalk, I stopped at the grocery store to search out snacks for the nearly 48 hour train ride. That is where I met "extreme butter hull-less popcorn". This product contained neither butter nor popcorn, but it cost only one dollar. Morbid fascination urged it into my hand, and the 14 grams of fat per serving from unspecified vegetable oils almost had their way with me, but in the end I begged the checkout guy to take it away. The mystery of oily cornmeal posing as buttery popcorn couldn't have been anything but a monstrosity.
Walking back to the train station a nagging desire chewed at the edges of my mind - what did it want? Coffee, chocolate? a house made from adobe and Saguaro? Biosphere 2 (a visit that will have to wait for cycle tour Arizona, round two)? No matter - thoughts of sinking deep into a window seat on a northbound train, and the phantom cyclists that had been following me since the Gorge finally being real again, trumped all. Homeward bound!
Well done!
ReplyDeleteI like the little fossil creature. Mom says it's real, I say naaahhhh.
ReplyDeletethe natural history museum claimed it was real, but i dont believe it either. too cute, too goofy
DeleteHey Nick, is that thing real? What do you think?!
ReplyDeleteAwesome story, beautiful pictures, especially the cacti! Time to settle in and enjoy the ride back. Did you find more of those Peruvian apple cactus fruit?
ReplyDeleteYes, delicious luck! Grandma is going to try growing the seeds.
DeleteIt looks sort of like it's downhill skiing.
ReplyDeleteLaura,are you still reading the book?
ReplyDeleteYes, just very slowly. It's dense, and hard for me to wrap my head around the ethics. Have you read any of it? I liked your comment on "edges" -- seems to me a lot of our trip was made up of lessons in edges.
DeleteI too was wondering about that, will you two continue to post summaries of each chapter? (I know Kevin is very busy this term.)
DeleteI do find it a very interesting and important topic.
I'd like to do a few more chapters, especially if people are interested!! Look for the next chapter summary soon, when im back at a desktop with a real keyboard.
DeleteLOL!!! Extreme butter hull-less popcorn, yeah, it was no doubt a very good decision to beg the checker to take them away!
ReplyDeleteYay, cacti pictures! Very nice! I have really enjoyed seeing all the pictures and reading about your adventure. I agree, well done! You and Kevin had quite the trip and what a great experience!
Oh, I fotgot to ask about the pie - is that cactus on top, or?? Looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteOh and,have a splendid train ride home!
Be safe ;)
Candied orange peel (local!) On custard pie with date - sunflower seed crust. An original creation!
DeleteAha! Kevin told me about that, it sounded delicious!!! Yum!
Delete:)