HikeArizona.COM

I met Victoria on Dec 2, when she stayed at the motel where I work front desk. She's solo cycling from Boston to California. I put her in touch with cycling friends of mine in Yuma, where she stayed a couple nights. She's now somewhere in the desert in California.

A lot of people do this sort of thing, and they set up a website, and they blog and post photos. But some of those people are not good writers or photographers. Victoria is a talented photographer with a good eye for detail (I mean, who knew there was so much to see in Gila Bend?) and a witty, observant and articulate writer. Here's her website:

www.victoriasride.com

Thanks for posting that, very interesting.

Cool! I met a guy in the Gila Wilderness last year who was doing that. He was a hammock slinger and used couchsurfing.com in the towns.

azbackpackr wrote:I mean, who knew there was so much to see in Gila Bend

I did the MS charity ride from Phoenix to Gila bend and back...two years in a row 2001,2002. I did it on my mnt bike and we tented in some fields and rode back to Phoenix the next day. It was pretty awesome...and our team raised a lot of money. I named our team the Fat Tires the first year...second year no one would ride with me . Gila Bend wasn't real exciting.

Thanks for posting!!! It is inspiring and freeing to know that folks do that sort of thing.

She also has used couchsurfing.com She had planned to couch surf in Yuma before I got her hooked up with my friends there.

I only wish I had found out about her ride sooner, so I could have followed her across the country. She's almost done, now! I have started reading the blogs from the beginning, though, and looking at the photos. It takes a lot of time, though.

I keep checking to see if she'll post another blog entry and photos, but she has only posted a Twitter since leaving Yuma.

Victoria has posted a few more blogs now, but the blogging is way behind where she actually is. She is to arrive at Santa Monica Pier tomorrow (Sunday Dec 20) and hopes others can join her there. I'm going out to Calif tomorrow, but not quite in that direction.

I'm totally awestruck by the quality of the writing in this blog! Just like our local thru hiker (Tommy), the writing is incredible. It would take me days to compose and edit and fuss over it if tried to write that.

Great stories too!

She's posted several today, trying to catch up. I agree, she's got a talent for writing. She also has a knack for taking quirky and interesting photos.