Day 8, Salome, AZ to Wickenburg, AZ

Up just before 7 in 35 degrees and dark. We had a good start on breaking camp even with boiling tea and coffee water on our camp stove when there was a loud pop a couple hundred yards away. I saw a shower of sparks shoot up in the air like a Roman candle and all the lights in the area went out. I don't know what caused it but it had little or no effect on us since we were using headlamps anyway. 

We hit the road at 8:06 in thin sun and made it 16 miles before we stopped to shed clothes. Even then It wasn't going to be as warm as yesterday with the high clouds. 

The route today (Hwy 60) is what I have imagined West Texas will be, low rugged hills on either side of us and a road, straight as an arrow, as far as you can see in either direction. We generally climbed today but it was so gradual it was hard to tell. Just before Wickenburg there were some hills and curves to break the monotony. 

We stopped at this 1937 memorial to a stagecoach massacre attributed to Apaches in 1871. Jim called the 2 listed RV parks and neither answered. Riding down into town we found the first one and were lucky the owner was there. RV parks are rarely nice for tenters but this one had a bar set really low by the previous two RV parks. 

We were happy to have grass to pitch our tents. Other issues became apparent but we don't sweat the small stuff. 

After cleaning up we walked across the street for pizza, beer, and Seahawks. The Hawks came from behind against the Fortyniners to secure a Super Bowl slot, yea!

56 miles today. On to Sun City West tomorrow to stay with friends of Jim's.