After the shock of Day 1, it’s amazing how quickly our brains have recalibrated. Hills? Manageable. Headwinds? Acceptable. Our standard response to challenges now falls somewhere between “sure, why not” and “it could be worse.”

I actually started the morning feeling better than expected. John’s knee was a little cranky, so we eased into the day with a gentle warm‑up. Thankfully, that did the trick and the knee behaved for the rest of the ride.

Highlights included:

• The simple joy of endless flat roads
• Five miles of bumps that made us question our life choices
• Crossing into a new state
• A Starbucks cold brew that tasted like hope
• Dinner with friends

It was incredibly moving to see the first part of the matching donation come through while we were riding. For some reason, that moment hit even harder out on the road. Thank you, Challenge Crew.

We really are having a wonderful time. Our only “job” is to ride bikes in the sunshine, and that’s a pretty great job. But the adventure gods like to keep things interesting.

We had our first flat tire — John’s rear — right as we approached railroad tracks. We fixed it, felt proud, rolled forward… and immediately got stopped by a train. The timing was so perfect it felt scripted.

Then, about five miles from the hotel, a spoke in my back wheel snapped. It is still snapped. Tomorrow morning we’ll be attempting a repair that requires both precision and morning‑person energy, neither of which we naturally possess. We do have spare spokes, but because this is a tubeless setup and we’re short on rim tape and sealant, we’re hoping to replace the spoke without removing the tire. A bold plan.

So yes… we are currently in need of not one but two small miracles. Any thoughts, prayers, or general good vibes are greatly appreciated.

Tim and Kim Lloyd have been spending time in the Yuma area, and they were kind enough to drive over to see us and take us out to dinner. We had such a great time. Since Tim, Kim, and I had recently caught up, John unintentionally ended up in the spotlight — the “mysterious newcomer” of the group — so most of the questions naturally drifted his way. He handled it like a champ. It was a wonderful evening of sharing stories, laughing, and learning things about the places my cousin lived growing up that I somehow never knew. Just easy, happy conversation over good food. Thanks again, Tim and Kim, it meant a lot to see you.