After figuring out how to get out of the high school (the vans had been locked in over night), we started out on yet another gorgeous ride. We had an awesome pace line of 10 people throughout the whole day.
It’s amazing how much faster, and easier, one can ride when drafting off of the person in front of them. Although the ride was nearly 75 miles, the road was flat and fast, for the most part. The road conditions were much better today than they have been for the fast couple of days, so it was great to relax and have an “easy” day.Along our route, we saw massive cattle fields. (There really is no better way to describe this – just acres and acres of cows. It was a little disturbing, actually). We got a passing train to pull its horn for us. We only got flipped off by one passing car. Happy Easter… At one of the later rest stops, Chris was filling up his water bottle with drink mix, which was very, very pink. He proceeded to say that he felt as if he was “drinking Barbie.” Only Chris would say something like this. We finished up the day with an 11-mile stretch back on I-8. I’m beginning to feel very comfortable riding on the side of a highway. I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. I promise to stay off the highway whenever possible…
Upon arriving in Dateland, AZ, we all stopped at the Dateland Travel Center for one of the “world famous” date milkshakes. When in Dateland… Jenn and I decided to be adventurous and split a date and cactus milkshake.
I took one sip and gagged. It was not so great. We splurged and bought twisted soft serve ice cream. 
This was much more delicious.We are camping out tonight in the Dateland Gym. We are staying in what seems to be the “Dateland compound.” The area has the dental office, fire station, sheriff’s office, church, elementary school, high school, and middle school (and possibly more). We had a delicious Mexican dinner cooked by our wonderful support team. Team Strawberry also planned us a surprise Easter egg hunt. It was awesome.
(Also, please check out Maggie's interesting burn/tan lines in the above photo...) A few more adventures from today:
1. Our lunch stop was planned at a little grocery store along the way. It was a great set-up, with tables and shade (two things which we do not always get during our breaks). There were lots of golf carts at this store. I think the golf carts came from the near-by residential community, but I’m not really sure. One man was driving his golf cart while walking his dog. Interesting sight. Only in Arizona...
2. While showering in the outside hose (it actually had heated water!), I experienced my first earthquake. Actually, my first earthquake occurred, but I didn’t even notice. Apparently everyone else felt it and had complete panic, but those of us showering in the hose didn’t feel a thing. Sad that I missed my first earthquake. But I guess I know that a hose shower can protect me from future earthquakes…
3. Pete was wandering around the complex and decided that he really wanted to check out the school buses. One of the buses had the keys in the ignition, and Pete decided he wanted to drive it (bad idea…). He put the keys in the ignition, started the bus, but couldn’t turn it off.
At one point, the keys were out of the ignition, but the bus was still running. (Safe, huh?!?). Sam, our fix-it-all portion rider, was able to come to the rescue, yet again.End of the fourth day. And it was adventurous.
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