The night before Anita & Lynette said they would be taking off on their own in the morning. Lynette was planning to meet up with some of the Desert Diamond girlz we had met on Day 1 of our trip and Anita was going to Laughlin.
Oh, it's getting hot and we're heading out hoping to get home to San Diego a day early. We had no plans to go to Laughlin.
I had watched the weather channel the night before (no surprise here) and it stated that most of Arizona would have thunderstorms. So far, all is good but we could see the rain clouds off in the distance. There was also a large fire. Hopefully, the rains would help knock that out.
We decided to head to Sedona. 
Went to the lookout point and took a couple of pics then rode down into town for lunch. I've been to Sedona back in 2000 but I swear, I don't recall how beautiful the ride through the canyon was. Guess, it was because I was fighting with my ex at the time. *eyebrows RAISED!!*
Photo: Left to Right: Becky, Lilia and Colleen
We parked our bikes and walk about a block to the OAXACA restaurant. We sit out on the patio, order our drinks & food. Either Becky or Colleen decided to throw ice to the sidewalk below. Some people's children. LOL!
Photo: Left to Right: Becky, Lilia, Colleen and me (Renee)
After finishing our lunch, we start walking to the shops. Another block and I'm starting to get winded. I just couldn't understand how I could give out so easily. We walked across the street to the Harley store. Walked up the steps and I finally gave out. My chest was tight and I had a hard time breathing. I finally had to break out my inhaler. I was having an asthma attack. I don't like using it because it gets me wired and my heart starts beating too fast for my comfort.
We get back on the bikes after dousing ourselves with more water, fill the camelbaks and get stuck in the July 4th traffic.
Seemed like forever to get out of Sedona to Phoenix. The heat was intense and we had to pull over a few times just to douse ourselves. Then we came into Phoenix traffic in mid-afternoon. OMG!!!...YOU PHOENIX DRIVERS ARE INSANE!! Y'all just cut in front of us never looking to see that I'm right there! and go right into the carpool lane when ya shouldn't be there (you single driving fool!) then jump right back out when you shouldn't and tailgating so close that I could hear your damned radio playing. I kid you not. I actually prefer SD traffic to Phoenix. This was the point in which I wished the guns on my bike were REAL!
We finally pull into a gas station and we go inside to get out of the heat. I bought about a 1-gallon bottle of water and poured it over my head. The other 2 large bottles I put, replenished my camelbak and one for later. Discussion was going on with Lilia, Becky & Colleen. They suggested that we get a room for a couple of hours until the heat died down then head back out on the road. I was fine with that but I was also looking at the thunder clouds that were surrounding the city.
We get to the hotel and everyone's taking a nap but me. I was bored so I went downstairs barefoot (as I only brought my boots on this trip) and went outside and carried on a conversation with the security guard. The winds were whipping up pretty fierce and you can see the lightning display surround us. The occasional fireworks were going off too. I think it was about 7pm.
I went back upstairs and sat back in the chair, in the dark, and started spinning. Could ya tell I was bored? I then decided to look out the window and we had a balcony. So, I stepped out and just watched the lightning show off in the distance. The girlz started to get up and we all went downstairs for dinner.
We all had chicken strips and salad. Salad was great but the chicken strips were a bit salty for my taste. I drank lots of iced tea because it was going to be a long night of riding and still hot. Paid the tab and get saddled on our bikes.
The winds were really getting stronger as we pulled out onto the I-10. It was about 10pm and we were prepared for the thunderstorm that awaited us. It was inevitable. Up ahead we saw spectacular shows of lightning spanning across the night sky.
The more we pushed on the stronger the winds got. What Lilia, Colleen and I experienced last year at the Cajon Pass paled in comparison to what we were riding in. Becky was leading but wasn't going very fast. I kept screaming in my helmet, "You have to go faster than the wind!" I could see Lilia ride up alongside Becky to tell her to pick up the speed.
I was concerned for Lilia because I remember last year during our Iron Butt ride, when I saw her get thrusted from right to left. She had pulled over to the side of the road and she was nerved. She seemed to be holding up pretty good this go-round.
I started getting scared myself. These winds were the strongest I've ever encountered. I was almost knocked off my bike. I did not want to ride any more.
I was riding sweep and kept a good distance between me and Colleen, who was riding 3rd. Lilia is on the right and barely misses a large toppled over road sign. I was riding the middle, so I was able to see it in time.
Becky signals to a gas station and we all fill our tanks. I jumped off my bike and went up to the girlz and said, "I'm sorry but I can't do this. I'm scared and don't want to risk my life. I'm going to check into a hotel and leave in the morning."
Becky apologized for going slow but she thought that's what we wanted. It's all good because we're all safe.
I knew I saw a hotel sign as we exited. So, I walked around the Love's gas station and yup, past the truck stop, there was a Days Inn. It was about 11pm and we all decided to call it a night and get rooms. We would be heading out early to try and beat the heat. We were in Buckeye, AZ, 16 miles west of Phoenix.
So, we were not going to get into San Diego a day earlier after all.
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