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1/15/2009
Daren’s Blog:
 86 Miles to Date: Since Bryan and I have been flip flopping we both get different mileage for the day and in the past 4 days that we have been walking I rocked out 86 miles! I told myself that when I take off this time that I need to slow it down… but that didn’t work! My body hates me right now!!!!!!!!
Bryan’s Blog
Okay,
Phoenix is getting a little better. As we wait for Daren’s friend to fly in and walk with us from Globe to
Las Cruces , we have been doing some free activities to pass the time. Today, we rock climbed at a place in
Phoenix called
Camelback
Mountain . This wasn’t dinky hiking up hills and jumping over a few rocks. We actually had to use ropes, harnesses, carabineers…the whole shebang. It was so fun! This was the first time I climbed on real rocks and not fake ones inside. Then we ate a cheap dinner at a delicious place called Sylvia’s Mexican Restaurant. They have a signature style of tortilla chips with a delicious salsa bar. They take flour tortillas and fry them resulting in thick fried tortilla chips that are so addicting! So it was a good day to have after the long trek across the treacherous wasteland of Western Arizona.
1/16/2009
Daren’s Blog:
 Avalon: Yesterday I called my friend here in AZ… .. His name is Zac Parsons…we haven’t seen each other for years but Facebook has kept us in touch. None the less Zac asked us to come over last night to hang out and we said sure. About two hours before we are about to head over to Zac’s house he texted me and told me that we were invited to a restaurant opening up in Safford. I had no clue what to expect….We were all thinking some type of Mediterranean restaurant because we thought the restaurant was called Oasis or something like that. Zac then explained to us that one of his sales associates called him up and said that there was an open table for four and did he know anyone! We headed up to Safford and entered one of the nicest restaurants that I have ever been in. The rules were that we were able to order 2 drinks, appetizer, 1 entrée, and dessert and it as all comped! I ordered Maine Lobster! I have never had Maine Lobster before in my life and it was soooo good I closed my eyes on every bite. The the bill came….I took a glance at what it would have cost and the grand total was $230! Wow.. Bryan and I can live off of that for a week! It was way too much fun sharing stories of the past and catching up with Randy and Zac and making a new friend (Melissa) Thanks for making that happen!
Bryan’s Blog:
Today was another blessing from Starbucks! One of the employees treated us so well today as we sat and journaled and worked on the website. She gave us a free muffin and four free drink coupons to add to the ones that we got in
Blythe, CA ! She sat and talked to us and asked questions about the expedition. I love Starbucks now! And Vivanno smoothies!!! I used to not be into the whole atmosphere of the company but I realize now how well they take care of their customers and how they all want to help with bigger things and not just provide coffee. I was very pleased and I now get excited when I am walking into a town and see a Starbucks sign!
Tonight was an incredible night! I met two more of Daren’s friends from college named Zac Parsons and Randy Reifel. Zac scored us a sweet set up of a dinner for four at a nice new restaurant in the rich part of
Phoenix . They greatest part was that it was all free!!! We didn’t have to pay a dime because it was opening night and I guess that’s how they role here in
Phoenix . But I was thinking this was going to be a hole-in-the-wall little Mexican restaurant. Well, when we pulled up and saw the valet parking and the huge fountain with nice tiling everywhere, I knew this was special. We got in and it was a nice contemporary look with a young crowd. Then I got the menu and mouth just dropped. Lobster, filet mignon, scallops, sea bass, rib-eye, vegetarian lasagna…I was flabbergasted. We were given two drinks each, an appetizer split for two, an entrée each, and a dessert split for two…all for free!!! It was delicious! I got the vegetarian lasagna and I loved every bite of it. The bill for the whole meal of just four was $230! I have never eaten food that expensive. So all we had to pay for was the tip which cost as much as a regular meal for four. Hahaha. It was amazing. Good fun. I really enjoyed hanging out with Zac and Randy. They are good guys and I hope to see them again someday.
Album of the Day – “Passing Stranger” by Scott Matthews
1/17/2009
 Daren’s Blog:
Starbucks: (Yesterday's Thoughts) Holy Cow! I love starbucks! Well.. I don’t actually love them for their overpriced coffee but I do love them because they have been sooooo nice to us! When were in Blythe all kinds of things happened (Read Previous Blog) and then we come to South Phoenix and go to the Starbucks here and end up talking with them and the Manager then hands Bryan at the register 4 more coupons for 2 more free coffee drinks! That now makes 11 free drinks of our choice on the house! I love Starbucks! Heck.. I think we found another sponsor…and they don’t even know it!
Bryan’s Blog
Today was the first day I have seen clouds ever since I have been in
Arizona . Wow. Today was a chilled day. We need to relax and not keep moving around so we can prepare our bodies for the next eight days of non-stop walking 40 miles a day. So we journaled, ate, watched movies…the usual. I am almost completely healed from the horrible sunburn I obtained my first day of walking. I well wear sunblock every day for the rest of this trip. Someone needs to text me every morning to remind me to put sunblock on. Anyway, gotta go. See ya.
Album of the Day – “I Am the Fun Blame Monster” by Menomena
1/18/09
Daren’s Blog
Cardinals Game: Today was a good day…The Cards are going to the Super bowl!! I am not even a fan of the Cardinals but it sure was fun being in a bar/restaurant filled with cardinal fans today. People were going absolutely nuts! Screaming, yelling, downing shots of tequila! I guess the last time the Cardinals won anything was back in 1941… I am not too sure about it and I really don’t care too much for today is the last time I will be in AZ for a while.
Small Group/Blazer: A few months back I went to Pittsburg to meet a good friend (Aaron Molesky) I used to work with him at a church back in Indianapolis in 2003. None-the-less he is now the director of Missions for CIY (Christ in Youth) and I drove over to Pittsburg to hang out with him for a few days while he was at a conference. One night after the conference there was a big group of people from CIY who went out for Pizza and it is there I met a guy named Jeff Burris. He is the founder and President of a company called Group Imaging. Group imaging is basically a company that can print on just about anything. Check it out www.groupimaging.com Well Jeff told me to look him up when we are in Phoenix area so we did and last night he asked us to come and speak at small group that he has been a part of for 15 years! So Bryan and I went over , cooked hot dogs over the fire, and then did a very laid back presentation of what The Earth Expedition Is and why we are doing it. I loved the more laid back presentations ….it was in a living room with about 12-15 people and it gave the opportunity to share more personal stories and gave it a much more “Friendly Feel” . When we opened the floor to Q and A Jeff asked us what “What are some ways that we can help you? We shared with them that we are on a tight budget. We have available $1 per mile until we get to GA… That includes the gas, food, and car insurance. We also shared that our brakes are at 20% and at 15 percent we need to get them changed but we will deal with that if and when it poses a problem. Well….. By the end of the night a couple by the name of Donna and Loyal Wiens told us to call them in the morning for they wanted to set up a time to fix our brakes. AWESOME! After that Jeff told us that he wanted us to come over to his shop and show us around.....
 About 15 minutes later we arrive at Group Imaging… Jeff takes us through and is showing us all of what his machines are capable of. He is sharing with us ideas of how we can use this and that to Promote the Expedition. Before we know it he is telling us that he will donate a very generous sum of product dollars to help promote the Expedition. I can’t believe it. There are a lot of people who tell us that they want to help but never follow through but Jeff doesn’t strike me as someone who doesn’t follow through. He tells us that he wants to “Wrap the Car” Which basically means that the Blazer is going to be pimped out in The Earth Expedition Logo/Website/and the Phrase “A Walk Around the World for Clean Water” How Awesome is that! He is also making us shirts and business cards! This is too cool!
Bryan’s Blog
I got to watch Rocko play in a soccer game. It was fun. They kicked butt. We also went to a grill to watch the Cardinal game. This was a weird experience for me because I have only grown up being around one type of fan. The Cowboy fan. Seeing all red was just awkward. But they were excited because now the Cardinals are going to the Superbowl and I was there to see it. So I cheered with them. It was kind of cool though. They freaked out! But I understand because Cowboy fans would have done the same thing…just better. Hahaha.
Tonight was another one of those nights that makes this expedition worth it. We were given a chance to speak at a church small group meeting about the Earth Expedition and it was a success. We had dinner first which is always a good thing (free dinners are our best friends). Then we had a prayer time and then we presented the Earth Expedition. We had a great time of talking about the international water crisis, showing pictures, sharing stories, and answering questions. We had a lot of laughs. We spoke for about an hour and a half. It was a great time. But then afterward, without even asking, a few people gave us some money, one couple (Loyal and Donna Wiens) offered to pay to get our brakes fixed on the Black Beauty, and then one couple (Jeff and Charlotte Burris) who owns a company called Group Imaging is giving us free business cards, signs, and they are wrapping our car to make it look more official and credible. I was so excited!!! He took us back to his shop after the meeting and gave us a tour. It was such a great night. The people were just so amazing and caring. I love being around people and sharing memories with each other. Like I said, it’s what makes this expedition worth it. I am so honored to be a part of this and be a voice for the people. Tomorrow is the big day. We are leaving for Globe, AZ. This was a good ending for the break we had in
Phoenix . But I am happy to say that we are leaving. I am tired of
Arizona . Hahaha. Peace out.
Album of the Day – “Soundsystem” by 311
1/19/09
Daren's Blog
Group Imaging: Bryan and I are now at Group Imaging…This morning we met up with Donna and Loyal and dropped off the car at the shop and they took us out to breakfast. The conversation was a good conversation about the church and how it operates mixed in with Motorcycle stories and trail stories. They then dropped us off at Group Imaging where Jeff and his Graphic designers are making us business cards as well as designing t-shirts and a graphic for the back and sides of our car! Awesome!
 Presentation: He also just paid for his whole staff to stay for lunch to hear us do a mini presentation on the Earth Expedition. Such a great day.
Alex: Ok.. I need to post this now before we go and pick up Alex from the Airport. My friend Alex Christiansen is coming out for about 8 days of walking with us and we have a lot to do before that time! “Life to the Fullest” Daren
Contact us at Daren@theearthexpedition.com and Schlackman@gmail.com
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