Monday, December 14, 2009. We stayed the night on the west side of the valley so we didn’t have to basically DRIVE it too as we would have been crossing it that morning to get back to our starting point. The blisters were really improving, even after going over 11 miles on Day 3. I woke feeling really excited that today we would finish. What better way to awake than with a kiss … from Cloe …

One of the cutest dogs that has ever kissed me good morning …. NO PUN intended!
I was up way before everyone else. I was given my own room and bathroom because of the perceived way I am about not sharing a room like a college atmosphere … thank you Carly. And I guess I should thank Dave as well as he slept on the couch. To be honest, I was NOT sharing a bed with him … there would likely be a fight break out (inside joke).
So I am up about 5ish A.M. and decide to have a little fun. I proceed to call everyone’s cell phone! HA-HA! I am laughing out loud right now as I recall how each phone began ringing, and ringing, and ringing. They didn’t think it was that funny.
Day 4 is sure to bring a fun route and we were looking forward to it. We planned to be at Westgate by mid-morning and then shoot straight west on Glendale Avenue to Luke Air Force Base. Carly, another co-worker, was joining us.

Our starting point for Day 4. The Arizona Canal is just across and up the street. Not sure what they were doing. Dave obviously is stealing my moves.

University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the back-to-back Division Champs Arizona Cardinals appears. The weather could not have been nicer.

It was apparent that we were closer than we had thought. This was working out and we talked that we would have more time in the Westgate mall area.

As we progressed up the Canal, we took in the agricultural nature of this area. It is really nice. This shot is looking back from where we had come. Camelback or Piestewa Peak was actually this small little speck just to the right of the line of poles. For the first time we began to feel the vastness of the Phoenix basin. We had started the walk 3.5 days prior from a point that was quite a distance east of the points we could see on the eastern horizon. We also had great views of the other surrounding mountain ranges.

Here is the Sierra Estrella Range, south from where we stood.

Carly shows her exuberance and cartwheels as we approach the UOP Stadium. At this point, we are cutting through the fields here.

We spend almost 30 minutes taking various pics here since we all work at the University of Phoenix. That didn’t pull much clout with some random security guy who told us to move on immediately when we were taking a group picture on the E next to the stadium.

We make it to Westgate before 11. This encourages us to take a break and we order celebratory beverages.

We stop at the Yard House. We ordered some appetizers, olives and Bloody Marys. I think it was almost an hour and a half later we decided to get moving! I may not remember the exact time we had stayed, but I do remember quite clearly the tab was OVER $100! We shouldn’t have ordered the olives.
We’re still not sure if what happened next really happened. But as I recall, we had to summit a mountain of SNOW on our way out of Westgate. It was no problem for this Colorado guy, but freaked out these long time Valley dwellers.

Yes, we really did have to negotiate snow on the walk across the valley.
Dave and I checked our technology as to the miles left. He on his iPhone and I on the Droid. There were just 6.5 miles left.
It was to be a very direct walk up Glendale Avenue.

There is Piestewa Peak straight east and the stadium to the right.

Apparently, we were gaining a little elevation as we could now see both Piestewa and Camelback from here. (UOP Stadium to the right). It was Chrystyna that pointed out the wow feelings we were now thinking. We could hear and see the training jets from Luke in the west skies. People at work had called knowing we had to be close.

One of our last breaks.

We had found many interesting things on the walk. Dave says he still has our collection in his backpack! He will have to tell that story over at the blog we are creating about the Phoenix Valley.
I think this picture above was somewhat symbolic of the what the Valley Walk was all about. Simple times. The best kind and fun. With friends. We had a lot of discussions, laughs, a few disagreements. There is meaning in the simple things.
We reached the gate of Luke Air Force Base at about 3:30 P.M. It was cool. Four days, over 55 miles, some blisters, interesting valley sights.

Why? The answer isn’t that simple. But I think Dave and Chrystyna would agree the answer is understood in a conversation that goes like this:
I’m thinking I am going to hike across the Phoenix Valley.
Really?! You mean all the way?
Yeah. My friend Steve suggested it. I think it would be cool to do.
Yeah …. can like others go too?
: )
You can see all the posts here: 2009 Phoenix Valley Walk