Day 17 & 18 – Valley of Fire Retreat I woke up and realized I had camped just a stone’s throw from the lake—I hadn’t noticed how close I was when setting up the tent in the dark the night before. With a long road ahead in the coming weeks, I decided to keep today’s ride short to give my body some time to recover and recharge. I followed Northshore Road east until I reached the entrance to Valley of Fire State Park. I didn’t have a reservation for that night, just for the following day, but the park attendant was incredibly kind and excited to hear about the ride. She helped me secure one of the last available spots for the night. The campground was beautiful—tucked among dramatic red sandstone formations, with ancient petroglyphs just a short walk away. After pitching the tent, I spent the rest of the afternoon giving the bike a bit of overdue love. A little maintenance, a lot of relaxing. I watched the sun dip behind the rocks while reading my book and soaking up the quiet desert evening. The next day I moved over to my reserved spot—site 21 at Atlatl Campground. It was perfect. Tucked back in the red sandstone with big rock walls on both sides and desert views in every direction. I spent the day exploring the park and just soaking up the landscape. Got some good reading in too. It was a quiet day, and the whole place had this peaceful desert stillness. I felt recharged and ready for more cycling and adventures. Thanks again to everyone who’s been supporting the fundraiser. Every bit of encouragement helps fuel this ride. If you’d like to help spread the word, please share the fundraiser with your friends and family. Every share helps raise awareness and makes a difference. https://gofund.me/730f7a59 I also started posting more trip updates and photos on Instagram if you want to follow along there too: @briangreeson