This day we would meet up with our traveling friend, DAN! He is crossing the country going the opposite direction headed to Las Vegas for the Pizza expo!! We met up in Apache Junction, AZ and went on a real desert hike! Although we were in the desert the day prior it was again completely different. The wildflowers were all blooming spiratically throughout all types of cacti, and i could hear happy birds all around us! We were in TONTO NATIONAL FORREST and it was awesome! The trail was lined with Saguaro Cacti; and some with little holes for the birdies to live in! Naturally i was ecstatic and I have some new birds to look up! Also travelled to SALT RIVER for a dip before we realized there were baby leeches all over our feet! Gross but very interesting. People were fishing for huge karp in the river, it was a very calm and natural place. Finished our adventure with a trip to IN-N-OUT BURGER. Both of my companions had never tried it before. The end result was happy! everyone working there was happy, the food was happy, and so were we! Traveled in the evening a few hours to FLAGSTAFF, AZ where we yet again battled to find a hotel room the first weekend of spring near the grand canyon, what was i thinking?