On the Road to Lost Dutchman – Jan 2025

We are poking around Arizona for a few weeks and have started at one of our “tried and true” campgrounds – Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction, AZ.

Leaving New Mexico, we headed down blue highways, and along the way encountered Thomasz Sobania, from Poland, who is running across the US (3,300 miles), east to west coast, running 125 marathons within 140 days. I ran one marathon years ago and I still have PTSD.

We first met up with Thomasz’s crew in a Walmart parking lot back in Deming, and we struck up a conversation, where they explained Thomasz’s mission (Thomasz was out running at that time so we didn’t meet him then). In all, there are four of them, all from Poland, in support of Thomasz’s efforts.

Somewhere between Silver City and Lordsburg, NM, in the middle of nowhere, we see Thomasz and his crew parked on the side of the road, where they had stopped for an overnight, trying to light off fireworks in broad daylight so they wouldn’t have to carry them into Arizona.

We (of course) turn around and go back to see them. I mean, who doesn’t love a good story. We finally meet Thomasz and share stories – some about our previous experiences meeting another runner (Rob Pope) who ran 5 times across the US as per Forrest Gump’s experience.

Anyway, Thomasz has an interesting story to tell. He is running to raise awareness and money in support of (if I remember correctly) childhood cancers, has written a book (when I learn Polish, I will read it), has met the Pope, has been presented with a US flag that has flown over the Capitol, and is just a really nice guy. Not bad for someone 25-26 years old. I believe I was barhopping at that age. No, I know I was.

You must give Thomasz credit as a self-starter. On the side of his trailer, his running gear, and his Facebook posts he probably has more sponsors than a NASCAR driver’s racing suit. Good for him. We gave Thomasz Rob Pope’s book (Becoming Forrest), and he gave us his book, 7 DNI 300 KM Biegu. Don’t ask. But based on the pictures, it must be about his running career and purpose.

We left New Mexico and headed into Arizona, on a path towards Globe on Route 70, with non-stop gorgeous views.

In Globe, we had a destination with “linner” – when you have a late lunch and it meets your needs for dinner, all wrapped up in one meal. A stop at El Ranchito in Globe met that purpose. Delicious Mexican food and had to be one of the cutest decorated restaurants we have been to.

Finally (you say), Lost Dutchman, just in time before the sun set.

As always, Lost Dutchman SP is a great place to camp, hike, and be close (but not too close) to the general Phoenix area. We did some hiking into the Superstition Mountains.

But we would be remiss if while at Lost Dutchman we did not make a stop to one of our all-time favorite restaurants – Guayo’s El Rey in Miami, AZ. While their Mexican plates are just superb, their (corn and flour) chips and salsa are just unbelievable. The problem we have when we go here is to not become gluttons on the chips. That good (especially the flour ones).