Monday, June 10, 2002

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The Ride to El Centro, California

Despite the best of intentions in getting on the road at O:Dark:30, our mutinous support crew required first-light bread and water. 
 

Joe's Herculean efforts to bring both GPS systems on-line were unsuccessful and by the time that we completed a little 28 mile and 30 minute side trip (we got lost), the coolness of the morning was dissipated by the blazing mid morning sun. We didn't really get lost but rather made a deviant excursion and we learned that CalTurf is the home of Superbowl sod.

As you can see with this picture, Jerry's demise was grossly exaggerated.  He is up and back on his foot and as ornery as ever.  

We crested the mountains at the Teofulio Pass at an elevation of 3,674 feet and coasted 11 miles while descending 1,410 feet through a breathtaking vista of mountain scenery, deer, and coyotes.

While in our descent, Animal tapped John on the shoulder and said...

"Hey John! Do you realize that the telephone poles get shorter as you get further out onto the horizon."

Our descent ended up on the floor of the desert under a blazing sun.  We passed old bleached bones laying upon a lunar landscape devoid of movement and vegetation save the occasional cactus and scrub brush.  As the temperature soared past 99 degrees our support crew, in their air conditioned vehicles demanded lunch.  Imagine!  We were only too happy to oblige.  Needless to say, our arrival in El Centro, California, though inauspicious, was non-the-less welcome.

People that we have met:

Cyndi (with an i) in a Texaco station who flagged John down to find out what we were doing.  She was awarded a free ATTITUDE poster for her curiosity. 
An elderly cyclist out for a morning jaunt who doubled back to talk to and encourage us.
A Spanish speaking woman with her three children who were enthralled with Joe's electronic Pathfinder foot.

Please be patient while we load a video of John. .............

Tomorrow will be a down day as we will be portaging our bikes to Gila Bend, Arizona.  Every attempt to find a suitable bicycle route through Yuma, Az has met with failure.  After seven miles of travel, all roads to Gila Bend turn into either dirt or gravel.  Gila Bend will be the departure point for our ride north to Phoenix on Wednesday.

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