I stopped for a Frappuccino and pedaled out of the city with it. A car swerving between traffic nearly causing multiple accidents honked at me as if I was in his way. I pedaled on through California farm roads for a few hours before hitting a town with only a gas station. This would be my last place for food and water for 43 miles according to the maps. I had a quick snack/drink and got on my way. I hit desert almost immediately and rolled through sand dunes for hours on end. There was no shoulder for most of the day so I had to watch my back every time I heard a vehicle coming. Samuel called about noon and said he had rode through the night for a 190 mile day and was calling it in El Centro. He asked if I could make it there and wanted to split the cost of a room. I agreed and told him I would probably arrive around 9pm. Halfway to Glamis I hit a border patrol station and stopped for a break. When I finally got to Glamis I found the only grocery/restaurant in town closed at 3pm. The next town was 27 miles which would make 70 miles total with no food or water stops. Luckily I had packed about 4.5 liters before I left the hotel. I pedaled on through total sand dunes with little to no foliage for miles on end. I finally arrived near El Centro about 8pm and zigzagged through the city in search of the hotel. Coasting along a sidewalk I heard a dog and it jumped through a picket fence at me. Trying to get away my BMX instincts kicked in and I bunny hopped off a curb with my loaded bike. It put some bad kinks in my rear wheel, but it was still in good enough shape to get to the hotel room. I arrived around 9pm to find Samuel still sleeping.

Apr 15 2010 in Blog Jon Tallent No Comments »