Salome AZ to Blythe CA
As soon as the sun came up we made our escape from the dingy red light motel. One nice thing about staying at a dumpy motel it gets you on the road quicker in the morning. We picked the bed bugs and other critters off our bodies hopped on the bikes and made a quick getaway.
The next available sleep spot was either at 65 miles or 150 miles away. Our route takes us into such remote areas the availably of motels is very limited. Knowing today we would be entering the final state of the tour we opted for the short day. That way we could get the laundry done and hopefully get to bed at a reasonable time for a change.
Arizona is a very mountainous state. Every time we cleared one set of mountains another massive mound of mountains appeared in front of us. This all started to change as we approached the state of California. For the first time since we left Connecticut we actually descended more than we climbed. We are now at elevation 250’. A far cry from the 10,800’ we were at a few days ago.
The wind gods were not as harsh on us today. The 30+ mph winds of blowing dust and heat were replaced with light winds and mild temperatures.
The Arizona landscape stayed flat and bland. Patches of saguaro and prickly-pear cactus mixed in with the low brush. Most places we passed were closed for the summer. Unlike the east coast where establishments close for the winter, here summer is the harsh season. It is not uncommon for temperatures to reach over 100 degrees for weeks at a time.
Today would be a new experience for all of us. We will actually be riding on an interstate highway for the first time…ever. This is legally allowed in Arizona on the approach to the
California border. We merged onto I-10 about 32 miles from the border. A sign on the entrance ramp said for bicycles to say on the shoulder and off the roadway. Duhhhh. With the highway speed limit at 75mph and semi’s buzzing by we had already figured that much out.
Believe it or not the 32-mile highway ride was not all that bad. The shoulder was plenty wide and traffic light. The smooth surface and gentle grades made for some fast riding for a change.
The final major river crossing was just ahead. We have crossed the Connecticut, Hudson, Mississippi, Missouri and even the Rio Grande rivers. Now it will be the Colorado. The Colorado River is clean and dark turquoise almost like the Caribbean Ocean is. It is a truly beautiful site to see.
At the center of the bridge we saw the sign. “California State Line” ….. Wow, that sure is a long way from Niantic, Connecticut.
Once over the bridge we had to touch the Colorado. A boat launch just below the bridge served this purpose well. The air temperature was over 90 degrees and the cool river water felt nice even if it was only for a minute or too.
Blythe, CA would be our sleep spot for tonight. Unlike western Arizona this city had plenty of motels to choose from. We do not need the Ritz-Carlton or Hilton but please not another dump tonight.
We stopped at the first few nice hotels and shopped price. When we checked at the Regency Inn and Suites the manager at the desk recognized us! Hey, I saw you guys a couple hours ago on the highway outside Quartzite AZ.
Come to find out she was the regional manager for this chain and was traveling in from Phoenix at the time. She asked of our journey and was impressed with our feat. We then found out she had just completed her first full marathon and had the medal to prove it. Having suffered for 26 miles in the heat running she knew what it took to ride cross-country. For this we were given a nice room for a mere $49! THANKS!
Today may have been one of our easiest cycling days of the tour and was welcomed.
As soon as the sun came up we made our escape from the dingy red light motel. One nice thing about staying at a dumpy motel it gets you on the road quicker in the morning. We picked the bed bugs and other critters off our bodies hopped on the bikes and made a quick getaway.
The next available sleep spot was either at 65 miles or 150 miles away. Our route takes us into such remote areas the availably of motels is very limited. Knowing today we would be entering the final state of the tour we opted for the short day. That way we could get the laundry done and hopefully get to bed at a reasonable time for a change.
Arizona is a very mountainous state. Every time we cleared one set of mountains another massive mound of mountains appeared in front of us. This all started to change as we approached the state of California. For the first time since we left Connecticut we actually descended more than we climbed. We are now at elevation 250’. A far cry from the 10,800’ we were at a few days ago.
The wind gods were not as harsh on us today. The 30+ mph winds of blowing dust and heat were replaced with light winds and mild temperatures.
The Arizona landscape stayed flat and bland. Patches of saguaro and prickly-pear cactus mixed in with the low brush. Most places we passed were closed for the summer. Unlike the east coast where establishments close for the winter, here summer is the harsh season. It is not uncommon for temperatures to reach over 100 degrees for weeks at a time.
Today would be a new experience for all of us. We will actually be riding on an interstate highway for the first time…ever. This is legally allowed in Arizona on the approach to the
California border. We merged onto I-10 about 32 miles from the border. A sign on the entrance ramp said for bicycles to say on the shoulder and off the roadway. Duhhhh. With the highway speed limit at 75mph and semi’s buzzing by we had already figured that much out.Believe it or not the 32-mile highway ride was not all that bad. The shoulder was plenty wide and traffic light. The smooth surface and gentle grades made for some fast riding for a change.
The final major river crossing was just ahead. We have crossed the Connecticut, Hudson, Mississippi, Missouri and even the Rio Grande rivers. Now it will be the Colorado. The Colorado River is clean and dark turquoise almost like the Caribbean Ocean is. It is a truly beautiful site to see.
At the center of the bridge we saw the sign. “California State Line” ….. Wow, that sure is a long way from Niantic, Connecticut.
Once over the bridge we had to touch the Colorado. A boat launch just below the bridge served this purpose well. The air temperature was over 90 degrees and the cool river water felt nice even if it was only for a minute or too.
Blythe, CA would be our sleep spot for tonight. Unlike western Arizona this city had plenty of motels to choose from. We do not need the Ritz-Carlton or Hilton but please not another dump tonight.
We stopped at the first few nice hotels and shopped price. When we checked at the Regency Inn and Suites the manager at the desk recognized us! Hey, I saw you guys a couple hours ago on the highway outside Quartzite AZ.
Come to find out she was the regional manager for this chain and was traveling in from Phoenix at the time. She asked of our journey and was impressed with our feat. We then found out she had just completed her first full marathon and had the medal to prove it. Having suffered for 26 miles in the heat running she knew what it took to ride cross-country. For this we were given a nice room for a mere $49! THANKS!
Today may have been one of our easiest cycling days of the tour and was welcomed.
1 comment:
congradulations!!!California, thats awesome
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