DAY 9, 10 & 11 BYTHE, CA TO NEAR QUARTSITE, AZ THEN ON TO SCOTTSDALE BY CAR

On day 9, we crossed the Colorado River into Arizona.

The ride was cut short day's because of Tom's worsening back pain.  A call was placed to Tom's old friend, Ron Cornelison, who took pity on us to drive the 5 hr round trip to pick us up and drive us, our bikes, and all our bags (or so we thought).

Upon returning to Ron's house in Scottsdale, we realized two bags were inadvertently left at the truck stop where we had been picked up. After a couple phones to be sure the bags were secure, we rented a car to retrieve the bags the following day.
The trip back for the bags gave us opportunity to discuss our options in light of Tom's worsening back problem.  After all  the time and energy plus the commitment to La Reserva to raise funds, this was one of the most agonizing decisions that we ever had to make.  We looked at several options including using the rental car as a support vechile and take turns riding.  After much difficulty, and considering the limited options, we sadly decided to terminate the ride.  We have packed our bikes in our rental car and wll begin our trip home, tomorrow, April 4.

By not completing the ride, we are very disappointed. Tom especially regretes not being able to complete the ride because of the commitment that was the premise for raising over $2400 for La Reserva Forest Foundation. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE KIND ENOUGH TO DONATE MONEY FOR THIS FUNDRAISER, I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE.  IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE THEIR MONEY BACK, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT Gringillotom@GMAIL.COM.

This will be our last post.

DAY 8, MAR 31 REST DAY IN BLYTHE, CA

Easter day we worked on our bikes, restocked our provisions and rested.  We walked to Denny's for our Easter Dinner.

We got to know the new owners, Ryan and Aditi of the motel that we stayed in.  This older lady of a motel had some considerable years on her, but they were working hard to return her to her previous glory.  They indicated that business was booming because many workers were installing a number of wind generators  and solar installations in the desert.

DAY 7 PALO VERDE TO BLYTHE, CA- 42 MILES, TOTAL MILES 262

We eagerly waited for to one place to open that serves breakfast.   The nice lady, Vi, who we met the night before asked us what we wanted for breakfast and reappeared from the kitchen a couple of times to  tell us we were out of this and out of that.  We changed our orders-we didn't care.  Afterall this was breakfast and someone else was cooking. Then Vi approarched our table yet again to announce very sheepishly that she was out of propane gas to cook our breakfast-but not to worry because would bring her electric fry pan from home to cook our breakfast.  While we were waiting, a large party of 6 local seniors also sat down.  One of the ladies, a very spry 87 year old walked outside to give our bikes and bags a good look over.  She said it reminded her of her youth when she rode 3 days by horseback to Yuma.

It was a relatively short and uneventful ride to Bythe which was good because Tom's back pain that he had been struggling with had gone from bad to worse.

The picture is one of many dirt devils that can be seen in the afternoon as the heat builds. We were told that in the Summer, dozens of much larger ones can often be seen.  They look just like tornados.

DAY6 MAR 29 BRAWLEY TO PALO VERDE, 67 MILES, TOTAL MILES 220

A  long day in the saddle (12 hours), 91 degrees, no shade and one business to stop at!  Tom shot these dune buggies while they refreshed from riding the Imperial Sand Dunes on the south, and on the other side of the road is the North Algodones Wilderness Dunes which are off limits so as to preserve the natural habitats.  Jeff is pictured riding along the Chocolate Mountains.  Desert views are impressive with their starkness contrasted by the mountains that virtually surround
us. 

Short news insight into the economics out here...(afterall, Pam secured for me a subscription to "The Economist)!  Earlier we stopped and spoke with some local folks in Jacumba (the Rat Pack area), and they were lamenting the poor economy since the insertion of the border fence.  Evidently there was quite a lot of shoppers that came from Mexico.  However, now the ONLY business that was operating was the bar/restaurant (yes, we found, it).  The other side of the street was completely boarded up.  Then, while in Palo Verde we learned their population had decreased from 212 in 2010 to 172 as was posted when we rode in.  Later, while refreshing ourselves at, again, the only watering hole we learned 8 folks died and nobody had been born resulting in population of only 164.  The result of the population decline has resulted in the only gas station owner putting the business up for sale as he can no longer maintain payments and has been unable to secure any more loans!  Lastly, at breakfast, remember the only place in town, they ran out of propane!  This required the owner to go home and bring her electric fry pan since they DID have electricity.  Summary---things are tough out here and not looking up, hopefully we will come across some better news later.

DAY 5 MAR 28 OCOTILLA TO BRAWLEY, CA 17 MILES; TOTAL MILES 144 MILES

Flat tires woes continue and consumed much of the day. Tom repaired his flat again but to no avail.  By wiping a klenex inside the tire-first one way, then the other, Jeff found a near microscopic wire in puncturing Tom's tire that was causing the greif.  After exhusting Tom's supply of extra tubes and several unsuccessful patching attempts, concern was heightened by the realization of being stuck in the desert 25 miles from the nearest bike shop with an unreparable flat tire.  In walking though town, Jeff found a new found friend from the bar the night before who linked us to Jimbo who drove us and our bikes and gear to the bike shop in El Central in his pickup. Thank you, Jimbo. 
After a couple of hours and the fine work of Pepe and Paul of the Finish Line Bike Shop, we were back on the road-good as new.  Jeff had his stem replaced and we both had tire liners install after the strong recommendation of Pepe.
Today, we crossed from desert to the Imperial Valley on the way to the bike shop.  From the bike shop in El Central,  we continued on to Brawley, by bike though some of the most productive farmland in America.  In one day we went from 4200 ft above sea level and wearing winter gloves to 200 feet BELOW sea level and near 90 degree. temperatures.

The journey continues....

DAY 4 MAR 27 PINE VALLEY TO OCOTILLO, CA 46 MILES; TOTAL 126 MI

Today we flew off the Sierra Madre range and landed in the Yuha Desert.  Before leaving the mountains, we climbed again up over 4, 200 ft but was rewarded at day end with screaming 14.5 mile downhill-largely on interstate highway.

The bad news is that Tom had a flat tire halfway down the steep downgrade.  The good news is that he discovered the flat while stopped at a rest stop and not as a blowout at 30 mph.  The tire was changed quickly because darkness was approaching.  We lated noticed the tire repair did not hold and we limped into town using a CO-2 cartridge. The saga of the flat tire continues tomorrow.

Jeff here to share with y'all that we thought we saw Jay Silverheels and Clayton Moore in them thar hills but we could not catch them for their autographs!  Again the canyons are beautiful and just take your brearh away!

Our route took us within a couple hundred yards of the Mexican border.  Tom is pictured with the border fence in the background.  During a  2 or 3 hour period of riding, we were passed by  nearly10 border patrol cars for every civillian car.  One border patrol agent from Cincinatti stopped and chewed the fat with us for more than 15 minutes.  It was here where he enlightened us about the Rat Pack frequenting the Jacumba area for their hot springs.

We pitched our tents next to the community center in Ocotillo-a small desert town largely made up of folks from San Diego who use the town to get away from the city as similar to many northern Michigan towns.
We spent an enjoyable evening meeting the town people at the town's watering hole...and our buying a round went over quite well! In fact, that purchsse was to prove beneficial the very next day.

DAY 3 VIEJAS TO PINE VALLEY 11 MILES, TOTAL 79 MILES

The evening before, we called it a night before the sun set at the I-80 scenic overlook.  For dinner last night, we split a pouch of tuna on tortillas, we shared an organge and a half bag of crasins.  Yesterday for lunch was half an orange, fig bars and Clif Bars  This will be a pretty typical diet for stealth camping days.

Today was another climbing day 3000 ft to 4200 before descending into Pine Valley where we are spending the night.  Pine Valley is a pleasant little town-although I couldn't find one of Sharon's soap star characters even though they all lived in Pine Valley.:-)

We met some great folks today.  First there was Linsey (waitress extradonnaire) pictured wth Tom at  Descanso Junction. There was Rick, who owned the convience store next door  (previously from Oak Park, MI) who shared with us his philosophy on life.  Then there were Jerry and Peggy, who are fellow cyclists doing the same route.  They are experienced adventure cyclists who have competed the TransAmerica route in the past.

7 come 11
Yesterday we rode only 7 miles, today we rode 11.  It is our sincere hope that these 2 extremely short mileage days will not be typical for this trip as we were planning on averaging 50 to 60 miles per day.  Each day, we are stronger and we will shortly be over the Sierra Madre range one of the  biggest climbs of the route.

Jeff here to share with you the fact that any scenie pictures we may produce simply do not hold a candle to the breathtaking countryside!
The canyons are indescribeable!