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.
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