March 2, 2018

I got up just before 3am this morning and with the help of my brother-in-law Paul, made my way to Baltimore’s Thurgood Marshall Airport. While it would have been more convenient to fly out of Ottawa I would have needed to change planes twice to get to San Diego. Each time my bike would need to be unloaded, handled by the gentle folks at each airport and carefully placed upon the next plane. I could not foresee a good outcome for this procedure and given that I could fly for about one third of the cost out of Baltimore, my choice was clear.

At the airport my wife Chris helped me drag my bike and other gear into the terminal and with a quick check in and an even quicker but emotional goodbye, I was through the gate and into the loving arms of the TSA. After removing nearly everything but my smile, scaned and probed, I was deemed safe enough to fly. High winds from a nor’easter threatened to delay the flight but aside for a bumpy takeoff we were away clean and on time.

Things went smoothly on the ground in San Diego despite TSA opening my bike box for inspection but neglecting to replace the nylon straps I used to keep it secure. Fortunately, Alaska Airlines lived up to their reputation for handling sports equipment in a careful manner. The Airport Shuttle (airportshuttlesd.us) was there within minutes of knowing I was ready with a full sized SUV and a friendly driver. Definitely the easiest way to get bike and gear from the airport. While I waited for my room to be ready I un-boxed my bike and got everything put back together without a single hitch or damage. I am ready to roll come Monday morning.

March 4, 2018

Our group assembled today at the Point Loma Hostel. Some had already been here for a few days and had established relationships. Along with a few others I arrived in the afternoon. The group spans about two decades of ages and all have a good deal of cycling experience. A very friendly and welcoming bunch. After some get acquainted conversations and checking out each other’s bicycles we relaxed and waited for our official beginning at 4pm.

Cammie and Kelly, our tour leaders from Adventure Cycling, arrived right on time and after a brief meeting fixed a great dinner for the group. As we go through the weeks we will all take turns exercising our culinary muscles. Later we sat down for our daily map meeting to go over tomorrow’s route. The evening ended with a toast to fellowship, friendship, a safe and interesting ride and an epic journey.

Dale, Pete, Annette, Jim, Cammie, Kelly, Barb, Bill, Jorge, Marianna, Kevin, John and Alan will be my companions for the next 54 days. I look forward to the adventure we will share.

March 6, 2018

Today was all about the climb with the added attraction of a strong headwind. While long, the climbs would not have been too bad except for the strong headwinds and the wind tunnel effect made by the rock cuts. Our distance was a relatively short 45 miles but it seemed longer.

After a quick breakfast made by Bill and Barb Samose, we packed up and were off. We had to make a short trip on Interstate 8 due to the lack of another route but it was quickly back to Old Route 80 and a lot of steady climbing. The nice thing about 80 is that there are some places to stop along the way. In the community of Pine Valley a lot of us stopped for second breakfast. I opted for a nice slice of pie with ice cream.

Refreshed, it was back to the uphill grind. I would like to say the wind let up but that would be a lie. However, there were some really great downhill grades to partially make up for it.

After the last big climb it was mostly a long downhill grade into the community of Jacumba Springs and a real treat, a stay at a resort with actual rooms, restaurant, pool and laundry! Jacumba Springs is tight to the Mexico border, so close you can see the wall. I wonder who paid for it? (the wall, that is)

March 9, 2018

The big event of the day was finally leaving California and crossing the Colorado River into Arizona. We had to walk our bikes across a foot bridge and then get onto Interstate 10 for the first of two times this day. Every day I seem to find something abandoned along the roadside. Two days ago it was a fully functional flashlight and yesterday it was a nearly new hose nozzel. Today I claimed a nearly new bungee cord but the find of the day went to Cammie, one of our tour leaders who found a flower display and an unopened six pack of work gloves.

Compared to yesterday, today was an easy 62 mile ride. Once again we had to use the Interstate due to the lack of an alternate route. The nice part about this is that they really smooth out the hills on the Interstate. Along the way I took a picture of the husband and wife team that are part of our group. Bill and Barb Samose are a great couple and it has been a pleasure to bike with them so far.

Once off Interstate 10 we hit the town of Quartzsite where I spent some interesting time in a rock and mineral shop and had an interesting conversation with another heart attack survivor from San Diego who now lives in Quartzsite. We were told there was an interesting place here called the Reader’s Oasis that featured Phil, a naked piano player. A few of us check this out but since I have already seen a naked piano player I decided to visit the Dorothy and Todo Ice Cream Shop instead. They had a $4.00 malted milkshake that was fantastic! Also nearby was the Desert Garden RV Sales and Park and home to a great collection of vintage cars and other machinery. The most unique of these was a Lear Jet strapped to the top of a truck.

The time zone change caught up to us so even with an easy ride we were fairly late into the KOA for the night; however, the bonus was that we had an extra hour of daylight. Tomorrow is is on to Wickenburg, AZ home of the Wickenburg massacre. The ride will be a fairly boring one down a long straight stretch of highway with lots of desert for company. I may not post anything but we shall see.

March 13, 2018

There is nothing like 84 miles of riding with 9000 feet of hills to climb to make you realize just how tough this group has become. Add to this a complete lack of so much as a pop machine for over 50 of those miles and we are a hard core group of bicyclists.

Our day started early in Mesa with nearly everyone up and gone by 6:20 am. After snaking our way through the outskirts of the metro area, it was on to Usery Pass and our first climb of the day. It was only a small taste of things to come.

The scenery was fantastic being some of the best vistas so far. It almost made up for the body breaking climbs that we made to pay for them.

The high point of my day, literally, came at around 40 miles in. While it was the highest climb of the day; unfortunately, it was not the last. After one more serious climb and a number of lesser ones, we came out of the wilderness and onto the oasis known as Jake’s Corner. After 50 plus dry miles it was nice to be able to bolt down a cold drink or two…or three. From there it was on to Tonto Basin and a well earned night’s sleep.