Day 55: Salome to Palo Verde

April 10, 2025

Merge onto I-10 west. The pavement was buttery smooth for 10 miles.

Yikes. I guess this isn't the dog walking area.

Tamarisk RV park. Camping in the shade of the Tamarisk trees.

I went to bed at 8:30 and woke up about 4:15 and couldn't get back to sleep. I got up at 5:00 to start getting ready. I was packed up and setting up breakfast before 6:00. I made a PBJ sandwich and took some bars and fruit. The plan was for the van to stop at about mile 25 and mile 55, so I put a drop bag in the car. It was in the 60s at departure time so I wore a short-sleeve jersey, white sun sleeves, the orange buff and half-finger gloves. I could have left early as Bill said he would clean up, but then I would have missed the van. So, I took my time, helped put things away, and left at 7:30. We took I-60 out of Salome. I rode on the roadway mostly and switched to the shoulder when needed. It started with about 13 miles of downhill and they started climbing. The van met us at mile 19. I arrived just as I caught JE, BW, SR, and JW. I filled my water bottle, ate a bar and an orange, reapplied sunscreen and left. I left a few minutes after the above group.

After 3 miles or so the route went onto I-10. There steady traffic including a fair number of trucks. However, the surface was pristine, at least for the first 20 miles. It was uphill for the first few miles on I-10, but it felt good. After that, the ride was downhill for about 10 miles, then 5 miles of uphill and 10 miles of downhill to the Colorado River, the border between AZ and CA. I stopped at a rest area just before the bridge because I was low on water and wasn't sure the van would be there yet. I ate a Kind bar, filled my bottle, drank about 2/3 of a bottle, and renewed my sunscreen a 2nd time. The route got off just before the river and put us on a pedestrian path over the bridge. I took photos at the border. I felt tears of joy well up as I thought that I am crossing into the 8th and final state of the trip. There are times when I thought I wouldn't make it.

The van was positioned on shortly after the bridge, at about mile 53. The JE/JW/SR/BW group was already there. They got off at Quartzite for SR to plug his tire, and passed me back when I was at the rest stop. I filled my bottle, ate half of a PBJ an orange and an orange and left. I was behind the JE/JW/SR/BW group. They stopped at a fire station to rest, so I passed them and didn't see them. You could tell the difference when we crossed into CA. There was a lot more agriculture including big irrigation canals. I rode the rest of the ride with only a short stop to eat a granola bar and drink some water. I drank a lot of water as I rode. I got to the campground a few minutes before 1 and stopped at the convenience store right across the street. I got a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar, a gatorade, and a king size bag of Reese's pieces and ate them all. Just about then the JE/JW/SR/BW group arrived. We sat around the store until about 2:30 and went to the campground. The facility isn't nice, but tent camping is in a grove of Tamarisk trees that made some really nice shade. The van arrived not too long after. The temperature was 92 when I finished riding and got hotter later I afternoon. It was good to finish early.

I set up my tent, showered, and got my stuff charging. SR and DE made dinner. It was quinoa and some pre-made packets of Indian food that had garbanzo beans and a coconut curry in them. There was also a very nice spinach and berry salad. Appetizers were chips and dip and the leftover kielbasa from last night. For desert I had a couple of snickerdoodle's. I definitely need to reform my dietary habits when I get home or I will turn into a blimp.

Tomorrow we got to Brawley and stay in a church. It is bigger town and is below sea level. The ride should not be hard except that it is long (72 miles) and the afternoon temperature in Brawley is forecast to be 103. I hope to leave early and ride hard.

At the map meeting we discussed arrangements at the end of the trip. We will dip our wheels in the Pacific and then they will drop our bikes off at Bernies. I am a little unsure whether to take mine with me on the plane or tr to ship it. I will probably decide at the shop. They will then take us to the hostel.

Today's ride: 79 miles (127 km)
Total: 2,844 miles (4,577 km)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	4
Comment on this entry	Comment	2

Kelly IniguezAs my Grandpa would say, "Can you smell the oats?" He always said the horses were faster on the return trip, because they could smell the oats in the barn.

We are flying American this summer. They allow a bicycle as a piece of luggage, as long as the box fits the (generous) parameters. I do love that 'free' price. Our local bike shop had not heard of Bike Flights, but if you decide to ship ground, you get a little discount with Bike Flights. They use FedEx as their carrier.
Reply to this comment
1 week ago

Eric FreyTo Kelly IniguezMy son used bike flights to return his bike after riding with me. I am leaning towards taking it on the airplane because it will get home sooner and I am riding an event the 24th.
Reply to this comment
4 days ago