We crossed the Colorado River into Arizona, home of countless RV parks and long, dry stretches with lots of warning signs!  Our first Arizona night we camped in Quartzite where there are no fewer than 57 RV parks along one long strip!  Note to self: it’s very hard to pound a tent stake into the gravel ground of an RV park.  We met this friendly, toothless local, Don (below), who told us  countless hilarious stories about his RV community and proudly proclaimed, “This is where lizards come to die…”  Temps get up to 125 degrees!

 

 

 

I stopped at a local book store…where there were more than books.  (This nudist was happy to chat with my biking buddies while I looked for a book to buy! ) And I actually found what I was looking for!  Now I’m reading Steve Job’s biography.  So even if the owner has no clothes, he has some good books.

 

I ALWAYS stop at the rest areas!  The desert doesn’t make for good alternative options:)

 

 

How you REALLY know you are in Arizona.  Dorothy, you’re not in California any more….

 

 

California will soon be behind us after four days of biking in cool mountain terrain, then down into desert heat.  We cycled down several thousand feet on the freeway passing plenty of warning signs.  I would have taken a photo of the sign that said “High Winds Next 12 Miles” except I was nearly blown off the freeway as I hung on for dear life as traffic whizzed by.  

 

Camping, while usually tranquil, has its own hazards!

We hugged the ever-present wall (the long brown snake in the photo below) separating the US from Mexico for much of yesterday. Border Patrol SUVs passed us at break-neck speeds. Today we entered the Imperial Sand Dunes. Wild changes in topography.

At the end of a long, hot day of riding, my beverage of choice…!

 

We are not going to be hungry! Do it yourself breakfast and lunch fixings.

First morning requisite dipping of the wheels into the Pacific (and we all got doused by a surprise wave!). What you can’t see are the dozens of dogs running laps around their owners on this aptly named, “Dog Beach.”

Oops! Bike trouble on the first day as we headed up, up, up out of San Diego by big box, medium box and small box stores, but not a bike store to be found. Finally found a combo surf, skate board and bike shop in the small town of Alpine. Sean, the bicycle mechanic, arrived at 4pm after his landscaping job, adjusted my cable etc., and I finally arrived at camp at 5pm! 8 hours for 50 miles on the first day and I’m hoping bike troubles are behind me.

Surprise! We spent a few miles on the freeway today and more tomorrow. It’s legal! Can you imagine doing this in Massachusetts?

Chilly morning at the campground as we start our mountainous day two on our way to the Mexican border.

My favorite water bottles reminds me of my favorite bike buddies back home.

Good bye, San Diego! Thanks to my wonderful friends, Alison, Craig, Sadie and Helen for the send off!

day-by-day-southern-tier-03_16_14-to-05_12_141.docxDay by day southern Tier 03_16_14 to 05_12_14

The sun is shining in La Jolla, CA.  (With 101 days running of sunny skies, my friend, Alison, just returned her rain coat with tags still on it to REI.  What’s the point of a rain coat here?! )  Alison took me to a look-out spot where I could admire the 360′ view.  As I enjoyed the rolling ocean to the west, it was nearly possible to avoid focusing on the (large) mountain range to the east . It turns out that our first day requires quite a bit of climbing to the town of Alpine.  Alpine brings thoughts of snow – the stuff I’ve just escaped from!

 

 

Cool
surfer mobile at Torrey Pines State Beach.