It’s Cold – 46°

Thanks to our hotel’s early morning breakfast, we were able to start pedaling by 6:00, just as the sun was rising.  There was not even a hint of breeze, which we could have used (to our back, of course) as we had a very slight, but always noticeable continuous incline.  Still in agriculture country we passed beautiful fields of green and sunflowers.We crossed a canal and all civilization stopped, even the power lines ceased to exist.  Next up, the Imperial Sand Dune Recreational Area, not our idea of a great vacation spot.  The dunes however, were beautiful and stretched for miles; the Chocolate Mountains on the horizon.  Twenty miles out, we stopped at the last refreshment outpost for the next 50 miles.  A nice rest in the shade and chat with the locals and we were on our way.  Once past the sand dunes, we were left with blooming brush andinteresting cactus, the one below is an Ocotillo.A huge (operating) gold mine stretched for miles;  no chance of finding a nugget here, the place was surrounded by some very serious barbed wire.  Finally our long desert road took us close to the Chocolate Mountains, quite impressive, even without Willie Wonka.

Reached the top of our climb shortly after 11:00 and 45 miles complete, we stopped at a border inspection station and borrowed their shade to have a quick lunch.  A grocery store stop last night had us prepared for this long (no food outpost) ride.  Equipped with a power bagel, fruit and still ample water, we replenished and hit the road.  We were looking forward to the coast down hill,but the wind, that hit us in the face as we rounded the corner, was not going to let that happen.  The day was still quite cool (70’s), which was a Godsend for our long trek in the desert wilderness.  The landscape continued to change, offering welcome variety.  Then once again, we were surrounded by green as farmland appeared from the previous sandy scrub.  We were beginning to fade, actually just dog tired, so our 68 mile stop at 2:00 came none too soon.  It also gave us the opportunity to meet Bernd und Mario from Munich,  doing our same course, only faster.  A nice chat and rest helped as we were sent on our way.  But we were tired and the wind was becoming an exhausting nuisance.  Though the afternoon was still cool and an evening under the stars would be comfortable, we were not ready to pitch a tent yet, so we had to continue on.  On the edge of town, we grabbed the first hotel we came to, checked in and collapsed.  A refreshing shower and then dinner at the Sizzler a block away.  Steak was good, ice cream fixin’ bar was better.  Almost nine hours in the saddle and 88 miles survived, it was time to rest.