Now the trip has really begun! I am solo and a nomad now. The guys from Ontario: Kenny, Robert and George took Streetz home and left me in Yuma to find my way. The first week of the ride was a real fun time. I had a buddy to talk to and to keep me honest about my riding. The support he gave was awesome and needed. He helped me understand a few things and even taught me a few things about camping. He was supportive th entire trip and I couldn't hae asked for anything more. It was a really cool thing for hime to do; to send me off like that.
So, I made my way from Yuma to Wellton. It wasn't that far of a trek but I ded leave pretty late. I think I got on the road at around 1p and arrive here at about 5:30. Not too bad, considering the crazy southernly winds!I thought for sure the wind would be at my back today but I was wrong. It was coming from the north and beating into my side. Did not help at all.
From my starting location ain Yuma (I had the guys drop me off in the exact same location they picked us up from) I headed east on HWY95 to Araby Rd. I took that south until I hit the next biggest street I came across. I forgot the name already, but it took me next to the local high school, college and middle school. The bike lane along that road wasn't too shabby either! The signs were directing drivers to yield to cyclists, even. I wish there were more of those around.
Anyhoo, that road ended at 9th street so I headed south again, still trying to get alongside the interstate 8. I continued on that road for a few miles then the 8 appeared in front of me. Finally I know I'm going the proper direction.
I headed east on Frontage Rd and followed it until the end. Which literally dead ended I thought I was going to have to go the 3 miles, I just climbed, back to the last turn out when I had a brilliant idea. I'll just go under the highway through a wash and pop up the other side.
Well it seemed like a good idea until I found taht the ground was sand and sporatic piles of rocks! I just pushed through and made it to the other side. Golly, that was difficult. Fefinately an upper body workout. On the other side I found a road. It looked like a service road taht didn't go anywhere. However it did lead me to the border patrol check-point. Phew! Back on track. I asked oe of the border check guys if I could be on the interstate, to which he told me 'unless you want to go around this pas, then yes.' Cool. Now I had the ok from a government official. That was all I needed. Onward and upward I went.
Climb, climb, climb. That is what I did through the pass. Wind in my face still made it slow going. However, when I reached the top, I was descending like a mad man. The headwind turned into a cross wind so I had to slow down a tad coming out of the pass.
It ws beautiful. Hills, flats, rocks. The collor reflecting off the scenery made it something moving. I let out a 'wooooo-hooooooo!!!' and cranked it up a notch. The cross wind turned into a tailwind at the bottom of the pass, so I was cruising at 19-20 mph asily. It was nice to have that tail wind after working so hard during the previous hours.
Checking the map, I saw tere was a campground area in Wellton. Turned out to be an RV Park called Tier Drop. As I pulled up to the office a couple of guys said 'hey, you made it!' Turns out they passed me 30-40 minutes prior coming down the pass. That was neat to talk to some people that had passed me and noticed me on the road. Then I noticed an older man coming out of the office and locking the door.
Shoot! Did I miss it? I asked the gentleman if he had just closed up and if I would be abe to camp. He told me to just set my tent up in the back, behind the office. He had another cyclist come through before and that is what he did. No charge! Turns out the man's name is Jim and he is the owner of the park. Nice! What luck!
After settng up camp, I took a walk to the showers (I showered up) then made all the appropriate phone calls. Bed time is coming earler and earlier these days. Down witht the sun, up with the sun. I never thought I would be wanting to sleep that early and waking up so easily that early!
My mileage for the day was 33 miles.
Some pictures are up on the flickr page. Check it out here or at the bottom of the page.
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