Back to Fast Meet the Riders Bamacyclist Home

Day 02

Hot, Hot, Hot...did I say it was HOT?

Yesterday Tomorrow

ROUTE: Palm Springs to Blythe CA

DISTANCE: 134 Miles

TOTAL CLIMBING: 3200 feet

DAILY REPORT: I'm sorry it's been so long since a report. For one, I've been pretty busy, but the main reason was my software crashed. Today we got to Albuquerque where my daughter sent my software disc to reload. It took quite a lot of creative playing, but I finally seem to have gotten it to work. For those who have diligently been checking my site for an update, thanks for your persistence. And for those who have sent mails asking if everything was ok...yep, it's been fine and we've had quite a ride so far. Sorry I couldn't even put in a note that I was having trouble with the website, but those who have been following for years know that if I don't get updated regularly, something is amiss. Today is a rest day so I'm going to try to bring everything up to date. It will be a condensed version of each day, but I'll try to fill in what we've been up to. Thanks again for following.

We left Palm Springs with a forecast of one of the hottest days on record on this date. The temperature got close to triple digits before eleven and the temperature on the road was even hotter than that. To say it was a brutal day would be putting it mildly. Four days ago when we drove through Blythe, the temperature was a mere 69...we just hit a bad day...very unusual for this time of year.

What a day of contrasts though...lush landscape as we left with palms lining the roadways and colorful flowers outlining sidewalks to dry/hot terrain sans any vegetation other than dry sprigs.

Today's route took us south out of Palm Springs (a new route) toward Mecca (not that Mecca...the one in California) and from there we rode Box Canyon Road and picked up I-10 about 50 miles into our route for the remainder of the day. The first 25 miles of our route was on flat, dry desert terrain dotted with irrigated date farms and we could find small venders all along the road selling dates. When we told the riders about dates along the highway, Jay put on an extra bit of aftershave before departing...sorry Jay, it's not that kind of date! The next 20 miles was in a beautiful canyon with interesting hill formations that have be shaped by thousands of years of erosion. I love this road, it's beautiful albeit hot and we climbed the entire way to the interstate and a little more on the interstate until we got to Chiriaco Summit at 1700 feet. Today was our first real day on the interstate riding. We only rode a mile or two on the first day, but after today we'll spend lots of miles crossing AZ and NM on Interstates 10 and 40.

The riders showed great restraint with the scorching heat. The staff was on top of everyone all day and watched the riders closely virtually not letting them out of our sight all day. Some decided on their own to rest to fight another day (it's a long trip so a few miles in the big scheme of things is insignificant), others were directed to call it a day before heat exhaustion set in. The riders that were faring ok, and allowed to ride, stayed together for the most part and had their own van with water and ice to keep body temps from getting hot. Those that finished stated that it was the toughest day they'd ever spent on a bicycle. We survived a tough day...some rode, some got in the vans...all finished the day. A blue ribbon to everyone today! We will ride again on day 3.

My software still seems to be hiccupping...so if you see that there are no updates, know that it's a computer problem and I may have to just pass on this trip. I seem to not be able to put in photos...hmmmm.

YOU DON'T SAY:

"I gained 12 pounds training for this ride."
"Did you just train for the eating part?"

"My shoes melted!"

"PHUTTTTTTTTTTTTT"
"Hey, that snot rocket hit me!"
"No way, it evaporated before it left my nose!"

"I'd spit, but I'd only get sand!"

PHOTOS OF THE DAY
It was so hot today that Ron just melted ... all that was left was his sunglasses.	The secret to endurance in the heat...dill pickle juice.
The last time we saw Sam and Jay they were riding off into the desert.	Boy, those were good powdered donuts!