On The Road: Day 4

Today was a mixed bag. The expected overnight winds did materialize, but not at the anticipated force. It was cold enough for arm and leg warmers, and a wind jacket at the beginning if the ride, bot not so much that full-finger gloves and head-warmer were needed.

We left the campgrounds, and began climbing, again, but soon the uphill became downhill.

Highlights/lowlights:

After short, but hilly two days of 44 and 40 miles, today was a 73 miler.

We were close enough to the border with Mexico that we could see the fence/wall that was built to prevent illegal entry by Hispanics who were migrating north seeking a better life. In conjunction with the fence was the constant presence of the Border Patrol, either at checkpoints on the road (we went through one, but weren't challenged), SUVs racing up and down the road, or helicopters searching from above. What an enormous expense of money and manpower.

We had a 7- mile downhill on the newly-paved interstate that was truly exhilarating, followed by a truly excruciating 20-mile ride on chip seal and broken asphalt. Chip seal, for the uninitiated, is a process by which stone chips, not gravel, are mixed with a thin coat of asphalt sealer and then laid on the damaged road. After a few days, the loose stones are swept off the surface, leaving a road covering that has actual pointed stones sticking up, just waiting for the unsuspecting cyclist. One of our group, unfortunately, had a flat, but at least his tire survived. We've been advised to expect miles more of chip seal once we hit Texas. Oh, joy. The vibration caused by riding over the seal plays havoc with the hands and elbows.

The last 14 miles to Brawley, where we are tonight, were scary. No shoulder, heavy traffic, white-knuckle time.

Temps still in the low 80's, and the winds have subsided. I'm tanned/burned, and still going strong.