Day 4: Hello Arizona... one state down

Day 4 a day late...  the ride was on 2/20/21, my brothers 60th birthday.  

Today started early with a great sunrise in the desert near Glamis CA.  We finally had warm weather for dinner last night and a desert shower, these are the best.  I will leave it to your imagination.  Todays ride started with no wind and easy riding for about 40 miles.  Very nice all around...

Leaving Camp in the morning

Early Morning Scenery 

A few interesting things happened today.  An old guy (I am old, but this guy looked old) stopped me and asked if I had a pump to fill his tire.  If I had a picture it would tell the story.   In any case the guy was on an old bike heading to Missouri.  I did not think my CO2 would work so I called Sandy who was about 30 minutes behind.  She agreed to stop on her way by, the guy was harmless.  He used the pump and got going.  When Sandy was pulling away, he asked for food – she gave him a Cliff Bar.  A bit later the road was stopped for an accident.  You can see below; the helicopter was lifting someone out (hope the person is ok).  Since I was on my gravel bike, I took a dirt road around the accident.  Before getting back on asphalt, the landowner was in his truck watching the action.  It was about 10:30 in the morning and he was drinking a Coors beer.   I guess it was Saturday and he had nothing better to do.  After a quick chat, I thanked him for use of his land and head off.  

Thanks to the gravel bike
I made it by the accident

Note the helicopter in the upper left

The next hour of riding was very quiet until the accident was cleared, and traffic started up.  Sandy had the misfortune of having to wait for traffic to move. She passed me about 15 miles from Blythe CA.  We both agree that Blythe CA live up to its name.  The town look to take the full brunt of Covid.

The highlight of the day was crossing the Colorado River and getting into Arizona!!!!!   

There is no sign on the CA side...

View of the Colorado

Pedestrian Crossing 

It feels good to have one state behind me.  Before crossing the border, Sandy and I met to fill up our water for camping and plot the course for the end of the day.  Our plan to take side roads to avoid a 12-mile section of the ACA route on I-10.  The plan was not going to work.   The roads were rock, not gravel and we decide the I-10 route was the only option.  After the 12 miles we meet in Dome Rock BLM area to find a camp site.  We set up in the wind and are hoping for the best.  The forecast says it will die down throughout the night.

BLM

View from the back of the tent.

Just before Sunset

The weather today was perfect.  The wind did pick up for the ride into Blythe for about 15 miles.  Other than this no issues.  Traffic on I-10 made the last miles feel like a tail wind. 

Start Time:  8:37AM Pacific Time              Finish Time:   PM 3:39 PM Mountain Time

Elapse Time:  6 Hr.  08 Min                          Ride Time:  4 Hr. 51 Min

Distance:   78.7 Miles                                   Average Speed:  16.2 mph

Total Climbing/Descent:  2585/1863 Ft.               

TSS: 162

Average Power:   162 Watts                      Normalized Power:  162 Watts

Calories:  2841                                             Ave/Max HR: 131/149 bpm

Stoppage time today was spending some time getting around the car accident, stopping for water and a sandwich at a gas station and trying to figure out where to camp. 

During the ride I at one cliff bar, half a bag of trail mix and half or more of a sandwich.  I drank to much to count but plenty during the day.



Tomorrow we are hoping to make it to Aguila AZ about 70 miles from camp.  We will try to find one more night of camping before our first planned hotel stay in Phoenix the next night.   These are all plans so let’s hope for the best.



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