March 4, 2016. Alpine California to Ocotillo California 58 miles, 123 miles from the Pacific. It was a great day to be on the bike. Sunny skies and a light breeze from behind. The morning started out cool in the low 30s, I packed up camp happy and made a camp breakfast oatmeal and a tortilla with peanut butter and a blood orange. Once the sun popped over the mountain the temperature began to rise. I stop for breakfast in a pretty little town called Pine Valley and took a picture of the blooming crap trees. The air was filled with flowery smells . After breakfast I began to climb and climb and climb. I reach the top of the pass about 2:30 PM and the temp was well over 90°. I took a picture of the fence that separates the US and Mexico as I was passed by several order patrol vehicles . I wanted to yell, Mr. Gorbachev tear down that wall, but decided against it . I stopped often and watered up and rested in the shade of some large trees when I could find them . It is spring in the desert and just about every plant is in bloom . Once over the pass it was a wild 15 mile ride down the mountain from 4000 feet to the desert floor . When I got off Horse at 4:30 it was over 100°. I named my bike Horse, cuz I could and I like the name. There is a lot of time to think about things like this when you’re a bike up a mountain at just over turtle speed. I’m staying in old hotel built about 100 years ago and remodeled about 100 times. But it’s the only place in town and it has a shower and air-conditioning and a bed to rest my head.
Sending love to my family and friends and feeling grateful for getting a chance to do another continental crossing. Cheers,
Freebird