Update 8 - 11/6/00
We departed San Diego after spending a great day and evening with Dana and Veronica of the San Diego Tandem Club. They took us on a driving tour of San Diego then treated us to an evening at their home a few miles east of town.
The next morning the weather was threatening rain and Dana insisted he drive us across the pass on narrow, twisting Highway 94.
Leaving the trees and greenery of the coast behind, we entered the arid and desolate Yuha Desert, propelled along by a 25 MPH tailwind. It was fun while it lasted as the winds changed to directly on the front wheel all the way from El Centro to Lake Havasu City.
We cruised along through low green fields in the Imperial Valley reaching 85 feet below sea level in Brawley. Continuing northeast we rode through the US Navy Bombing Range, taking careful note of the signs warning against leaving the paved road.
Soon we entered the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness Area, a vast region of blowing sand dunes, marked occasionally by a "Sand Rail" (specially equipped vehicle for driving across the dunes), or motorcycle. As we left the dunes we stopped at Glamis, a little speck of a place that looked like it came from a Mad Max film about life after World War 3. The blowing sands, banging signs, dune buggies and motorcycle riders in outfits that made them look like warriors from Star Wars added to the alien appearance of the town.
Passing just south of the Chocolate Mountains, named for their dark brown color, we rode through a long series of arroyos. There was a lot of evidence of recent flooding and the signs warning about parking or camping in these dangerous river beds were everywhere.
As we left Blythe, we rode the Interstate 10 bridge across the Colorado River, saying good-bye to California, and hello to Arizona, changing our clocks to Mountain Time, returning to what was Pacific Daylight Time just a few days ago.
In Parker, Arizona the local newspaper sent a reporter to interview us. We told him about our ride and he took a few pictures, promising to send a copy of the article when it comes out next week.
At Lake Havasu, we spent a few days visiting with relatives and exploring, before heading east to Phoenix. We will stay there a few days visiting with my brother, Jim. Sharon will make a quick business trip home for two days, a Realtor's work is never done! When we continue east toward Florida next week, Jim is going to join us for that segment of our tour.
Loving every mile,
George and Sharon Miner
Free as the Wind
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