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| Through the dunes on I-8 |
I caught a glimpse of my new Austrian buddy Simon as he pedaled by while I was having breakfast inside the Jack In The Box restaurant across the highway from the El Centro Motel 6 where I stayed last night.
I was already pretty much packed but had yet to decide whether to head north to Brawley on the Adventure Cycling Association’s traditional ST route, or to head east toward Yuma AZ on the easier, shorter and safer detour that ACA now recommends.
When I got to the intersection where the two routes part ways later that morning, the 20 mph wind made my mind up for me.
It was blowing east, so east I headed, and with the tailwind got to Yuma in rapid order.
I enjoyed much of today’s ride enormously, and especially the tailwind, which really helped blow me down the road.
Some of today’s I-8 segments I could have done without, particularly the sections with bumpy shoulders.
Some sections of the frontage roads on route were also in really bad shape, including a mile or so of the Evan Hewes Highway after the High Springs Long Term BLM site.
But after that first mile, the road, which parallels I-8, was almost unbelievably smooth and clean, and I only saw one vehicle on it over the next 15 miles.
Along the way, I passed a house with a large bougainvillea hedge that was apparently on an oasis. I could hear dozens of birds singing in that huge garden as I pedaled by.
I also noticed some Border Patrol agents transferring three Hispanic men from a truck to a paddy wagon near the entrance to I-8.
I liked Yuma, and particularly the beach and park being developed along the river.
The Yuma Days Inn, which is across the street from a large mall, is also mighty fine.
DM: 64.5; TM: 216.5; 5.35 hrs riding; 11.1 mph avg; 886 ft climbing
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| House with a bougainvillea hedge |
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| Border bust |
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| Bad part of Evan Hewes Highway |
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| Great part of Evan Hewes Highway |
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| I-8 |
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| Yuma beach and park |
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| Yuma Days Inn |
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