Trip across the US of A Day 1

AS YOU CAN SEE SUE IS QUITE ENTHUSED TO BE FINALLY GOING

Well we got off and running today. Planned on leaving by 500am but due to fog we had to delay our departure until 830am.When we left the house it was 57F and rapidly clearing up. Our routing today was CA78 to Blythe CA then I10 to Litchfield Park AZ. Our first stop was at Santa Ysabel at The Julian Pie Company to say goodbye to a friend of ours. Of course we had to have a donut before we left. We got back on the road and our next stop was near S2. The temp had reached 85F so we stopped to strip our liners out of our coats. We got back on the road and headed on to the desert. The next stop was Brawley CA for gas. It was interesting because we went from the mountains to desert to farming area all in the space of about 90 minutes. From there is was back out into the desert to Blythe. Along the way we passed through the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreational Area. This area is quite an anomaly because you are going along in desert scrub than all of a sudden there are sand dunes for about 5 miles then wham right back to desert scrub. We stopped and took a picture. Of course Sue had to ask if the bike would start again and also wondered if we had enough gas!


I assured her all was fine and we were off again. A few miles up the road we seen the only cop on this stretch of road and fortunate for us he already had someone else pulled over so we were okay. The temps stayed right around 85F most of the way until we got to Blythe where it started getting warmer. We got to Blythe and stopped for gas and something to eat. We ate at a Dairy Queen and it was the worst meal I have had in quite a while. I won't go into details but trust me it was bad. After we left Blythe both Sue and I agreed that we really could see no reason to purposely return to Blythe . . . ever . . . never.

Now we were on the interstate and there was quite a bit of traffic. There was also quite a bit of wind. The temps along the way climbed to the high 90's and at one point reached 101F. Prior to leaving Blythe I soaked my wet vest and put it on. Felt like I was sitting in front of the AC even at those temps. If you are going to ride in the desert areas you need one of these. With the winds swirling around we seen many dust devils on both sides of the road. Some were quite large and we were glad they stayed away from us. Only had once come close and you can bet I was keeping a very weary eye on it.

We finally arrived at Litchfield Park AZ at 330pm after traveling about 320 miles. All in all a great day. Tomorrow off to Gallup via the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert.

While our travels are important to Sue and I, even more important to us is the remembrance of those who have made the ultimate sacrifices so that we can enjoy the freedom to make this trip. Please remember them not only today but every day.

THANK YOU ALL THAT HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN BOTH TIMES OF PEACE AND TIMES OF WAR.