seriously, though, it was an amazing ride today. very long, very hot, but amazing. after checking out the times it might take (and the temperature forecast) i decided to get an early start. i was very glad i did. i got on the road about 7:30 this morning, where in santa clarita it was a balmy 77 degrees. it just got hotter from there. literally. the morning ride wasn't bad, though not particularly interesting. mostly freeway to get some miles under the tires before the heat really set in. granted, the scenery was very lovely, and i wish i had more time to explore the canyons around the area, but i had a lot of miles to cover today.
once i got into palmdale and off the interstate, things got really nice. it was still a little toasty (i never saw a thermometer until phoenix, and then i didn't want to know) but tolerable and i cruised on, winding through the canyon roads and desert foothills (i won't call them mountains) until i hit victorville (birthplace of roy rogers) and the tiny town of 29 palms. 29 palms is right by joshus tree national park, where the true desert begins. i don't know how hot it was, but it was hot enough to break out the cooling vest i had recently received and give it a go.
holy cow does that make a difference. once i got that vest on, and soaked my bandana, i was cool and comfortable, and didn't mind the heat one bit. over the next few hours i developed a nifty little cooling system. the cooling vest was soaked with water, which would in turn soak my t-shirt. this kept my core cool. the bandana i soaked and wore over my nose, bandito-style, with the lower end tucked into my coat. when the hot air hit the bandana, the water would evaporate and send nice, cool air up into my helmet. lovely. when the bandana dried out, i would pull it down, take a drink from my camelback, take a mouthful, readjust the bandana, and spit out the water, remoistening it. not the suavest of moves, i admit, but it kept me nice and cool all the way across the desert. and what a desert it was.
ok, i'll admit it. i'm not a desert person. there are desert people. there are mountain people, there are ocean people, there are probably even cave people somewhere. i am an ocean person. i could hang by the coast all day. however, for a few hours today, i could see why some people are desert people. after 29 palms, i saw a sign that said "no services for 100 miles". they weren't kidding. route 62 continues on all the way across the desert, with no more than three crossroads, for almost exactly 100 miles, until you basically hit arizona. this was by far the highlight of the day. long straight stretches, sweeping curves, and almost no one else out there for close to 2 hours of lonely desert roads such as this one:
winding through the brush surrounded by mountains such as this:
for 2 hours. not a soul. a few trucks passed. some buzzards circling. i accidentally killed a lizard (sorry). absolutely gorgeous. my cooling system kept me comfortable, the speed limit was basically whatever i liked, and the scenery was not to be beat. one of the best parts of the trip so far.
(side note: i did take advantage on some of the straighter sections to speed test vixen. i won't print any results, because it was all legal and nothing to worry parents, but text me if you want the answer...)
(just kidding, mom.)
(no really. text me.)
anyway, the desert ride ended right across the border in parker, AZ. i tried to get a picture of the arizona sign, but there was road construction. boo. after a good turkey sandwich and a giant glass of raspberry iced tea (which i finished completely), i took a look at the map. my route had me taking 72 to route 60 (where i'll be spending all day tomorrow) which winds up into the hills and through wickenburg before heading down into phoenix. after talking to my buddy john (my host this evening), i decided to forego the detour and just take interstate 10 on a more direct route. again, this was definitely the right decision, as i was already looking at a 10.5 hour day. 10 was actually not a bad road until just before phoenix, more desert roads, brush and tundra, and a 75 mph speed limit (not bad, AZ). i managed to knock out the last few hours fairly painlessly, until i got into the city.
two things went wrong here. one, i didn't realize how far south and east gilbert, AZ actually is of phoenix (just south of mesa, near tempe) and two, i came into town just around 5:00pm, hitting rush hour traffic. now, as much as my cooling system was wonderful at speed, it did little to nothing when stuck in start-stop traffic in 107 degree heat (i found a thermometer. really, i was fine until i slowed down). that's when things got ugly. the last 30 minutes or so were not pleasant, and i was not very comfortable when i pulled in. after literally peeling off my clothing for the second straight day, and a shower, i started to feel like myself again.
tomorrow, i stick with much the same plan. i'm switching from athletic shorts to bathing suit (quick drying) but, other than that, my cooling system seems to work well. i'll be taking off early again tomorrow to beat the heat, but once i'm out of the valley, it shouldn't be as bad, and in new mexico the altitude should help a lot. i'll be traveling on route 60 all day (i'm double-checking that in a minute), which should wind me up north and east, into new mexico, spitting me out south of albuqurque on I-25, which is apparently right where my cousin lives. unless i am decieved, it should be a slightly easier day than today, and i have no problem with that. this is the first day i'm breaking out the flask for a celebratory nip of the good stuff. i feel i've earned it.
until next time, i keep heading east!
rftc,
scott
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