Beaumont, CA to Blythe, CA

Even though it is earth day, I wasn't too pleased with the earth at all.

Today was as unpredictable as Dad's next sentence out of his mouth. Some days are just all about survival. We left Beaumont at 5:50 am, with no breakfast, becuase it was all downhill 30 miles to Palm Springs. We left with no leg warmers, so we knew it would be very hot later on. We had a great wind on our back and could easily cruise at 20 to 25 mph with little effort. We felt so good when we got to Palm Springs, we took time to get a picture of me with good old Sonny Bono on the Palm Springs walk of fame. We then stopped at Don and Sweet Sue's cafe after another ten miles up the road, which will stack up as one of the better breakfasts of the entire trip. After breakfast, we started pedaling and got to the 50 mile mark. At that point, it was hotter than the 105 degree gatorade we were drinking on our 8 mile climb to Beaumont yesterday. We now had to head off the Interstate into the desert with very limited stops and water supply. The predicted temperatures were 100 degrees with an additional 10 degress on the pavement. When we finally got to Blythe, the lady at the motel said it was 106.

At the 50 mile mark, we made an executive decision. We would either get a ride or risk a heat storke. We elected to get a ride, and pedaled up a half mile to the Interstate on ramp. Before we knew it, Richard and Mark came in their truck after about one minute. They were on their way back to Tucson, AZ, and they picked us up in a safe spot, loaded our bikes and headed to Blythe. It so happens that Richard is an avid cycler and Ironman triathlete. We had great conversation, and found out they had been parachuting with the Air Force in Perris, CA for the past week. Once we got to the Super 8 motel, they unloaded us, and spent ten minutes helping dad with the gears on his bike. Much thanks goes out to you guys!

We walked into the Super 8, and we felt very guilty for having accepted a ride, even though we knew it was the right and sane thing to do. We had a long conversation with the desk manager, Ana, who has been here for many years. Two days prior, America By Bicycle, dad's group from two years ago, also rode in extreme heat. They only had 12 riders this time, 6 of which got in at 6:00 pm being hauled in the support van. The strongest riders finished the ride, but they didn't get in until 9:00 pm. Two years earlier, there were only a few riders that got rides for a total of 60 miles the whole trip. This lightened our moods a bit. We spent more time talking with Ana, and she ended up feeling so bad for us that she gave us a free room! Dad can always work a good deal, but he couldn't even believe this one.

We hope to be at Denny's at 5:00am tomorrow, and if the food doesn't kill us, we hope to be spinning by 5:45 to beat the heat. We have a tough day ahead of us, but we feel with an early start, we can make it all day. Hopefully the weather will cooperate with us. Well, its again 6:30, and we are thinking about bed. Have a good night.

Blake