We never want to bike again...period. 90 miles straight uphill from Newport Beach. We are very demoralized. It is about 30 miles straight downhill to Palm Springs, where we were supposed to make it today. We can't make it, because we feel we might take a digger from lack of strength. Mom, total jello legs right now. Dad says he "cannot understand what happened today...uphill all day, wind in the face, and 90 degrees... I feel whipped." We are staying at the El Rancho motel (R.I.P. to the Winona El Rancho...) where Crystal, the front desk lady, told us people come right back to this hotel versus staying at the one down the street.
We almost felt like throwing in the towel after 60 miles. It didn't help that we had next to nothing to eat all day...menu...1 banana, 1 english muffin, 3 hard boiled eggs, and a handful of trail mix for the first 60 miles. We destroyed a pizza at that point in which we both almost up-chucked on our last 8 mile hill straight up into Beaumont. We had to stop on the hill about once a mile. Earlier in the day, we almost flipped out on a gas station owner (we were in NO mood to be confronted with) after he accused me of filling up my water bottle with pink lemonade. I only filled my bottle that was half full with my own powerade to the top with ice. That was after we listened to him railroad a cute young girl over wanting a glass of water...he wouldn't let her have it for less than 50 cents. Dad almost let him have it on our way out... we are ornery, for real. It is supposed to be just as hot tomorrow, so tomorrow, we will be on the road at 5:30 and we are going to go until we can't stand the heat anymore.
When we left our hotel this morning, a lady we met in Natchez, MS on our first trip saw us off in the morning. Her name is Valerie Nelson, and she hauled me to a bike shop in the morning after I had a breakdown four years ago. She lives about 10 minutes away from our starting point in Newport Beach, so she came to wish us good luck. It was great to see you, Valerie, and thanks again for all your help in Mississippi!
Well, it is 6:30 pm, and we are seriously going to bed soon. Have a good night.
Blake
P.S. Dad just called Mom "the bomb." Crystal and I just had a good laugh about that...
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It was so great seeing the 2 of you this morning. I felt so bad that the trek was so uphill and the heat was so bad. BUT I have great news!! the weather tomorrow is going to change and it is going to be much cooler. Good luck to the both of you.. unfortunately it just started out a little TOO HOT! the next several days should be much better. Valerie
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