Day 3: Monday 3/07/16, Live Oak Springs to Calexico, CA

Day 3 distance: 63 miles

Total distance: 138 miles

Elevation Gain: 1533 feet
Elevation Lost: 5435 feet

Map of today's ride:

We woke up to rain showers but the weather didn't look too bad until we were transported to Live Oak Springs, where our bicycles had been stored at the end of yesterday's ride, about a 30 minute drive away. When we arrived, it was very cold and extremely windy but at the time it was not raining.

Getting our bikes ready to leave Live Oaks Springs this morning. As you can see, it had been raining but had stopped when the picture was taken. What you can't see are the high winds present at that time.

The total distance of today's ride was 63 miles. We rode rain free for about 15 miles to our first SAG stop so I was able to get some pictures without rain. Although very cool, it looked like it might be a nice day.

This is a typical scene along Old US Highway 80.

Our first sighting of the wall between the US and Mexico. Along Old US Highway 80.

This is a picture of the first SAG stop just before we started our descent out of the Sierra's to the Yuba desert. 

The wind had increased significantly as we approached the first SAG stop. (Note how Chandler, one of the trip's bicycle mechanics, is hanging on to his hood to keep it over his head along with his vest blowing open.) Just as we left the SAG stop, to begin an 8 mile descent with a 6% grade, heavy rain also started falling. The ride down this grade was very treacherous to say the least. Not only did the wind gusts come close to tipping bicycles over, but the rain, at times turned to sleet, made braking the bicycle extremely difficult. With my brakes held down as tight as possible, the slowest speed I could achieve was about 20 miles per hour. All one could do was try to ride it out, as on the steeper grades, it was impossible to come to a complete stop. It was a very stressful ride down the grade, but fortunately, everyone made it down safely. 

The rain continued for several miles and then stopped as the front passed. I got a few more pictures at that time:

The rain front had just passed over these wind generators as can be seen by the cloud line.

The three other Coasters I rode with today, form left to right: Gerald Allard, Gene Ice, and Tom Coe.

I liked the old buggy and old pickup in front of what appeared to be an old abandoned homestead.

Time to get moving! Another rain front is coming!!

Look at the support that appears when a Coaster has a flat tire! Three other Coasters and one of our traveling mechanics! You can't say we Coasters aren't pampered!

Shortly after the flat tire the rain and wind hit a second time. We were drenched once again. The only good part was that the wind was a tail wind that pushed us along at 26-30 mph for the last 20 miles to Calexico!

We arrived in Calexico about 90 minutes before we could get into the school so we found a cafe for some pastry, hot chocolate and coffee. From left to right: J.T. Turner, Tres Smith, and Gerald Allard.

Overall, we encountered many weather changes today, most of them not good- rain, sleet, strong winds, and gusty winds! Temperatures ranged from low enough for sleet to the low 50's, but when your gloves are wet and you are wet, it seems much cooler than the air temperature. We are happy that we are staying at the Calexico Mission School gym tonight which is heated and has warm showers. The senior class at the school prepared a very good Mexican dinner for us along with hot chocolate chip cookies for dessert. We also got to share a birthday cake that had been prepared for one of the coasters celebrating his birthday today.

Tomorrow the weather is forecast to be changing for the better. No rain and highs in the low 70's. It sounds like a perfect day for another day of travel to Yuma, Arizona.!

Cramp update: One upper left leg cramp right about bed time last night. Tonight I used another Coaster's muscle roller on my legs, in hopes that it will help eliminate the cramps.

Link to Day 3 of my 2015 Blog