Day 5: Wednesday 3/09/16, Yuma, AZ to Dateland, AZ

Day 5 distance:  71 miles

Total miles:  272 miles

Elevation Gain:  1049 feet

Map of today's ride:

Today was another great day of riding! We left Yuma this morning with blue skies and a temperature of around 50 degrees. Early this afternoon when we arrived in Dateland, my phone said the local temperature was 80 degrees. Even better, we had a mild tail wind throughout the ride.

The ride was uneventful for most riders, although one rider caught her husband's rear wheel in a wind gust and tipped over. She cracked her helmet when she hit the concrete of the freeway, but says she feels fine although a little sore. Another rider's rear derailleur hangar broke on a one year old electronic shift bicycle. Fortunately, he had a spare derailleur hangar in his spare parts bag, so the bicycle was repaired this evening and is ready for tomorrow. He was given a SAG support member's bicycle to ride the rest of today so did not lose an inch of his C2C ride.

We are tent camping in Dateland, Arizona tonight. Most riders stopped at the local travel center to try their famous Date and Cactus milk shakes. Most liked what they tried, but I didn't hear of anyone trying to obtain the recipes so they could make them at home! I am still undecided if I will walk over for a milkshake after dinner, but since I have tried both kinds in the past, my choice if I do go would be a good old chocolate shake!

Tomorrow we will ride 52 miles to Gila Bend, AZ. The Gila Bend weather forecast is looking good with a low of 52 tonight and a high of 84 degrees tomorrow.

Today's pictures:

Beautiful morning as we head away from the Yuma National Guard Armory where we spent the night.

The scenery was beautiful for most of today's ride. This scene was about ten miles out of Yuma, shortly before entering Dome Valley, the "Salad Bowl" of America.

This is representative of the farmer's homes in Dome Valley. It appears that farming salad ingredients is a profitable venture!

For a considerable distance and depth along side the Dove Valley road, this farmer was growing something protected from the the elements and animals. I don't know what the crop was (strawberries?), but if one of the readers of this blog knows, please leave a comment so we will all know.

This individual was flood irrigating a field planted with some vegetable. He did not understand English, but understood the camera and posed for the picture. I always ask the person if it he will agree to be photographed.

These workers were harvesting cabbages.

This is the bicycle that experienced the broken derailleur today. The broken derailleur is being held up from the ground by the chain.

This individual was riding in the ditch alongside the road next to a field of cabbages. I do not know why the shotgun was hanging on the bicycle, but it does makes a good case for asking permission before taking someone's photo!

Some coasters riding through Dome Valley.

A pretty scene as we were exiting Dove Valley.

This roadside diner in Tacna, Arizona is closed on Wednesday, but opens up each year to serve lunch to Bubba's riders when they pass by. The food is top notch, but better yet, is the fact that the diner should be on the list of the Historical Register. The inside is like traveling back in time but is exceptionally clean and in like-original condition. A spot to stop if ever traveling down Interstate 8 to or from San Diego.

Pretty flowers with a pretty mountain in the background. Located off I-8 about 15 miles before Dateline.

Link to day 5 of my 2015 C2C blog.