Day 6: Thursday, 3/10/16, Dateland, AZ to Gila Bend, AZ

Day 6 distance:  52 miles

Total miles:  326.5 miles

Elevation Gain:  760 feet

Map of today's ride:

There was a pretty sunset last night in Dateland but it came too late to make yesterday's blog, so I am including it today:

Sunset at Dateland, Arizona on March 9, 2016.

Today's ride was almost a repeat of yesterday, with the only difference being it was about 19 miles shorter at 52 miles. We woke up this morning to a temperature of 50 degrees so arm warmers were worn for about the first 15 miles while the sun warmed the air. After that, is was short sleeves and a lot of water consumed to stay hydrated. Currently in Gila Bend, our day's destination, it is 86 degrees at 2:20 pm. We are staying at a KOA Campground tonight that has a large air conditioned activity center with a TV, pool table, and tables that we will be seated for dinner (meat loaf). By the time we go to bed (around 9 pm) our tents will be cool enough for sleeping. And by midnight, long johns, a long sleeved top and stocking cap will be on my head, as it really cools down on the desert at night!

Today we rode for 35 miles on the shoulder of Interstate 8. It is legal to ride on the shoulder when there are no alternative parallel roads, which is usually the case when riding across vast expanses of deserts. Today more time was spent on the interstate than will be for the entire remainder of the C2C ride. I don't mind riding on the interstate as I believe it is much safer than many of the shouldered secondary roads we travel. The traffic is only going one direction in wide lanes, and there is a rumble strip to warn drivers and bicyclists if a car is entering the shoulder. However, there is a downside, and that is  the high speed noise of continual traffic passing does wear on one's nerves.

Because we did spend so much time riding in the desert today, I only took two pictures as more would just be a repeat of the same thing:

This picture was taken from our first SAG stop at a Rest Area on I-8, about 17 miles east of Dateland.

These are the first Saquaro cactus I have observed on this trip. In the days ahead, they will become much more common. 

 

 

Since today's blog is short, I will add a couple miscellaneous pictures: 

Two fellow coasters standing in front of the welcoming sign at the city limits of Gila Bend. On the left is Kurt Frederick from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and on the right is John Ilenin from North Olmsted, Ohio. Note on the welcome sign behind Kurt and John, it states there are 1917 friendly people in Gila Bend and 5 Old Crabs  ("Crabs" is hidden behind Kurt.) The interesting part is that on the blue square below the "And 5" are the names of the 5 crabs.

 

This is Margie Skaggs, our traveling massage therapist from Louisville, Kentucky. She has been with Bubba since 2012.  Not only is Margie a great massage therapist, but she is also a great hugger!

 

Tomorrow we will ride 81 miles from Gila Bend to Casa Grande, Arizona. Our longest ride to date.

LINK to Day 5 of my 2015 C2C blog.