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El Cajon, California, April 3rd, 2004
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El Cajon, California
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This place was Amazing
visited Apr 3, 2004
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Didn’t go anywhere today. Stayed in the motel, washed clothes, got caught up on banking and made plans and reservations to move up the West coast. Planning on taking Highway 1 and 101, staying as close to the West coast as possible. Will finish the west coast by taking I-5 through Tacoma and Seattle into Bellingham and then make the round trip north into British Columbia. Think it is still too cold to venture too far into Canada at this time. Looks like the weather is warmer up north, at least for next week. Hope it continues to get warmer. Peggy had a meeting and trip with her "chat group" today, so I had plenty of quiet time. No miles today, just peace and quiet.
posted Apr 11, 2005
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El Cajon, California, April 2nd, 2004
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El Cajon, California
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This place was Amazing
visited Apr 2, 2004
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Day 20, El Cajon, California, Friday, April 2, 2004. Cold and cloudy this morning and the ground was wet. The heavy rains did arrive sometime during the night. We were only 2 miles from the California border and another time change, so we didn’t depart the motel until 10:00AM. First stop was at the California border and another picture, the Welcome to California sign. Total of 63 points now for the ABC’s of Touring. My first fuel stop was at El Centro, but about 10 miles down the road it started raining slightly. We stopped at an underpass for a few minutes to see which way the rain was moving. It wasn’t too bad, so we decided to continue on toward the next underpass. It started raining harder and I managed to get wet before the next underpass. I put on my rain suit (pants were already wet) and Peggy already had her rain jacket on, so she put on her rain pants also. We waited a while and finally went on through the rain to El Centro. At El Centro after we got fuel, a gentleman asked Peggy if we were headed West. She said yes and he warned her that there were severe winds where I-8 crosses the mountains and that the snow had turned to slush and the Highway Patrol were escorting some vehicles through and that he had been waiting since yesterday to get through. When he left we checked with the lady at the desk in the Service Station and she called the Highway Patrol and they didn’t know anything about any vehicles being escorted through or any snow and slush on the highway. Don’t know what that guy’s problem was. We went on anyway, it was cold and got colder as we got higher, from sea level to over 4,000 feet, it still rained but not nearly as hard and finally stopped raining when we got to the mountains. More rain due tonight, but we’re safe, warm and finally dry in our motel room for tonight. Peggy’s got some things to take care of tomorrow and I’m going to wash clothes, do my internet banking and make plans to move on. Into the motel at 2:00PM, California time after only 163 miles, 4.001 miles this trip, 125,661 total miles.
posted Apr 11, 2005
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Yuma, Arizona, April 1st, 2004
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Yuma, Arizona
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This place was Average
visited Apr 1, 2004
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Day 19, Yuma, Arizona, Thursday, April 1, 2004. Cloudy and cool when we left the motel at 7:50 this morning, but the rain was over until later in the day. But we would be well down the road and into Yuma before the afternoon thunderstorms would return. First stop was Picachu Peak for a picture of Peggy with (don’t know the name and couldn’t spell it if I did) one of those large cactus with arms. Took a picture of her with that cactus in 2000 and again in 2002. We can compare the pictures and count the growth rings and see how the cactus has changed over the two year period. Now we have the picture with Peggy at the same cactus for 2004. At Casa Grande, I-10 turned towards Phoenix, but we continued on West on Interstate 8 towards Yuma and San Diego. The road was pretty nice today, not as smooth as in New Mexico, the traffic was heavier on I-10, but not heavy at all on I-8. Near Dateland, Arizona we picked up clear skies and a strong, variable wind from the South. It made riding extremely difficult. Some time after leaving Dateland, I was kind of day dreaming and passed a sign that read "Yuma County Line" and at 75 MPH we were way past it before I realized we needed a "Y" county for the ABC’s of Touring. Tried to get back to the sign on a road beside I-8. The road was surfaced, but not in good shape and after about a half mile we ran out of pavement. We went about another half mile on gravel, dirt and sand and remembering our experience on the last "Road Closed" episode, we decided to get back on I-8 east to the last exit and then ride back west to get the required picture of the sign. Only about 15 extra miles for day dreaming, but we have now completed the alphabet in Counties and have a total of 62 points. As we neared Yuma, you could hardly see the city for the blowing dust. We were glad to see Exit 2, where our motel for the night would be. Into the motel at 1:30PM and glad to get out of the wind. Total of 260 miles today, 3.938 this trip, 125,558 total miles. Gas prices have been steadly climbing regularly since we left New Mexico and they are supposed to be higher in California. If that is true, I doubt we’ll be doing much touring in California.
posted Apr 11, 2005
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Tucson, Arizona, March 31st, 2004
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Tucson, Arizona
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This place was Amazing
visited Mar 31, 2004
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We got out real early this morning, left the motel at 7:40AM, with cool temperatures, clear sky and almost no wind. Easy route today, just stay on Interstate 10 West all day. The road in New Mexico was beautiful, just as smooth as silk, a 75 MPH speed limit and not much traffic. First stop was at the Arizona border for a picture of the State sign for the ABC’s of Touring – sign was in the middle of the road. Total of 61 points now. Roads were not as smooth and as well maintained as those in New Mexico. Got a surprise at the first gas stop in Arizona. High Test Chevron was $2.149 per gallon. Just had purchased High Test Chevron at the previous stop in Lordsburg, New Mexico for $1.739, less then 80 miles down the road. The lady at the station told me that gas was always higher in Arizona than in New Mexico. It’s a sellers market for gasoline, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Wonder how long before everyone realizes that! The rest of the ride was great, except I carefully chart my way to the motel each day so I know exactly where I am going. Today was different, they closed the exit, didn’t get lost though, Peggy spotted the motel sign and we got off at the next exit and doubled back. Into the motel at around 2:00PM after a nice ride of 280 miles today, 3,578 miles this trip, 125,238 total miles. After checking in we went to the Waffle House for dinner and watched the clouds form for the evening showers I knew were coming. By the time we walked back to the motel, it had started to sprinkle and within 10 minutes we had a "gully washer". This is why I always like to get into the motel early.
posted Apr 11, 2005
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Las Cruces, New Mexico, March 30th, 2004
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Las Cruces, New Mexico
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This place was Great
visited Mar 30, 2004
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Needed to get an early start today, since we had a few more miles to ride today. I was up and getting packed early, but let Peggy sleep until almost 7:00AM. By that time I was already mostly packed and then turned on the TV to wake Peggy up and discovered that it was 45 degrees outside. Had to dig out my neck warmer and gloves, but it was already up to 51 degrees by the time we left the motel at around 8:20AM. It may have been cold, but at least the sky was clear and there was very little wind. We would spend all day on Interstate 10 West. Highway 90 runs a little closer to the Mexican border, but I couldn’t find any suitable motels on that route. I-10 was a nice highway, not too crowded and a speed limit of 75 MPH. A few miles before Kent, Texas I-20 joined I-10 and we picked up more truck traffic and the highway surface was not as good. The Interstate through El Paso is terrible. They need to build a by-pass around that town, just too many vehicles and the road surface was not very good. We stopped at the New Mexico state line and picked up the necessary picture of the state sign. Sixty points now for the ABC’s of Touring. Right after entering New Mexico we saw about 10 miles of huge cattle feeder operations. Was surprised at the cleanliness, appearance and smell of the area. Much better than the ones we saw in Eastern Colorado several years ago. And about 20 miles past the state line was our motel for the night. Into the motel after a cool, but pleasant ride of 293 miles, 3,298 miles this trip 124,958 total miles.
posted Apr 11, 2005
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