After a great rest day in El Centro, we were excited to resume riding. With the ocean so close, the end of our trip finally began to seem real.
"Tomorrow? We finish tomorrow?" was asked repeatedly.
Yes, it was true.
The first 30 miles of our riding was very flat, but the road wasn't great. Luckily, we found a bike lane exiting El Centro that isn't on the Adventure Cycling maps, which was very nice to ride on. Once we hooked back onto the official map, the road quality went south. Many people have blogged about this section of road as the worst on the trip. It was bad but maybe not the worst. All this said, I got my second (third) flat of the trip. A staple was able to puncture all the way through the mighty Schwalbe Marathon Pluses.
Anyways, we eventually reached Ocotillo, right at the base of the climb. We stopped for lunch at a little cafe. A hot pulled pork sandwich was a welcome change to our standard gas station food.
We also met a family who was riding bicycles east bound. They had an army of bikes on the back of an RV. One person drove, and the others rode. It seemed like a really fun strategy for touring cross country.
Leaving Ocotillo, we entered the Interstate for the longest continuous climb of the trip. In New Mexico, we climbed much higher but it was broken up by a stay with Shipley in Kingston. This climb brought us from 400 feet above sea level to 3400 feet above sea level in 10 miles.
Up and up we went, and the canyon was beautiful. Not too steep, not too hot, and the shoulder was huge the entire way (excepting one bridge).
It was during this stretch where I saw my first 'border crossers'. About half way up the climb, at least 5 miles from another exit on the highway, at least 10 miles from a building of any kind, there were two guys standing in the shade under a tree. Since we had just left the town, I was full up on liquids. I pulled a bottle of gatorade from a cage and offered it up. They were very, very excited. I tossed it to the ground where they could get it, gave them a wave, and continued on my way.
Near the top of the climb, there was a creek overpass full of 'people'. I don't know the back story to these, but perhaps they are put there by local residents to prevent illegal crossers?
I exited the highway at the top of the climb and got on "old highway 80". Right around this exit, there was a car on the highway completely in flames. I took a few photos and rode a little further. A guy near the fence asked if I could send him the photos, it was his car and most all of his belongings. Bummer.
We rode on and on, coming very close to the border at times. The fence between the countries is pretty crazy.
We stopped at a campground in Live Oak Springs. The camping was expensive and the amenities not so great (no electric, shower/restroom pretty gross), but there was a restaurant next door. We ate dinner, sat around watching TV, and finally went to bed. Up in the mountains, it was chilly. Possibly the coldest night of the trip. Who knew after 69 days, the coldest night would be in Southern California towards the end of May?
Tomorrow is the day. A little uphill, then lots of downhill, all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
Day 69 - 60.99 Miles
Trip to Date - 3947.27 miles
Coast to Coast - 2944.82 miles
So the hills DO have eyes.
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