Out of the mountains!

We made Brawley this afternoon - about 70 miles. Michele and I are a little sunburned and tired. We haven't checked on Steve yet.

We left Boulevard around 8:45. Old Highway 80 rolled up 200 feet, down 500, up 600 before joining the freeway, I-8, at In-Ko-Pah Pass. Steve had chain problems again and had to make the lastclimb in his middle range of gears; I would havebeen walking! We plunged down almost 3000 feet in just a few miles. I maxxed out over 33 mph.

Time for a Gatorade in Ocotillo (a gas station). We blew through Plaster City (absolute nothing except for a gypsum plant). Along the way, a sleeping bag fell off the back of one of the bikes. No one noticed for some time, so there was a long pedal back to find the escaped bag. Good tacos in Seeley. We found a bike shopin El Centro so Steve replaced his chain. We'll see if that fixes the problem.

Finally a fast flat ride to Brawley to find a cheap motel; the campground is too far out of town.

A guy stopped me to ask about riding on the freeway. He foresees $10 gasoline and wants to be prepared.