Boot Camp

Well, folks we are in Pine Valley. We did not get as far as we wished to and here are the rationalizations: 1) The wind continued to blow from the east, making riding more work; 2) We are carrying more gear because we are going all the way across the country; 3) We climbed 2500+ feet in the course of four hours, as opposed to just 1900 feet yesterday; and 4) We pooped out.

We might could have made it, but then, although very proud and puffed up about ourselves, we would have been pretty dead meat without enough time to recover before taking on the desert. Oh, it was hot too with those East winds. Despite all the difficulties of the climb, each one makes us stronger. Tomorrow we will climb only about 1100 feet or so total before we begin the downhill to Jacumba. We'll get there early and get a good rest and then be ready to take off to Brawley on Saturday andnacross the Chocolate Mountains on Sunday..

We are both looking at our gear and asking why in the world is it so heavy? What can we get rid of and what do we really need to keep. We are both carrying minimal camping gear, in case we get caught some night with no motel nearby, but we might be able to do without it. We have lots of gizmos and some cold weather clothing to get is through the first ten days or so, but really it is hard to see what we could get rid of. I am sure it will become clearer.

The ride from Alpine to Guatay is just a bear. Long, long slow climbs at a four or 5 percent grade. Even on the 8 this morning the grades seemed steeper than last year, though there is no possibility that that is true.

Now the good side is that despite the fatigue, pushing more weight along the road has to make us stronger. More work, more muscle development.So we will come through the mountains stronger than we did last year and ready th launch out into the leveler parts of the ride. The good news is that for both of us, riding on the level, fully loaded we are able to maintain 13-16 mph. This is very good and bodes well.