Blythe, CA to Wickenburg, AZ - 116 miles

Today continued our trek into the desert. The day started out with wispy snow flurry like bugs drifting, sticking in the oily lather of sunscreen on us. We jumped onto the highway I-10 for the next 36 miles. It was mostly a slow grind up some gradual grades. We were surrounded by rocky dark brown hills as we climbed. Nigel and I climb about the same pace so we hung together up to the first stop. There was a good picture stop when we crossed into Arizona. We hit a nice downhill and cranked for a while at around 28mph. Rumble strips made the shoulder a bit hazardous, as did the huge semis with drivers curious to see just how close they could come to a bicyclist without hitting them. Two feet seems to be the going distance.

After the first rest stop, which was right off the highway, we picked up a few more riders, which included a group from Texas - Mike, John, Clifford, Billy, Daphne, and Charles. We rode a pace line but it got a little sloppy with a few of the riders going off the front. Also rode a bit with Spencer, the youngest rider at 23. The road was a straight line off into the horizon. There was a row of endless brown-tarred telephone poles stretching off into the horizon on our left. A silvery shimmer floated above the white asphalt road stretched before us. There were some cacti scattered in the scrub bushes off the sides of the road. Most of them had their characteristic "arms" waving at us, but some were single stalks jutting out into the sky. There were signs to "watch for animals", but the only one spotted was a white lizard darting under someone's wheels (unharmed).

Lunch was more of the same as yesterday; I added some pickles as a topping to my sandwich. Some people were pouring themselves glasses of green pickle juice to get their salt fix. The ice sock was filled up and we went out as a big group. More pace line riding into a crosswind. Daphne had a nice solid pace for a while. Eventually Nigel and I crept ahead. We stopped for the last stop. Crewmember Terri had some cool desert music playing in the tape deck. Wild stuff you hear around snake charmers, it melds well with the deep blue sky, blazing white-hot sun, and barren scrub landscape
As Nigel, Clifford, and I crested a few small rollers, we started a ten-mile thundering descent into Wickenburg. Clifford was creeping up on my right and hit a gravel patch. Clifford then peeled off with a flat tire.

We pulled in around 4pm. Not the fastest day by any means. Tomorrow is going to be over 130 miles and 9000 ft of climbing (four major climbs). It is supposedly going to get cooler as we gain altitude. We will be in Arizona for three more days as we creep North to Colorado.

We had Mexican for dinner. No grand eating scenes of mention. I think after tomorrow's rough schedule I may have some scenes to report. I feel better today than the last two. Probably because it was a bit cooler today (106), and I did not get a beet red sunburn as previous days (sunscreen does work).