Today’s ride from Jacumba to El
Centro was a good one. While the 17-mile descent on the way out of Jacumba was a
welcome change from yesterday’s climbing, believe me, riding your brakes for an
hour on a 6% grade is no walk in the park. I’m assuming the feeling in my hands
will return in a few days.
My dad didn’t exactly call me out in his post, but I’m
clearly the reason we were going down the newly paved, wide-shouldered hill at
16mph as opposed to the 40mph he would have preferred. I like to think I was
doing the family a service forcing him to slow down on the windy, steep,
semi-filled interstate (where ~8 of the 17 miles were “prohibited for cyclists
and pedestrians”) – not just that I’m a huge baby. You’re welcome, guys.
The rest of the ride was flat – now
we’re talking. I finally had some time to think about something other than
moving forward, remaining upright, and staying alive. I used the time to make
sure I still remembered all of the US state capitols. Missouri and Pennsylvania
always trip me up – I was glad to have George “the Human Encyclopedia” Marketos
there to give me hints. Also to inform me that Phoenix is the largest of the
state capitols and Jefferson City is one of five state capitols not serviced by
an interstate (as if that was the
hint that would tip me off on Missouri’s capitol).
Tonight we are staying in a
Fairfield Inn and, having slept in one most of the nights over the last year,
it almost felt like coming home. Having Olive Garden for dinner didn’t hurt
either!
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| Over the mountains... |
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| ...and through the desert, to El Centro we go |
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| Rest stop |
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