My turn! Saturday, I was able to get out for ride #22, I wanted to try some known places with some new to me places. I did a little freeway, then some mountian, then some open Desert, a national park, more freewy . Then home.
I hit the road around 11 o'clock and it was 85°f/30°c and hazy, I knew I was in for some high temps, but that doesn't bother me. I aimed for Cajon junction where Hwy 138 crosses route 66. Route 66 doesn't really exist any more in one piece and my path crossed and ran parallel to parts of it. I took a couple of pictures for Terry, then parted ways with the mother road. 138 is right at the edge of the Mojave Desert and when i exited the temp was up to 91°f/33°c already. The road runs past Silverwood Lake then heads up into the San Bernardino national forest to a town called Crestline. From there I went by Lake Gregory and picked up Hwy 18, which is the Rim of the World hwy. The views from up there on a clear day are so awsome, too bad it was a bit hazy.i wandered around there lost for a bit, found my bearings, and headed farther up the mountian towards Big Bear Lake, boy do I LOVE the new Kenda tires I mounted a few weeks ago! On the North side of the lake is the town of Fawnskin, for whatever reason it seems to be dieing, I have many fond memories of that place from my childhood, it is so sad to see it now.
So on with th ride, I have alot of ground to cover still. The whole time on the mountian the temps stayed in the mid to upper 80's f, or 29 to 32 c. Next I headed down the backside of the mountian towards Lucerne Valley where things heated up. As I came off the mountian, it got pretty windy and.was a pretty consistent 102°f/39°c, I can live with that, it's the desert. By then I was getting hungry, so I figured I would try out a biker burger place I had passed on a ride last year. I ordered up a chees burger.,fries and a Dr Pepper and it was pretty good. So this ride I was actually able to post a real food pic! Found a shady table and ate outside, when it's that hot (102°) it's best to not hang out in the AC because you will never come back out. So after lunch I hit another road that goes down to Yucca Valley, that section held temps at 102°~104°for 39°~40°c all the way into Yucca Valley. At this point I figgerd I should get some gas, I had already covered 167 mi/268kms, and Eeyore drank just shy of 4 gallons. Next up was Joshua Tree national park and as I was approaching the entrance my dash thermometer said 107°f/42°c! As I rode through the park I hit a picnic area for a water break, found some shade and enjoyed about a quart of water. Before my water break the temp was dropping to 97°f/36°c and I was afraid I might need to put on another layer to fight off the cold, but i just tuffed it out. Being rested and cooled I figgered it was time to head home, so off we went towards Palm Springs and the rest area at Whitewater. As luck would have it that's when the wind picked up and the sun was low enough to blind me as I headed west. I can take one or the other, but not both at the same time. I knew I couldn't do anything about the 24 mpg wind but the sun was sinking, I still had coffee, so I waited it out. I pulled back on the freeway at that twilight time of day where it's still light but the sun is gone, I love that time of day! So by the time I got home the temp was down to 75°f/24°c and an awsome 322 mile/518kms ride was in the books, only 2 more to go!
But wait there's more! When I came in the house there was a steak being marinated and a baked tater in the toaster oven! So I grabbed an adult beverage, slapped the steak on the grill and prepared to chow down! I have a pic, so it did happen.
Stats and too many pictures..............again.
Start temp. 86°f/30°c
Highest temp. 107°f/42°c
Home. 75°f/24°c
Total distance 322mi/518kms
