2021 Southern Transcon Day 3/4 Blythe CA; Wickenburg AZ

 

Imperial Dunes

With no internet connection last night, here is a double post after two really hard days.

Rolling out of El Centro with Jeff

We rolled out in the high heat and humidity in the El Centro farmlands. We arrived at the SAG holding a steady 12 mph pace for the first two hours. Heat was building and we pressed out after a short break.

We rolled through the Imperial Dunes as the heat and crosswinds continued to build. By the time we made the second SAG it was over 100. Ice the socks and head out again. Jeff was feeling stronger and continued on at his own pace.

The route passes a huge open pit gold mine and continues into a fun section of climbing rollers.

Top of the roller section

Temps at the SAG stop

The next SAG was cooking also! We headed out on some nice downhill rollers with a tailwind, to the lunch stop about 20 miles from Blythe. The rollers flattened out and we made the final run to Blythe.

Lunch stop

20 miles to go

Feeling  cooked from the heat, and unlike the oasis near El Centro, it was just plain hot, even in the  shade. So a light lunch, refill the bottles and make the run for Blythe. Veronica set up the final sag 10 miles from Blythe in a hay field next to a huge stack of hay! Reload and back into the heat for the last 10 miles of the day. Extreme heat and humidity made those miles a real suffer fest.

Rolling into the hotel, wash the bike, drag the bag upstairs to clean up and head out for some dinner.

Day 4 to Wickenburg

Colorado River

Headed out this morning at an easy slow pace. Its flat to the Arizona border, then the climbing starts.

Welcome to AZ

Some freeway riding on I-10

We ride up the hill on I-10 to Dome Valley Road. There is a frontage road there that had the first SAG and descends to and through Quartzite AZ. More freeway riding out of Quartzite to US 60. We hit the second SAG at the 40 mile mark and reloaded water and ice again. Jeff rolled out with me and hopped on my wheel and we continued on into the heat.

We didn't know it, but we were at the back of the pack and Rich was driving the sweep vehicle. He stopped in front of us at the 50 mile mark and offered water and/or a lift to the next sag. Jeff took water. I hopped into the van!

We have a big day tomorrow, and I knew the next several hours of heat would make it tough to recover and be ready for a big climbing day.

I stayed with Rich in the van to the lunch stop and rode with him to the final SAG, 22 miles from Wickenburg. I figured it would be good to loosen the legs, and with a tailwind and building clouds, I jumped back on the bike and again rode an easy recovery pace to Wickenburg.

Historic Wickenburg

Rolled into the hotel a little after 3 and cleaned the bike and found my room. Debby, driving home from LA, arrived at 3:30 and we found the Country Kitchen and had a great meal.

Hoping for cooler temps in the mountains tomorrow!