Update

First, thank you for all the prayers and encouragement that you have sent our way.

Second, I am at the computer lab at the library in Blythe, CA and the computer does not have any USB ports (what???) so I unfortunately cannot upload pictures or videos...booo...

Friday January 11th, 2008 "Control Your Bob!" <-- That's for you Jill, Mitra and Al

I would call this day "Happily Ignorant." We woke up to a delicious breakfast, sunny skies and a palpable excitement. We left from the Geierstangers house and headed for the ocean. We took off from Fletcher Cove and very quickly had our first taste of hills. We toured around La Jolla (home of Dr. Seuss) and made our way through all the city traffic. I did not realize that "bike friendly routes" were on freeways.

Our first meal was at a Jack in the Box. We ate crappy grilled chicken sandwiches. After this, we started to climb and climb and climb. Finally, we made our way to the Lake Jennings campground. Beautiful. For dinner we ate Powerbars, Clif gel cubes and had Gatorade for dessert.

My Dad made a great campfire.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Breakfast: Burger King (our only option) We had odd tasting "ham and cheese omelette sandwiches," half of which we threw away. We spent the entire day climbing. Man oh man. We decided we couldn't stomach another dinner of Powerbars or fast food so we indulged with some homemade Ramen.

For lunch: Descansos Junction fish tacos. Amazing. I could go for one right now.

Sunday, January 13, 2008 My Grandma's Birthday

We decided this day should be called "More mountains, more wind"

We climbed ALL DAY LONG. We endured one soul-killing mountain after another. I went on the Historical Society's Homestead Tour this past summer and Lokey Lytjen explained how when homesteaders crossed over Togwotee Pass their initial reactions weren't necessarily "Yay mountains, so beautiful and lovely!" I could relate, my reaction to many of the strikingly awe-inspiring mountains was "NOOO! Mountains, so much suffering."

My Dad is my hero. The grade of one of the mountains was just about too steep for me with my 50 lb. trailer so once my Dad reached the top of the mountain, he unhooked his Bob (trailer), biked back down to meet me, attached my Bob to his bike and biked to the top of the mountain with all my luggage in tow. I'm still his little girl. Isn't he the greatest?

The one exception to the climbing was an extremely stressful 10-mile 6% grade descent. Bobs get squirrely at quick speeds.

On this particular day, we biked within about 100 feet of the Mexican border.

We spent the night in Ocotillo and met the James J. Hill of the city, Ed. He owned the cafe, the two-room motel, the RV park, the "Launderette," the bar, etc. He was awesome. In many ways, he reminded me of Fred Ziegler.

Monday, January 14, 2008

We started that day with an eight mile warm-up, in the wrong direction. Despite our detour and one flat tire, the ride was great. We laughed about the absurd scenery and ended up spending the night in Glamis. Glamis a city filled with NOTHING but amazing sand dunes. SO beautiful. Given the lack of motel and campground (and the roaring wind), we nestled our tent inbetween three outhouses. We were going to indulge in Ramen once again but decided it might be in our best interest to not light a flame so close to such smelly buildings for fear of a series of explosions. As my Dad said, "Glamis probably short for glamorous."

A reason my Mom is my hero... a couple summers ago she crashed while biking and basically shattered her tibia. A lengthy surgery and a new knee later, she is walking, fleurishing and being my Mom. She had her doctor's appt today and Dr. Biebl is in awe of her progess because they weren't sure if she would walk again. Not only that, her patella tendon does not work, so theoretically walking should be impossible. She's a fighter. Go Mom!

I once read an interview of the editor of National Geographic who said that the goal of each story was to create a series of contrasts. Old vs. new. Our home vs. their homes. etc. This trip creates these contrasts very easily. Ocean vs. desert. Wealth vs. poverty. America vs. Mexico. Free range vs. feed lot. Semis vs. bikes. Hills vs. downhills.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Great ride today. We are four miles away from Arizona! Wahooo! Rolling hills, diverse scenery. As my Dad sang, "Over the mountains and through the desert, to Grandmother's house we go..."


To pass the time, I have covered some well-known songs. Titles include:

"Check out my sweet tanlines" to Britney Spears' "Hit me Baby One More Time"
"I feel the earth move under my seat"
"I've lost that sense of feeling"
"Saddle sores" to "Tainted Love"

Allow me to share a verse from "Gatorade Lime" a cover of Deana Carter's "Strawberry Wine"

Been cycling cross-country
Just my Daddy and me
My biggest fear was that semi
But it has yet to kill me
A few pounds of luggage
And one trailer in tow
We've been traveling so long,
Oh don't ya know
But mile after mile I know I
won't be back to this place,
just to remember the taste of
Gatorade Lime
23
The grind of the mountains
I cried when it was steep
My first time in Cali
Oh Bittersweet
I hope to survive
Like Gatorade Lime

This trip has been challenging and amazing thus far. My Dad is a great travel companion. Words do not do him justice.

My cousin's daughter, Nichole, is having a very intense multi-organ surgery tomorrow. If you could remember her in your prayers that would be much appreciated by all members of my family.

Peace and love.