The beginning of Day 3 started with a tube change. It turns out I got a slow leak on Day 1 that we didn’t think was an actual flat. Pumped up the tire on Day 2 and it went low again. Today we found the hole and changed tubes.
We pedaled again on Interstate 8 today. 7 miles of that was all downhill at a 6% grade. It was like flying – and I was quite scared again. I tended to carry my bike a lot today to avoid a possible flat from a goathead/devil’s weed (like a sand spur on steroids).
We road through the desert today, which means it warmed up! And gave us quite a bit of head and cross winds. We are staying in a school gym tonight. It is a Seventh Day Adventist school and the children are amazing – friendly, polite and proud to serve us. Of the six children that served us dinner tonight, only one lives in the United States; the other five children commute from Mexicali each day. Tomorrow morning, they will leave their home at 4am to be here to make us breakfast (as a fund raiser for the graduation activity). These kids are the best!!
Stats from the day:
Start city: Jacumba, CA
End city: Calexico, CA
Miles: 49.95 (actually 51.35)
Total miles to date: 132.2
Pedaling time: 3 hours, 33 minutes
Avg. speed: 14.0 mph
Feet climbed: 919
Fatigue factor: 7 (out of 10)
Wind: NNE 13 mph, changing to NW 8mph
Road condition: 4 out of 5 (Interstate was 9.5 out of 10)
Temperature extremes: 52 at ride start, 71 at ride finish
Getting ready for the long descent.
We had a check-in stop in Ocotillo, and we happened by a post office....
There were literally miles and miles of these solar panels on the road into Calexico.
The last stop before we checked into the school overnight location. We had to wait for school to let out at 3pm, and what better place than to stop at a local restaurant called Asadero.
We are staying directly across from a border crossing. On the other side of the fence are cars waiting to enter the U.S. at the border.
Bubba introducing the children serving us dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow. When I first entered the gym, the two young men came to me to introduce themselves and welcome me. The children are only allowed to speak English in school. It was already dark out, so this photo isn't too clear.
