Riverside to Indio, CA

The weather in SoCal is screwy this week.  Deborah reported heavy rain at home.  We had sunny skies.  Normally, the wind blows West to East through the Banning Pass.  In past years, the tailwind allowed riders to reach 30 mph without pedaling.  Guess what - not this year.  Headwinds all day.  It started out cool in Riverside, but by the time we got to Indio it was in the eighties.  Last week, it was 110 degrees - thank goodness for small favors.

Willie, Dan, and I rode together for most of the day, with Mary joining us at the beginning of the ride before we started up the six mile hill about thirty miles into the ride.  The climbing wasn't bad, mostly 6 & 7% grade, but long.  After the hills we descended but were slowed by the head winds blowing out of the East.  It was a long slog into Indio and the hotel.  I'm indebted to Willie and Dan for their support.  I'm no longer the young buck I was!

Tomorrow will be a long, long ride across the desert to Blythe.

Today:  6:09, 93 miles, 2,669', and 4,411 Calories.

Cousin Harry's bike.

Snow on the mountains.

 Dan at the top of the big hill.

Windmills in the pass on the way to Palm Springs.

Willie points the way