Cross country Ride March 11, Blythe CA to Salome, AZ

It was difficult to get my mind focused and the legs moving after such pleasant recovery day yesterday so the group I was riding with actually were the last to roll out at 7:45.

We knew we had a relatively shorter and easier day today, and that the accommodations in Salome weren’t anything to ride forward to, so it was easier to allow ourselves to take a relaxed start.

Marilyn, Donna and Marni crossing into Arizona from California

Five miles into the ride we had to go up a “pedestrian walkway” to get on the bridge across the Colorado River. The walkway turned out to be a badly marked gravel path up to the freeway, around some bushes and onto the bridge. At mid river we crossed the state line into Arizona and stopped to take pictures before proceeding to the other side and portaging our bikes back down to the access road.

travel along the interstate with lots of flowers to look at and smell

The majority of today’s travel was along the shoulder of I-10 and US 60. The shoulder was nice and wide and relatively free of major debris although wires and shreds of rubber from radial tires were here and there. The wires are sometimes quite small and hard to see, but will almost always manage to take out a bike tire, so we have all learned to be very cautious about them.

We rode at a fairly slow but steady pace and were able to enjoy the sight and smell of a variety of desert flower and plant life as we rode. We are high enough in elevation that the Saguaro cacti are present, along with both teddy bear and jumping cholla cactus, Palo Verde trees, something that I think is a desert acacia, and another low growing bush tree with thorns which I think is either mesquite or ironwood. In addition to California poppies and lupine, there was a small white flower which looked like a chicory blossom, the ubiquitous MYF (medium yellow flower), a gray leafed plant with small orange flowers along the stem, and small grassy looking bush with tiny blue 4 petal flowers and a low growing bright pinkish purple flower resembling verbena.

California poppies and lupines

At the far end of town we stopped at Darlene’s for fresh baked goods. Linda, the cook for the group, had warned us that we would have Darlene’s pies for dessert tonight, so instead of pie, most of us had either a pecan or cinnamon sticky bun and a cup of coffee, each of which cost a whopping total of $3.00 with endless refills on the coffee.

Lois, Marni and Janet getting readyto eat pie at Darlene's

Back on the road we got back on I-10 and rode another 12 miles until we got onto US 60. About half way along we passed a major accident with a med-evac helicopter, several police cars, fire trucks and ambulances along . One of the policemen standing near the shoulder hastened too assure everyone that no bikers were involved much to everyone’s relief, but I would say that from the damage I could see on one of the two cars, that they probably weren’t expecting any survivors. It was a scary reminder of how randomly things can happen in spite of taking every safety precaution possible. The ride was very sober for quite a way after the accident site.

We met up with the SAG again at mile 40 in Brenda. After having ridden about 10 miles on a road and shoulder that had been furrowed in preparation for repaving, it was simply a relief to step down off the bike and take a break from the constant vibration of the hot seal road surface and the continual grooving and loose gravel, We have all learned not to pass up a flush toilet and so each bought something to eat, whether we wanted it or not at the local grocery store/ café/ liquor store/ gas station and possibly bus stop.

Another 15 miles along the shoulder of US 60, this time without pavement repairs and aside from the rumble strip next to the white line, not a bad surface, we came to an elevation sign for 1880 feet. The climb had been so gentle and gradual the most of us were unaware of it.

The next break in the wildflower, cactus and landscape contemplation was the town of Hope. The town itself was another wide spot in the road with a gas station, an RV park and a few houses. What was most amusing was the sign outside of town on the other side which read “Your Now Beyond Hope.” I am sincerely hoping that the misspelling is a play on words and not intentional but somehow I don’t think so.

What can I say?

The last 10 miles were a longish slog because of the headwind and for some of the ladies from back east where it is still snowy, the heat. The Sheffler Motel is about the only thing happening in Salome besides the several miles worth of RV park along the side of the road and the Cowboy Bar across the highway with it’s red neon lights and the 300 year old Saguaro cactus out front. The motel itself is a 1940’s style motor court hotel with furniture and décor that has not been updated since. It is however clean and basic, with the only real draw back being that the curtains don’t shut out the hot pink neon lighting outside the door.

Since we crossed a state line today, dinner was accompanied by margaritas and pie from Darlene's, so somehow I don’t think the neon light will bother anyone for very long.

welcome to Salome where she danced-whatever that means), Arizona

Today’s Stats
Mileage 60.44
Ride time 5:23
Speed 11.4
Flat tires in the group 2 for a total of 17 so far
1 rider with a bruise on the hip and some minor road rash from a spill in the construction zone