Thursday Pine Valley to El Centro

Battle tested:

Around 1 am I heard the wind pushing the door to my room. Wind was picking up and lasted for quite a while. The am weather news from a San Diego tv station was: 1) "beautiful in San Diego", 2) "windy in east county - Pine Valley reported wind gusts up to 60 mph. Traffic on Interstate 8 my be limited to one-way at a time." This is me!

Climbed out of Pine Valley. The wind was fierce for the next 20-30 miles. Probably walked at least 3 miles. Stood still 10 or 12 times and just braced myself. For a time I wasn't sure I would make Jacumba. But once I did (1 pm) I thought to myself - let's keep going. After Jacumba was Interstate 8 (no alternate road so it is legal to ride on) - a 14 mile ride down from 3,500' to sealevel - 6% grade, the max allowed, most of the way.

Started at Pine Valley around 8:30 am - pulled into El Centro around 5:30 pm. 85 miles.

Didn't meet as many people this days as in previous ones. I did meet 2 cross country bicyclist at 4000 feet. But they were going to San Diego and hoped to make it by the end of the day.

I'm 17 miles behind schedule. My plan was to be in Brawley (17 miles away) in stead of El Centro. I'll go to Brawley today and rest up for the ride across the Imperial valley tomorrow.

Later.