Day 2: Saturday

Time in motion: ?
Distance: 67.0 mi.
Average: 10.0 mph.
Maximum: ?
Climbed: 4,060 ft.
Temp: 49-93 °F

We left the motel in Alpine just before 7 a.m. after talking to numerous women from the “WomanTours” group.  The climb out of Alpine was slow from the start.  My legs wouldn’t move me up the hill faster than 4-6 miles per hour. (a snapshot of Jesse)   I was happy to get breakfast at Descanso Junction, a restaurant about ten miles from Alpine (a long two hours into the day’s ride).  Like every other place so far on the trip the service was good but the prices were a bit steep.

Next on the agenda was more climbing before a rewarding descent into Pine Valley. When we crossed I-8 I saw a sign indicating an elevation of 4,055 feet above sea level.  That is likely the highest point on our entire route. Soon we reached Live Oak Springs, where Jesse waited up for me, because I'm slow. We enjoyed Gatorade and Snickers bars before tackling more tiring but enjoyable descents and climbs. Eventually, we arrived in Jacumba.

The sun was beating down and it was hot when we arrived at Jacumba Hot Springs, the resort where we had hoped to stay for the night.  I was quite worn out by this time so we rested and had lunch in the restaurant.

Jacumba and several of the other small towns are proud to line “Historic Highway 80.”  These small towns remind me of the quintessential Route 66 towns with their worn down roadside attractions and motels, bypassed by the Interstate.  These towns aren’t quite ghost towns.  They’re kept alive by a little tourist traffic and whatever business the residents can stir up.  I’m glad they’re here.

After Jacumba, it was very hot as I enjoyed (or endured) some more climbing.  As I labored up the last peak before Ocotillo the scenery around me looked near impassible, a jumble of massive, loose boulders.  The heat and near Martian landscape made the climb difficult.

And then my reward came: thirteen miles of a 6% downhill grade.  I enjoyed this very much. My brakes were getting a workout, not my legs, while I coasted down I-8 toward Ocotillo.

Once we arrived in Ocotillo we found the motel but Ed, the owner, wasn’t around.  We were told he was probably down the street at the bar, which he also owns.  Just as we started walking that way he appeared and checked us into one of his four rooms.  The rooms were expensive, at $50 per night.  We estimated that the room was worth more like $20. The bathroom was the worst part.   But in this little desert town, the Ocotillo Motel is our only option, so I'm glad it is here.  I keep thinking of the women back in Jacumba, enjoying the hot springs and spa.  At least Ed has good towels.

After checking into the motel we walked down the street to Ed’s restaurant/bar and had some supper.  As we were eating, quite a few people came in wearing gear for four-wheeling.  Helmets, pads, jerseys.  Back home in the winter people ride up to the bars and restaurants on their snowmobiles.  Here, it’s dune buggies and 4-wheelers.

As the sun crept closer to the horizon the air cooled to perfection.  We walked around the town and enjoyed the comfortable air and the clear skies.  It was a good day.