Day 4 (Tuesday 1/18) Ride from Ocotillo to Imperial Dunes Recreation Area. Today was the 1st day without going up any major hills and I was impressed with the pace Aaron was able to ride at on the flats. Despite a late start (10am) and 2 previous very hilly rides, we were able to ride 62 miles today. We also experimented with drafting for the 1st time. Aaron is very good at tucking in behind my saddle bags to avoid the steady headwind.
The scenery started with lots of sand, sparce desert scrubbery and a nice view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains off to our left (that we had just finished passing over yesterday). The temperature was in the mid 70's and perfect for biking as the dry air makes it seem like you don't even sweat. As we passed through the Yuha Desert we came across an incredible fertile valley of lush farmland that was created over a hundred years ago when Colorado River water was diverted into an extensive canal irrigation system. This oasis in the desert stretched on for 40 miles. We road by the largest dairy farm I've ever seen with thousands of hollsteins. We also passed a hay storage area with 100+ massive barns with open sides being loaded by fork lifts carrying what I was told were 200lb bails of hay. As we watched the tractors working we were treated to the site of the Blue Angles aerial squadron practicing their maneuvers as this is their home base.
Just before the town of El Centro we started to run out of water. We saw a family out watering their garden and asked to fill our bottles from the hose. We had a nice chat with Fred and his daughter who didn't recommend drinking the canal water they used for their garden but they did go inside and get a big pitcher of cold drinking water for us as they gave us some insight on this unique and beautiful region in which they lived their entire lives. Fred has also ridden his bike across the country but his has a V-twin motor. As a Vietnam veteran Fred road to Washington DC to pay his respects at the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
Toward the last 10 miles of today's ride we passed over another canal that marked the end of the imperial valley. At this point the lush farmland immediately switch back to the sandy desert terrain in which we started the days ride. We found a quiet spot in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation area at a primitive campsite. Lucky to have an RV I was able to have a warm shower in the middle of the desert (navy style to conserve water). What a refreshing end to great day. It was a clear night..in the distance their was brief nightime aerial combat exercise creating a fireworks show for us as we sat around the camp fire grilling sausages under the stars and bright moon.
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