Big Day Today!

We have really left the coast and are heading east through the desert. Today was a long day with 70 miles of riding, including some ups-and-downs at the beginning, a 9 mile downhill into the desert, and then 30 miles through the desert with 90+ deg F temperature and a head wind.

Deserts are a new thing to us, and we were relieved to hear after our ride that the temperatures were above 90F ... we were hot because it really was hot! We also found out we need all three waterbottles to ride 2h through a desert. So we will be needing extra water for longer rides.

We are also very close to the border, so close, we can see it. I was surprised to see that one part we saw was obvious because it was marked with a huge wall/fence. No "Welcome to America" signs on this end of USA. We have also seen ALOT of border patrol vehicles. The white SUVs of the border patrol remind me of the vehicles of the chinese officials in Tibet, just keeping people out instead of in.

We have to plan our next days carefully since there is a 80 mile section without water. Tomorrow will be a short day, and then we will decide whether to split the 80 miles or to do it in one long day (preferably with a tale wind).