From Solstice to Equinox, almost

After 40 years in Chicago, we left Chicago just 5 days after the Summer Solstice.

The Townsend Restaurant in Provincetown

Four days later we lunched in Provincetown, just about as far north and east as you can go in the contiguous US and 10 days before the autumnal equinox we said good-night to September 13th, about as far south and west as you can go.

It's been a long trek, loved every day of it, but after 82 days out of a duffel bag we're looking forward to landing for real in Tucson very soon.

My little drill, when coming to a new town, is to visit one or more bike shops to get a bead on a preferred route for a ride. Both Yuma bike shops had the same idea but before I could get the bike out of the car this most amazing sand and dust storm blew through pinging any exposed skin. I could totally imagine how sand blasting could carve features desired or not! Postponed my ride till the next morning and then thought I'd try to find Mexico. On the way I found citrus!! Never saw these in Chicago!

Bike in the car and off to San Diego by way of El Centro, the destination of PAC Tour's Day 1 of this year's Southern Transcon and also my 2006 Southern Transcon. PAC had passed through El Centro just 2 days before!

We have stayed in some real dog-memorable hotels on this soon-to-be-99-day-trek. But tonight in San Diego we'd make a big splash on all the corporate guests staying in the Sheraton Suites. Tonight we'd be in the heart of downtown San Diego, with even an indoor parking garage the kind where you have to negotiate this cochlea-styled parking garage all the way to the 11th floor, then take the elevator to the 12th floor to access your room on the 24th floor. I gotta tell you our $68 motels where you park your car right in front of your room sure beats the big hike + elevator lifts. Add to that to our uncustomary appearance upon entry: I in bike robe and Kirk carrying his cardbord box of toiletries (we're hoping it can make it just two more weeks. It's been a real champ), and each of us carrying our own Trader Joe reusable grocery sacks full of foodstuffs.

Wednesday Kirk dropped me off at Mission Beach for the beginning of my glorious ride north through much of Camp Pendleton, lunch in Oceanside, and a memory lane stroll on the Oceanside Pier where RAAM launches its 3,000+ mile Race Across America. 2007 I helped crew for a 4-man crew, Team 60 Going Hard.

Oceanside Pier