March 12, Blythe, CA:

Today is our first rest day, much needed by me! We slept in until after 7 am, casual breakfast, followed by a Bike Cleaning Clinic, conducted by Carol, one of our guides.

So, I dutifully cleaned and lubed Rosie, as I call my bike. I ride a Bianchi Eros, purchased in about 2001. Eros is the Greek god of desire, which I will interpret as desire for adventure. But someone years ago commented that Eros spelled backwards is SORE, something I would prefer not to accompany me on this journey.

I have been reading “Travels with Charley, In Search of America” by John Steinbeck. He named his mobile home Rocinante, the loyal stead of Don Quixote. According to Wikipedia, “in many ways, Rocinante is not only Don Quixote’s horse, but also his double: like Don Quixote, he is awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task beyond his capacities” (sounds a bit like me).

As you see, I have modified the spelling and of course the initial E is silent!

When I first signed up for this tour, I had a bike fitting. We changed the handlebars and stem and the seat post, adjusting up and down height and forward reach. Even bought new cleats for my bike shoes. And, you may recall, I purchased new wheels just before shipping my bike to Phoenix.

For Christmas, Don gave me the front bag, where I keep my wallet and camera. The backpack, also a Christmas present, holds my spare tube and minimal tools, my snacks, and a light jacket, if needed, also a tube of sunscreen for reapplying every 2 hours.

If you notice a blue ‘box’ on top of the front bag, that would be my speakers. My dear daughter Sarah transferred a wide variety of music to an IPod, which is inside the speaker box (another gift from Don). It was wonderful to have those sounds accompanying me as I pedaled yesterday in the desert. No ear plugs, which are so dangerous. Several of my fellow riders were quite jealous, one asked if I took requests.

We all have a Womantours safety triangle, either on our bike or our back, to help the sag wagon or van to easily identify us.

Rosie is now quite clean and ready to roll on tomorrow.

Several of us walked to a local Mexican restaurant for lunch. We were joined by Keith, a fellow cyclist from Yorkshire, England, who is riding the Adventure Cycling Southern Tier route alone and self-contained. We labeled this photo ‘Keith’s Harem’.

Needless to say, it was also laundry day.

Bonus miles around town 8 miles.