Moving into the Southwest

8/06/07
It was very dry when I awoke in San Diego at the KOA. I went to a
local bagel shop called the Bagel Bar for breakfast and spent a little
time planning my day. It looked like my stepsister's house in AZ was
a possible destination so I called my dad and stepmother and got the
address and phone number.
I stopped at the Cabrillo National Monument on the south side of San
Diego before leaving town. It didn't open until 9 and I was there
about 8:30 but a park ranger let me go to the vc early. I walked
around reading exhibits and when they opened, I got my NPS stamp.
They had a video I was interested in and the ranger played it for me
at a time they don't usually play it. It was about the intertidal
zones here and I loved the way it described the biology of the tides
so I bought it.
I then turned east. I only had one AMA roads stop today in California
and it was easy to find.
The weather was clear and quite a bit hotter. I was riding with all
the vents in the 'stich open to keep comfortable on the interstate.
There was one point where road construction forced us off the
interstate and I was in slow traffic at a signal. That was pretty hot
then but otherwise the 'stich prevents much dehydration in the desert.
The scenery was also quite different. I was clearly in desert with
scrub brush and few trees. You'll see what I mean when I can post
photos again.
I reached Yuma about 2 and called Carol. She said she was about 3
hours from Yuma and that we'd have dinner together and I could have a
room in their house.
The Saguaro's started showing up about an hour after entering AZ. I
like cacti and am looking forward to seeing the Saguaro National Park
tomorrow near Tucson.
I got to Dale and Carol's about 5:30. We chatted a bit at the house
and then went to dinner. On they way, they gave me a tour of the
area, showing how much water is in a usually dry river and a new
housing development created by Del Webb. Carol said she heard that
10,000 people move to AZ each week. This community had huge homes and
has one golf course finished with another in construction. I don't
know what they would do for a living here but they must work in
Phoenix somewhere to afford these $200,000 and up homes.
The Mexican dinner was excellent. Carol and Dale appeared to know
nearly everyone in the restaurant but that happens when you're a
pastor in a small community.
We then went to see the church after dinner and I met one of the
teacher's at his school. She and her husband are from Boston
originally. We then went back to their house and chatted awhile
before retiring.

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Todd Ryan; Hudson, MA
Westborough HS Science Teacher
MSF RiderCoach