Odie, Bob and I piled into the OREM around 7am today and made our way to the previous day’s termination point in Pine Valley, Ca. The temperature was 34 degrees, and waiting for Odie and I were several long, steep climbs that would eventually lead us over the summit and down into California’s Imperial Valley and 70 degree temps! We bundled up and launched Hank the Tank shortly after 8am, and within half a mile we were suffering through the first big climb of the day, which ended up being a blessing as we quickly warmed up. Of course every big climb in the mountains comes with a big descent on the other side, and soon we were careening downward over rough asphalt and not pedaling for four miles. By the time we reached the point where the road flattened out, we were even colder than at the start. My fingers were so numb I was struggling to shift gears and work the brakes, so we pulled over by a bush to relieve ourselves and attempted to warm up our extremities. We were only a little over 7 miles into the day’s ride at this point, and it seemed in that moment that it was going to be a looooooong day. But then The Bob showed up in the OREM and told us to climb in for a break. He had the heater cranking, and I don’t think I’ve appreciated anything in a long time as much as I appreciated the warm sanctuary he had brought to us. We sat inside for 20 minutes or so, and as much as I didn’t want to, we finally left the warmth and got back on the bike. It was still cold, but somehow it had become more tolerable.
So Far, So Good
So Far, So Good
So Far, So Good
Odie, Bob and I piled into the OREM around 7am today and made our way to the previous day’s termination point in Pine Valley, Ca. The temperature was 34 degrees, and waiting for Odie and I were several long, steep climbs that would eventually lead us over the summit and down into California’s Imperial Valley and 70 degree temps! We bundled up and launched Hank the Tank shortly after 8am, and within half a mile we were suffering through the first big climb of the day, which ended up being a blessing as we quickly warmed up. Of course every big climb in the mountains comes with a big descent on the other side, and soon we were careening downward over rough asphalt and not pedaling for four miles. By the time we reached the point where the road flattened out, we were even colder than at the start. My fingers were so numb I was struggling to shift gears and work the brakes, so we pulled over by a bush to relieve ourselves and attempted to warm up our extremities. We were only a little over 7 miles into the day’s ride at this point, and it seemed in that moment that it was going to be a looooooong day. But then The Bob showed up in the OREM and told us to climb in for a break. He had the heater cranking, and I don’t think I’ve appreciated anything in a long time as much as I appreciated the warm sanctuary he had brought to us. We sat inside for 20 minutes or so, and as much as I didn’t want to, we finally left the warmth and got back on the bike. It was still cold, but somehow it had become more tolerable.