Day 6 - Reaffimation

With a delayed start again, my day 6 began with a ride from Brawley through the Imperial Valley. Irrigation canals and irrigated fields predominated the view in this very flat area. With a nice tail zephyr, I was able to proceed rather speedily through the valley. However, I decided to stop underneath a tree that invited me to rest in her shade (remember "The Giving Tree"?). I estimated it a was 15 degrees cooler in the shade than in the searing sunshine - 93 degrees that day.

I sat and read a book, took off my shirt, head wrap/scarf, and gloves and hung them to dry out the sweat in the sun on the fence. I took the time to just relax. It was almost surreal. At one moment, I said to myself, "If every moment of every day could feel the peace I'm feeling at this moment, all would be right in my world." Then I woke up from my daydream and took some photos.

Solace.

Immediately in front of me on the ground, three dragonflies landed in a row. Their iridescent azure color glowed in the sun. It was a nice moment to capture - one that couldn't be done in a car, driving 65 mph.

Three dragonflies.

When riding through the Imperial Valley, I came upon an enormous Holstein cattle "pen" that was approximately a mile long. As I rode past, there were hundreds of blackbirds singing, screaming, and chiming, seemingly advising the cattle of their future fate. In the brutal heat, thousands of cow stood in the sun with very little shade save for the slatted arbor above them. Due to the elevation of the sun and its angle of inclination above the arbor, the sun shone directly through the slats. At the angle, it appeared at first glance that the cattle were zebra striped. I wish I had taken the time to photograph the cattle, from close proximity to show the equine ungulates but unfortunately, I didn't. However, I did, take a photo with the pens in the background.

I called but the phone number is disconnected - 760 is the area code in case you want to try it yourself.

After I started riding again, I was compelled to stop to capture this photo of road and the distance...

Several miles later, I came upon what I found to be a place the "locals" call Glamis. Glamis is located in the Imperial Sand Dunes - a veritable nirvana for off-road vehicles. When riding there, I noted dozens of pickup trucks and motorhomes of all shapes sizes and conditions driving with off-road vehicles on trailers. I stopped at the sign below where the park begins. While there, I was approached by a young man on a four-wheeler. He asked me to where I was headed. I advised him, Florida. Looking at his facial muscles visible underneath his helmet, it was truly a shock to him I should be headed to Florida.Of course he then asked me why I would want to ride there. I told him I was riding to clear my head a bit and also to raise money for ASTT.org. He said very matter of factly, "Wow, you are a good dude!" Hmmm, maybe I am. 

Just a little bit further ahead on the road, I noticed what appeared to be a few buildings. I asked the young man if they sold ice cold drinks there. (I was tired of 80-90 degree drinks). He advised they did.  After a brief exchange of salutations, he sped off through the desert sands. I made my way further up the road. I then saw a four wheeler fast approaching. With outstretched arm, the same young man handed me a cold water and said, "For being a good dude," and sped off again.

Stanley getting his photo taken again. 

I approached the buildings and it was a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) ranger station. I decided it would be smart to fill up my water here. I stopped in and chatted with two individuals, Joha who took the following photo that includes, Stanley, Luz (meaning "light" in Spanish). Joha chose not to be in the photo because of her dream to become involved in espionage after retiring from the BLM and didn't want her photo included. After filling up all of my six liquid containers, Luz and I were photographed outside the station.

Proceeding on, I was fortunate enough to take some photographs of the magnificent dunes while there was still daylight. It's how I imagined the Sahara Desert to appear in person. 

He didn't have the guts to finish crossing the road.

Hugh T. Osborne Lookout Park

View from Hugh T. Osborne Lookout Park - a bit difficult to see the beauty from this perspective.

Bright lights are off-road vehicles continuing to ride at night

Waiting to proceed in the "town" of Glamis.

Just a few miles east of the train tracks, I pulled off the side of the road an pitched my tent behind a tree and some taller scrub brush. The location was across the road from the Vista Mine (well, at least I think that the name because Vista Mine Road was nearby). The hum and drone of heavy machinery crushing stone, enormous dump trucks hauling soil and bulldozers moving soil, nudged me to sleep...but not until I saw a desert mouse that was just outside my tent. I pray I don't end up with Hanta virus. From what I'm told, that is nasty.