Monday, April 7, 2008

Brawley to Palo Verde to Quartzsite

Brawley Campsite

I was truly excited about staying at the Brawley Campsite because it was situated beside a lake. When we arrived, we saw lots of boats pulling tubes and waterskiers. However, when we checked in, the ranger told us that we could not swim because there was no life guard. I think he would have let us swim if no one else was around, but he didn't want to get into trouble. Later, when I spoke to him, he apologized and actually gave me a couple of books that were in the office. One for Taran and one for me. Also, when he was leaving to go home, he came over and offered to let us stay in the "supervisors trailer". He said that if no one shows up by 8pm, that we could move in. He said the supervisor brought his girlfriend to the trailer occasionally. We were quite excited at first, but after we took a look inside the trailer, we changed our minds. It was a bit grungy and I had a bad feeling about it. Someone showed up at around 9pm and went into the trailer.....

We left Brawley at around 9am and had stocked up on water. - approximately 11 litres. As it turned out, we probably didn't need to carry quite that much as we were able to refill once or twice along the way. We did go through the desert, complete with sand dunes, dune buggies, quads, motorcycles and huge motorhomes with "garages" (to house all the toys). The motorhomes would congregate in certain areas in the desert and make a mini-town. It was quite amazing.

While Taran and I stopped to take a break, a fellow in a truck pulled over and started talking to us (me). Once he found out we were from Canada, he pointed across the road to a huge mountain of dirt and said, do you know who owns that? I said I had no clue. He said "Canadians". It was a gold mine. He then proceeded to explain how the operation works:

1) They pour a mixture of cyanide and water down the slope of the mountain (not sure if it was a pre-dug mountain of ore or just the mountain). (cyanide in the amount of 1 grain of rice can kill a person)
2) The run off is captured in a big basin at the bottom
3) This run off is then filtered through coconut charcoal. The coconut charcoal becomes "pregnant" (his word) with the gold.
4) The charcoal is then washed again and gold, in a flour consistency, is filtered off
5) The gold flour is heated and bars are made...at about 98 to 99 percent.

Once we left the desert, we rode into the Chocolate Mountains (not the edible kind Joisan). The grade was not too difficult, but the they had what they called Dips. These were small hills, one after the other, over and over again...up and down, up and down. Taran thought it was great, but I prefer flat terrain.

Near Glamis, we met a father and son combo that were traveling from San Diego to Florida. They had an RV supporting them along the way, so it wasn't quite the same experience that Taran and I are on. I believe they might have been on a "charity" ride in support of children at risk. The fellow was not too clear on the details.

We arrived at the Palo Verde campground at around 4pm and we averaged about 13 miles an hour. The campground was just on the side of the road beside the river. Unfortunately, there was no swimming allowed (and no reason given) but it was free so that helped. We found a cool campsite amongst the trees and decided to read our books for about an hour before setting up camp.

The next morning, just as we were getting to leave, two fellow cyclists who had ridden in late the night before came over to introduce themselves. Konrad and Stacy were from Seattle Washington but had started their trek East to Florida in San Diego. They were pulling two single wheel "Bob" trailers and were travelling a lot lighter than Taran and I. Also, their daily mileage was probably 25 to 35 miles more than what we do. They both looked in great shape. What amazed me most was that Stacy was a very petite person and didn't seem bothered pulling a trailer for over 100 miles. Taran and I haven't even done a 100 mile day!!! It certainly was an eye opener! I think part of it has to do with the equipment we're using and part of it that we still are "newbies"... I looking forward to meeting up with Stacy and Konrad along the way!

We're in Blythe at the moment heading to Quartsite to camp tonight.

Message from Taran...
Hello Everybody This is Taran, I'm just leaving you all with a puzzle to figure out. In the following paragraph is a message I have put in code. It is your job to figure it out and send what you think the secret message is to me at Taranasour@gmail.com.Good Luck.... . -.-- .- .-.. .-.. .-- .... .- - ... ..- .--. ..--.. .... --- .-- .-.. --- -. --. -.. .. -.. .. - - .- -.- . -.-- --- ..- - --- -.. . -.-. --- -.. . - .... .. ... ..--.. .. - - --- --- -.- -- . ..-. --- .-. . ...- . .-. - --- .-- .-. .. - . - .... .. ... ..- .--. .-.-.- .... .- ...- . -.-- --- ..- ... . . -. - .... . .--. .. -.-. ... --- ..-. -- -.-- .... .- -. -.. ... ..--.. - .... . -.-- .-.. --- --- -.- ..-. ..- -. -. -.-- -.. --- -. - - .... . -.-- .-.-.- -- -.-- .- -. -.- .-.. . ... .- .-. . - .... . ... .- -- . .-.-.- .. .- -- --. --- .. -. --. - --- -... . .-. . .- .-.. .-.. -.-- ... ..- .-. .--. .-. .. ... . -.. .. ..-. -.-- --- ..- - --- --- -.- .- .-.. .-.. - .... . - .. -- . - --- -.. . -.-. --- -.. . - .... .. ... --..-- -... ..- - .. ..-. -.-- --- ..- .--- ..- ... - -.-. --- .--. .. . -.. .- -. -.. .--. .- ... - . -.. .. - .. -. .- - .-. .- -. ... .-.. .- - --- .-. .. -- --. --- -. -. .- -... . - .. -.-. -.- . -.. .. - - --- --- -.- .- .-.. --- -. --. - .. -- . - --- .-- .-. .. - . - .... .. ... .-.-.-Dreaming in ditches, you orange underwear, green enchiladas taste terrible, hi iguana snakes. men's essence smells salty, a greedy elephantor if you are up to the challenge.... . .-.. .-.. --- . ...- . .-. -.-- -... --- -.. -.-- - .... .. ... .. ... - .- .-. .- -. --..-- .. -- .--- ..- ... - .-.. . .- ...- .. -. --. -.-- --- ..- .- .-.. .-.. .-- .. - .... .- .--. ..- --.. --.. .-.. . - --- ..-. .. --. ..- .-. . --- ..- - .-.-.- .. -. - .... . ..-. --- .-.. .-.. --- .-- .. -. --. .--. .- .-. .- --. .-. .- .--. .... .. ... .- -- . ... ... .- --. . .. .... .- ...- . .--. ..- - .. -. -.-. --- -.. . .-.-.- .. - .. ... -.-- --- ..- .-. .--- --- -... - --- ..-. .. --. ..- .-. . .. - --- ..- - .- -. -.. ... . -. -.. .-- .... .- - -.-- --- ..- - .... .. -. -.- - .... . ... . -.-. .-. . - -- . ... ... .- --. . .. ... - --- -- . .- - - .- .-. .- -. .- ... --- ..- .-. --. -- .- .. .-.. .-.-.- -.-. --- -- .-.-.- --. --- --- -.. .-.. ..- -.-. -.-.-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- -.. .-. . .- -- .. -. --. .. -. -.. .. - 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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Ian,
Dave lk here with a comment about quinoa
(I thought I had posted this earlier, but somehow it didn't work)aparently quinoa takes seasoning well, so your spageti sauce should work.

Cooking Directions:(from www.savvyvegetarian.com )
Soak the quinoa first for 15 min - 1/2 hour in it's cooking pot. Soaking loosens up the outer coating of saponin, which can give a bitter taste if not removed.
If you don't have time for long soaking, use hot water and soak for five minutes, then give an extra rinse or two
Stir the quinoa with your hand, and carefully pour off the rinsing water, using a seive at the last.
Put the quinoa back in the pot, add more water, and rinse again two or three more times, until the rinse water is pretty clear
Drain quinoa well in the seive.
Place quinoa in the pot, add the water & salt.
Bring to a boil, cover with a tight fitting lid, and turn the heat down to simmer.
Cook for 20 minutes.
Remove from heat and allow to sit five minutes with lid on.
Fluff gently with a fork and serve.

Anonymous said...

Ian:

I enjoy reading your Blog every day! I actually have some friends at work who are following your adventures!
Looks like you may be planning to ride along I 10. I 10 is pretty busy in the metro areas. I'm sure it is fine out in the country, but I know I10 through Phoenix will not let you ride your bike there! I 10 does stretch all the way to Houston! Good luck!!!

Alan