| There are only a couple of bike routes doable from | | | | riding, dry, hot and long and just before you get |
| San Diego CA to Yuma AZ and they are indeed | | | | there you will take Old Hwy 80 about 10 more miles, |
| challenging, especially consider the mountain pass. You | | | | which then connects to I-8 for a bit for about 10 |
| go from Sea Level to just over 4,000 feet in | | | | miles over the 4,000 foot pass, that is one heck of a |
| elevation. It is a wicked ride with lots of hills and heat. | | | | climb indeed. Next you will get off on Hwy 98 and |
| Often there are severe crosswinds and you get | | | | take that to Calexico about 38 miles, but it is most all |
| rather sandblasted on a bicycle. The route is a little | | | | down hill and refreshing, well considering the dusty |
| tricky for the first 22 miles, but may I suggest you | | | | desert and winds. But you are now on the flats and |
| start out at the Hotel Del Coronado to help work | | | | you can make a good clip across the desert.After |
| you into the route. The wind along the Pacific is brisk | | | | Calexico you ride another easy, but rather boring 20 |
| and always blowing.Now then starting from the Hotel | | | | more miles to Evan Hewes Hwy, which is like a |
| Del you travel down Hwy 75 south about 9-miles and | | | | frontage road for awhile and then you will come to |
| a beautiful ride with the wind at your back. This will | | | | the 186 Hwy and go North to Araz Junction and |
| be the last of the beauty for a while, the warm-up | | | | follow Araz Rd. to Yuma Crossing State Park, where |
| will be nice considering the future that lies ahead. | | | | you will ride into Yuma, AZ on Business 8 or Fifth |
| Once you hit Palm Ave. you are ready for your trek | | | | Street. You made it 177 miles, not bad for 12-hour |
| Eastward across the bottom of the state. Take Palm | | | | ride now may I suggest cruising through the town to |
| Ave to Beyer Blvd North to Orange Avenue East, | | | | Barnes and Noble, as it is a great pick-up point with |
| which turns into Olympic Parkway. Turn left onto | | | | an air-conditioned coffee shop, Meanwhile I will |
| Hunter Parkway 1 mile to East Otay Lakes Rd and | | | | prepare myself for my second day of riding into |
| then 7 miles to Hwy 94, which you will endure.You | | | | Phoenix on my Ride Across America.Lance Winslow - |
| will then take Hwy 94 to I-8 about 50 miles of hard | | | | Online Think Tank forum board. |