G.A.S.P.

This is the story (the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth) of how I managed to ride 120 miles today (12-12) while trying my best to not go nearly that far.  I left Blythe, California (about 5 miles from the Arizona border) early in the morning with just one intent – I needed to get somewhere fast.   The original somewhere I had in mind for the day was Nowhere, but that wasn’t anywhere I wanted to go now.  During the planning phase of this journey, I had selected Nowhere, Arizona as my destination for the day.  There isn’t any such town – it is just Exit 81 of I-10 (86 miles from Blythe), and I named it because it was in the middle of “nowhere.” 

So off I went again, after deciding that I would check the Rest Stop at Milepost 86 to see if it offered anywhere to camp.  It was a really nice Rest Stop, but the sign clearly said that camping was not permitted – nowhere on the premises.  I thought about waiting until it got dark, then setting up my tent somewhere out of sight, but decided that didn’t sound like a very safe thing to do.  I still needed somewhere to stay, but it couldn’t be just anywhere.

So off I went again, with lights flashing, as it was now past sundown.  I thought that Tonopah (Exit 94) might offer somewhere to stop for the night.  By the time I reached town, it was nowhere near daylight, but there wasn’t a motel to be found anywhere. 

So off I went again, now clearly understanding that the first place to stay would be somewhere at Exit 112 or Exit 114.  I rode for miles in the dark, with my red flashing light attached to my backpack, my yellow flashing light attached to my handlebar bag, and my headlight attached to my head.  I could see pretty well, and I was on a wide shoulder somewhere well off the highway, so I felt safe.  I kept waiting for the Highway Patrol to “pull me over,” though, but it didn’t happen anywhere.   I tried to find a motel at Exit 112, but after riding a half-mile down the road, it looked like I was going nowhere.  So I turned around, got back on I-10 and headed for Exit 114.  I arrived there after 7:30 looking for just about anywhere to stay.  I found a very nice Days Inn (they’re everywhere) – with an outdoor hot tub.  I feel better now. 

Actually, I did do a little sightseeing today.  When I stopped for lunch at a barren exit ramp (and was still thinking this would be a short riding day), I walked down the local road a bit and took some photos of desert vegetation.  These included my first look at the giant Saguaro Cactus, of which I will see a lot more in the coming few days.