There’s a storm comin’
Picture the scene:
A log fire flickers sending a warm orange glow across the room. You are cocooned under a rug, enveloped by a massive sofa. Two beautiful white labradors nuzzle at your feet. A delicious smell of baking bread comes from the kitchen.
To your right the news channel talks of ’snow, wind and driving rain’. To your left you look out across an incredible 180 degree panorama of Los Angeles Bay. A storm rages outside. Palm trees are bent double as the gale whips through them. The city is pounded by the incessant flow of water causing floods and mudslides from Malibu to Compton.
“Do you want to stay another day….?”
Needless to say, we didn’t manage to leave Niall and Marian’s last Monday. (Thank you again so much guys.) But all good things must come to an end and - when the sun emerged the following day - we ran out of excuses not to hit the Pacific Highway south.
Much as the last few miles into Venice Beach, this was Baywatch territory. Long sandy beaches, palm trees, wooden life guard shacks and surfers stripping off their wetsuits at every turn. (It was most distracting. I nearly cycled into the back of Jamie a fair few times…)
It was a gorgeous ride and we burned up the miles.
Two ladies we overtook uphill asked if we had motors.
Jamie expressed dismay that he had not shouted: ”No, we’re just faster than you.” I suggested that it might have been a tiny bit inappropriate considering the ladies were a) fairly elderly and b) out for a gentle mornings amble. (I might insist he doesn’t play any ‘kick around’ games with my friend’s nephews at Christmas…)
Our luck was not to last though as, pulling into the town of Oceanside, there was a clunking on Jamie’s back wheel and close inspection revealed that he had seered through his pannier rack. We hot footed it to the nearest bike shop, persuaded the kind owner to reopen and got a replacement.
The next day it was more of the same. This time one of the bearings in the hub on his back wheel had come loose.
A bit of emergency mechanics later and we were back on the road (thanks to all of the cyclists who stopped to check we were ok - much appreciated) but with another storm fast approaching, we decided to swerve San Diego and head straight for the hills to outrun the severe weather.
And so far so good.
The hills were beautiful and not too steep. We stayed in Alpine and then hit the highest peaks (stopping by the randomly located casino at the top) before a steep 12 mile descent into the desert and Arizona.
Yes, we are back in the desert.
After a few sweeping sand dunes and irrigated farms, the scenery has settled into the type you see in all the old Wild West epics. Cactus, train lines and jutting mountains all accompanied by dust storms and small settlements with old road signs swinging off their hinges. We went to the diner yesterday. The waitress wore a pinafore and called me ‘Sweetie’ while asking if I wanted a refill of coffee. The trains headed fast in the direction of Yuma. A highway patrol officer stopped us to advise us that ’there’s a storm comin’.
It’s like being on a rolling film set.
Right now though we are taking the day off in the city of Tuscon before heading onwards to New Mexico and Texas. We have finally got the right parts for Jamie’s bike and are resupplying before we hit the desert once again. There are a few areas where there is not much out there. Luckily it is just about warm enough to appreciate how beautiful it is camping out in the desert. The stars here go on for miles. And the colours are amazing.
Not much out there does lead me handily back to what could be in the deserts though: namely solar power (seemlessly smooth…).
Oh and - of course - Katie Visco who is running across America. We thought she was a nutter, on her own in the middle of nowhere waving at us. So naturally we stopped and found that we were right. She is indeed a nutter (it’s going to take her as long to cross the US as it is us to pedal the globe) but a very lovely one and only a couple of weeks short of finishing her journey at the coast. (For more details check out: http://www.paveyourlane.com/ )
Back to the solar though.
For anyone paying close attention you will notice that our route has no longer taken us past the solar stations in the Nevada desert. Following the blizzards in China and the subsequent frostbite (only early stages so that does make it sound a bit dramatic but my feet did split open. and the skin died. and went purple. and swelled up and caused gaping wounds… actually it was pretty horrible) we decided to avoid the North and head straight down to the Mexican border.
Do not worry though. This area too is an area in which Concentrating Solar Power and/or photovoltaics can be used to good effect. Indeed, we cycled past Gila Bend, where the Solana Generation Station will be completed in 2011. This will provide power for 70,000 homes and importantly bring jobs to the area. Recent reports have shown that many Americans are concerned about the economic crash and a rise in unemployment. Green jobs could help to alleviate the problem.
Solar power is still a contentious issue though. Thick power lines and vast stations across the desert would naturally change the local environment. (See the Arizona Star for an article on the topic.) Solar power is also still expensive in relation to its carbon intensive cousins. Hopefully though, solutions can be found so that these underused areas of the US can be used to build industry and sustainably power the nation.
I am hoping that the Copenhagen agreements help to bolster the movement in this direction. Iain (who sadly had to leave the trip early) is over there at the minute so we are hoping that he is aiding and abetting matters rather than causing mayhem and single handedly bringing down the conference.
Will let you know either way.
Anyway, here in Tucson the rain is turning to sunshine and so it is back on the bikes tmrw. We are trying to get to San Antonio for Christmas so are hauling a*s in a series of hundred mile days. Do not fret though, we will do our best to get a few more tales from the road up here before a week off over Christmas.
Jamie has sworn blind that he will be providing a festive bumper blog so watch out for that headlining soon.
For now though, hope that life is great with you and will be back soon.
Susie xx
December 15th, 2009 at 4:28 am
Well done Susie, another great blog, can’t wait to read Jamie’s Christmas eulogy, we’ll all miss him at Christmas. Season’s Greetings to you both. Keep it up guys. Much love, Tamlyn xx
December 15th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Good update Suse - glad the weather is once again warm and subnny (frostbite? Pah, sounds no worse than the chilblains I used to get in Scotland..) Its a bit chilly here at the mo however. Shadows feet froze this AM! (well got covered in big clumps of ice anyway) but he’s pretty dense so didn’t really care
BTW I’m afraid from what I read things are not going well in Copenhagen. I hope that Ian is not veering into ’singlehandedly bringing down the conference’ territory..
December 15th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Keep it going you two - your blogs are great - Hi peter.
Suse your Mum and Dad wanted me to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and new year from them - they are missing you and love it when I drop in another print off - they really pounce on me.
They are both fine and looking forward to their trip - and ofcourse send you lots and lots of love, hugs and kisses.
Take care of yourselves - look forward to the next blog
Happy Christmas love Elaine X
December 29th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Hey guys, it was great to meet you a few weeks ago. Hope you had a nice Christmas and are enjoying the rest of your trip to Miami. Katie finished her run today so we’ve been celebrating/resting this afternoon in San Diego. Congrats on getting close to your goal!
January 11th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
This is a very nice site and I like your views on this topic. If anyone is interested in saving money on their electric bill, you will love this…