LEAVING ON A JET PLANE

On a mountain

After all the goodbyes, all the hugs and kisses, a break down not more than 200' out of the driveway in Saint Louis, were here. Big old California, picked the right time to be in San Diego, 110-115 degrees the first day, wild fires burning all around us, smoke in the valleys. What a wonderful time of year for a 28,000 mile ride on your bike.

San Diego was having some of the hottest weather they have had in a long, long time. It was just plain hot when Dan and myself got off the plane. I felt like the desert was in the terminal getting our bags. Going outside was almost unbearable in the desert heat. The sun beat down so hard on my skin it was hard to breath, and you felt like getting sunburn even in the shade.

After we got our bags and car we headed from the airport about 100 miles into the desert to the indian reservation and the casino where the challenge was going to start. In the mean time we got there a day early and stayed with a close friend of Dave's about 30 miles from the reservation at his friends house.

Along the drive you could see the smoke starting to drift into the valleys from all the wild fires burning around us. Fortunately, we never came to close to any of the fires around us. As we drove through the mountains and hills, you could see where the fire had burned in the past leaving a reminder that fire travels fast in the dry grasses and trees in this part of California.

After a little small talk, some camera work and me being stupid we headed to the Pala Casino and resort. This clip passes a little time.

The hotel complex is huge its blocks and blocks of garage, hotel, and casino. We are heading for check in, and a dinner for all the riders. I am going to get my first look at what the Hoka Hey looks like in the eyes of all the riders, and what the Challenge means to them.

Dave is heading into the final chapters of this journey, from here on out the saga is about to be lived. I am hoping this will turn out with a great success, and great stories...