Amboy, CA to Needles, CA 84 miles. This day started at 645 feet and ended at 500 feet.   There was one peak at 2800 at 48 miles.

Leaving Amboy

Different Cactus

Desert Scene

TOM:

Fenner, CA to Kingman, AZ 98 miles. The first 10 miles climbs from 2100 feet to 2800 feet. The second 10 miles descends to 2100 feet and back up to 2800 feet.  The next 20 miles descends to 500 feet.  The last 48 miles ascends to 3450 feet.

The plan for today was completely modified.  The starting point  is Amboy, CA and the end point is Needles, the distance is 83 miles.  The trip involved a gradual climb of about 2000 feet then decending to about the same elevation of 600 feet.
We started out from Amboy, CA at about 8:45.  The temperature was about 68 degrees and there was a wind to our back. The first few miles were on a level road before we started to climb.  We stopped at one hour to split a power bar. We had covered about 14 miles and the temperature had climbed with us to 78 degrees. Six minutes after the break I had a flat tire on the rear wheel of my bike. No pictures were made, since once you have seen one flat you've seen them all.  The first climb was about 600 feet and ended on a higher plateau.  The climb continued for 40 miles to about 2800 feet, then for the next 20 miles descended back down to about 600 feet in Needles, CA.  We saw lots of long trains today.  About 10 miles out of Needles the east bound train traveling next to us slowed down for two trains to pass the third west bound train stopped in front of the east bound to allow a fourth west train to pass.  It was like rush hour on the freeway.  The mountains, desert,  and  plant scenery were spectular again today.  Most of the trip today was again on Route 66.  We had to change our plan enroute since bikes were only allowed on about 8 miles of  Highway 40.  Bikes in California are only allowed on the freeways in rural areas where there are no other roads.  I feel safer on the freeway than on other roads because there is always a wide shoulder.  Route 66 is very lightly traveled but we were on busy US Route 95 for a few miles and it had little or no area for a bike to travel.  We made it safely into Needles, CA at about 4 PM.  We decided to take a day's rest tomorrow since we have been traveling for 7 days.  More to come after tomorrow.

Getting our kicks

ERIC:

Day 7 - (4/28/03) Another day in the desert.  Amboy, CA to Needles.  The roads were a little better today.  There was one section that was closed because it was being fixed.  It had a lot of loose gravel.  We were able to ride on it anyway which was nice since we had a long stretch without worrying about any cars.  Bicycles were not allowed on Highway 40 for this stretch so we stayed on Route 66 most of the day.  We are all very tired so tomorrow will be a rest day.  It will be nice to let my body rest for a day.  I really want to drive 95 miles north to go see the Hoover Dam.  An air conditioned car will be a real treat as today was hot.  Tomorrow we will also take a break from updating the web.

Goffs Butte

Day Seven - 4/28/2003

Lucille:

April 28 - Monday -I left Amboy this morning a few minutes after the guys did and drove 72 miles to Needles on I-40.  I seemed to be in need of a day of just relaxing in the motel today, so that's what I did.  Looked around downtown Needles for a short time, then returned to the motel.  I also did a little bit of work on David's quilt.  Tom and Eric were very tired when they arrived this afternoon and we've all decided that tomorrow will be a day of rest - no biking.  We will not do a journal entry tomorrow. The numbered days are referring to biking days only.  We'll be in Needles for 2 nights, then on to Arizona.