30 May 2011

I wandered around with my packing list, trying to make sure I wasn't leaving anything out, or taking anything I obviously wasn't going to need. Eventually the saddlebags were full, the big green bag was strapped to the back, and the clock was inching toward 10:00. Kissed Susan, mounted up and headed off, with "60's on 6" burbling on the XM.

I took my usual 'easterly' route, although when the parade I caught up with toward the end of Wildcat Canyon Road turned right, I decided San Vincente would be less frustrating, if a bit less interesting.

There was little traffic going my way, and not much coming toward me; still a bit too early for the weekend to be over. I did catch up with a parade crawling around the curves toward the bottom of Banner Grade, and although they picked up the pace once the road straightened out, I passed them when the way was clear.

It looked like Brawley would be the best place to get fuel--I prefer to detour around the north side of the town, so I was happy to find a Shell station just before the turn-off.

Halfway across the dunes, what's this border patrol checkpoint doing here, and why do they have dogs? Serious about it, too, even though there's no way a motorcycle is going to pack away any undocumented aliens. After the dog had sniffed my rear tire, they waved me on. Police state?

Up onto I-10 at Blythe for the run to US 60, declining to get fuel at Quartzsite; I'm sure there's some in Aguila. But the light came on before Brenda, so I filled up with regular at a tumble-down station in Salome, not knowing there was a better one a half mile up the road. And I'm pretty sure I would have made it to Aguila, but I'm not pushing it this trip. Yet.

I was semi-intending to stop for the night in Wickenburg, but I didn't see my favorite combination of grocery / motel, and very few of either individually. So here I am in Surprise, at a semi-expensive Comfort Inn, and the closest reasonable 'groceries' were from a Target a couple of blocks north. No fresh produce.

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