Day 5 – Friday June 4th – Costa Mesa - San Ysidro - Tuscon

Miles travelled = 483
Quick ride down H405 to I5 using the HOV lane where possible, and bypassed San Diego on H805. The weather was great, not hot (that was to come). Completed the required paperwork in San Ysidro, and showed a local lad how to use the camera.
Checking in at San Ysidro

Then it was back to pick up I8 and head east. It gradually got hotter, so using the wet towel around the neck, and a water bottle tucked into my jacket for on the go water helped. I8 is an interesting highway, good condition, and virtually no traffic across California and Arizona. Just miles and miles of scrub and rocks, with occasional areas under cultivation. Huge areas as well, so there must be good irrigation somewhere. It is a good road for sitting back and ruminating, as the only traffic is the occasional car zipping past (the speed limit is 75mph). In the distance are rocky peaks which never seem to get closer. A mirage I guess.

The only excitement was a small Border Patrol checkpoint in California, and then a full blown one complete with dogs in Arizona. I guess illegal aliens don’t ride Harleys as I was waved through both.

Just south of Phoenix I8 joins I10 to continue to Tuscon, and the pace and environment changed. Besides more traffic, billboards and industries appeared. A totally different ride to that on I8.

So tomorrow it is I10 for a few miles (and days). No need for a GPS. The forecast is not good, getting hotter, so my game plan may have to change. It was in the high 90s to-day in Arizona, any hotter and it becomes a different ball game to ride. I can see why many ride through the night to beat the heat.

Bedtime tonight is a Comfort Inn.