{"id":155,"date":"2009-06-04T02:00:02","date_gmt":"2009-06-04T09:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/liveforthepath.com\/?p=155"},"modified":"2022-04-30T18:38:34","modified_gmt":"2022-05-01T01:38:34","slug":"day-4-desert-center-to-rancho-mirage-78-miles-65-hours-saddle-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/liveforthepath.com\/?p=155","title":{"rendered":"Day 4 \u2013 Desert Center to Rancho Mirage – 78 miles \u2013 6.5 hours saddle time"},"content":{"rendered":"

I get ready and head to the cafe at around 6:45 (but note I can see it, and I know the pastor is not there). Anyway, I sit inside and talk to the waitress for a while, but still no pastor. Oh well, no harm done. I order an omelet and get out of town.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>

An old, closed gas station and cafe in Desert Center.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"This<\/a>

This cafe has not been closed for even an hour since 1928. Sadly the woman I talked to said that this may end soon.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"My<\/a>

My home from last night.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Downtown<\/a>

Downtown Desert Center. This road used to be Route 60 when it existed.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Getting<\/a>

Getting closer!!<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The<\/a>

The desert in the morning.<\/p><\/div>\n

I head up the hill and stop again to eat and to buy some stuff in Chiriaco Summit.<\/p>\n

\"More<\/a>

More Desert<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The<\/a>

The George Patton museum in Chiriaco Summit<\/p><\/div>\n

I talk to a trucker who offers me a ride to Indio. However, since I am in a town with Summit in the name, I decline, and am rewarded with an absolutely amazing ride down San Andreas Fault on Box Canyon Road. I highly recommend it to absolutely anyone who likes biking in the area. It is gorgeous and totally downhill all the way to Mecca.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The beginning of Box Canyon Road.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Box<\/a>

Box Canyon Road<\/p><\/div>\n

\"More<\/a>

More views off Box Canyon.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Yet<\/a>

Yet more Box Canyon.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Entering<\/a>

Entering the fault zone.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Looking<\/a>

Looking behind me…<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Looking<\/a>

Looking ahead… at vineyards. The Salton Sea is in the background.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Wine<\/a>

Wine comes from there.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Wrong<\/a>

Wrong turn in Oman?<\/p><\/div>\n

In Mecca I go to another Starbucks for a few hours of WiFi. When I am done I head north on the 111 through the towns of Thermal, Coachella, Indio, and into the rich areas of town. The best part is that I have a tailwind the entire time. Once I get to places like La Quinta, Indian Wells (gorgeous), and Palm Desert it is getting dark, and I know that the police (and residents) of an area like this would not appreciate me free camping, so I begin to look around for lodging.<\/p>\n

Someone who was next to me at a stop light yelled out if I was going to Palm Springs, but he was pulling away by the time I responded, and I never saw him again. Alas. There was not really any space which was not inhabited, so when I saw a Motel 6 in Rancho Mirage, I went to investigate. At $39.95 the price was right, so I got my first room of the trip, and immediately had my first shower of the trip. It felt good. I also managed to do laundry there (much needed), and watched a little bit of The Ultimate Fighter. It was a great day beginning to end, the best thus far on the trip.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The campsite.<\/p><\/div>\n