Day Seven - June 07, 2014

 

This is a photo of westbound I-10, in New Mexico.  I-10 from 

Deming, NM to Casa Grande, AZ was/is in excellent condition,

with speed limits up to 75 MPH.

 

There were stretches of open, flat high desert, some with mountains in

the distance, and others with the rock terrain up close.

This photo represents the most typical view along the way.

 

 

Again Union Pacific railroad tracks parallel much of our route today.

More containers.  Again, all were headed east.  The obvious reason why we only

saw west bound trains is that the east bound trains could not

overtake us.  They would have been travelling at 60 MPH, while we

were travelling 70 MPH.

 

 

Day Seven.  Overnight in Casa Grande, Arizona.  All is well.

 

Today's forecast highs along our route were more of what we have seen the last several days, so we arose at 5:30 a.m. (Sunrise in Deming was 6:03 a.m.), and after dressing, a quick breakfast at the motel, and loading the bikes we headed out.

 

The temperature at the start of our travel day was 61 degrees.  When we arrived at our destination at the end of the day the temperature was 97 degrees. 

 

Arizona is an exception to the daylight savings time changes across most of the US.  Most parts of the state (which includes our route of travel) observe Mountain Standard Time.  The exception is the Navajo Nation community in the northern part of the state.

 

Casa Grande (pop. 50,000) is on I-10, half way between Phoenix and Tucson.  I-10 and I-8 intersect approximately 5 miles south of the Casa Grande I-10 exit, which will require us to backtrack just a bit in the morning to continue our travels west.

 

Although there are probably interesting and/or historic sites to be seen, and things to do along our route, the heat takes the enthusiasm out of sightseeing while travelling by motorcycle.  We travelled approximately 325 miles today, and tomorrow should be slightly more.  We will be leaving an area where the temperature reaches triple digits each day, to an area of more moderate temperatures.  Today's high in San Diego, CA (our planned overnight tomorrow night) was 68 degrees, and the forecast high temperatures over the next ten days there are comparable.

 

Although the speed limit along I-10 today was 75 MPH I set the cruise at just a tick above 70 MPH and we maintained that speed fairly steadily from start to finish.  We were in a race with the heat, and rode the first 220 miles without stopping.  Along the way the temperature rose from 61 degrees to 92 degrees.  After stopping for gas, a bathroom break, and getting something cold to drink we were quickly back on the road.  The temperature on our arrival was 97 degrees.

 

Another good day.