Lost time in Yuma, rider is bored.

I am working in Yuma this week and next, but my work for the weekend seems to have fallen through. I wasn't planning on doing anything but working, so I didn't plan ahead and bring anything with me but a book and a hammock.
What do you do with two days to kill in Yuma, in December?
Is there a place I could rent riding gear and a bike?
Should I just go hiking? Drive to the Salton and be touristy? Picacho? San Diego?
Anyone want to loan out a bike and go for a ride? I could probably turn up a jacket and a helmet at a pawn shop, maybe. Or on Craigslist.

If you brought your passport, drop down into Mexico.

I rounded up a half assed sleeping bag and found myself in Joshua Tree NP, by way of the Salton disaster. I did have an enjoyable time at the international banana museum in "couldn't smell worse, California". I would rate the smell as a cross between dead possum and fresh vomit on a hot sidewalk.
But the banana milkshakes were fantastic. He is hoping to be able to sell some banana beer soon too, which will be totally worth the drive.
I saw some ADV types in Joshua Tree, but they were too good to return my salute. Several newer KLR's, mostly BMW's. Not all at once.

I was a bit disappointed by JTNP, being from Utah. I was expecting taller climbing routes. I called my wife (the real climber) and she said that "no, JT is mainly short slabby granite off widths" and I agreed. Whatever that means. Still, I found a likely group to hang out with for a bit, talked stupidly huge vans because I have one, and did some climbing, because I climb too, though I mostly aid anymore. Still, it beats listening to fighter jets practicing whatever it is they practice in the Yuma area. That reminds me, I need some earplugs.

I went through the "ghost town" of Salton on my way back, and criminy, what a disaster. A planned community that looked like it had been hit by a hurricane followed by a tornado, then a flood and then the mother of all droughts. Mixed into this nightmare was well preserved homes with fine RV's and flamingos. I even saw an old chap riding his new bicycle, wearing a newish golf shirt and pressed slacks. He waved, and I waved back then got the hell out of there, because it felt like the Twilight Zone to me, and I saw enough of those from around the hallway corner when I was kid, I was supposed to be sleeping.

I brought my hammock and a lousy sleeping bag, and it was too cold to hang outside, so I had to sleep in the truck of my rental car. That would have been fine if it was an explorer, or something like that. But I rented a Ford Focus. Never a more likely candidate for a rental car existed. I am a bit saddened to say I had to sleep mostly in the trunk. I am not a particularly tall fellow, but still far too lanky for the back seat. The front seats, which were suitable only for driving short periods were wholly terrible for sleeping in. Another fine trait for a rental vehicle, because they aren't renting RV's at the airport, after all. So, there I am sliding into the trunk, like a refugee or a hostage.

Waking up in the Colorado Desert in California was a beautiful sight though. Chiriaco summit was close by and I had a fine trucker's breakfast. I learned they existed for nearly seventy years at that diner, gas and service station before electricity arrived. :eek1 Thank goodness it did too, otherwise I might not have been able to read the descriptions on the condom dispensers in the mens room. Not much need for that, so off I went back to Joshua Tree and had a fine time hiking and climbing.

I was excited to find that I was going through Glamis for the first time too, but of course in the Focus, it wasn't much fun. Threw sand around for a moment like an idiot, then got back on the freeway where that thing belongs.

At the end of the day, I am tossing back a margarita in a can (don't get those back in Utah) and sitting in the hot tub at the hotel.

One more week and I am home for Christmas, dispensing the goodies I got the girls. A stuffed flying parachute monkey (for danger girl jr) and another thing I am not telling because danger girl herself might be reading this. Ha! You thought I would give it away. And for the family I bought a yearly NP pass.

I left my passport and the jerks at the Utah DMV ruined my nice Michigan passport/drivers license card so I can't use it anymore, so I wasn't crossing the border. But it looked like there was some interesting mountains over there. Maybe next time.

. You need to write a book! We can call it "a series of unfortunate dented events"

Hahaha! Happy holidays Mr Dent! Safe travels!!!

Well, you described Salton Sea pretty well. I swear the only reason it exists is from traffic they get from off-roaders going to Ocotillo. That place is a zoo. And it's a damn good thing the prevailing winds are from the west out there.

The east side of the 'lake' (seriously??) is slightly more attractive, with Salvation Mountain to see, and a stop at Bashfords RV resort and hot springs. Neat old place to camp, with really nice mineral spas. There are a couple more RV 'resorts' there, one for retirees, and a KOA that I'm not sure how it manages to stay open. For riding, the Bradshaw Trail begins there and ends somewhere over the mountains near Desert Center. BTW, there's a very nice road-race track at Desert Center that just opened the last year so, if you're into that kind of thing.

Joshua Tree is way too touristy and they have way too many rules. We drove through it again a couple of years ago with the motorhome after a weekend of D37 racing in Twentynine Palms. We found the ONLY site left that you could park a coach in, and about 6:30 wifey was cooking up some dinner and fired the genny for the microwave, and it wasn't 5 minutes and some old granola camper lady was knocking on the door, "Maybe you didn't know generator hours end at 5pm.". OMFG.

There's not much riding up there either, certainly not anything offroad.

Just a little further west of Salton Sea is Anza Borrego and the mountains out there, Julian, some nice places to explore and visit. Julian is one of those vintage mountain towns, famous for pie, and very quaint. Further west you'll find some large indian casinos that can be hugely entertaining for some.

Between Salton and Joshua Tree is Palm Springs which has some interesting attractions, not the least of which is a very nice air museum.

I've only driven thru Yuma a couple of times coming from Phoenix/Tucson, and I'm sorry brotha, you've been sentenced to hell for a work place.


We don't have anything like Cedar Breaks or Zion. No siree.

Thanks for sharing and good luck!

Since you are stuck in Yuma, try out Burgers and Beer for some decent food.

321 West 20th Street, Yuma, AZ

<NOBR>(928) 783-3987</NOBR>
<NOBR></NOBR>
<NOBR></NOBR> burgersandbeer.com

S.C.

You should know that its still snowing back in Utah. Should be fantastic skiing with the parents. Next time list all the presents as everyone wants to know. Especially me

It was indeed snowing back in Utah, so upon my return I took my family skiing at Solitude.
It was awesome, except for my father in law, who shattered his elbow on a rock, he skis the iced out rock moguls. I tried to convince him to stick to the powder and trees and nice safe cliffs, but he insisted. He went back to Texas with some new titanium hardware. I felt pretty bad, but I still had a great time. I think that makes me a jerk, probably. At least he did it at the end of the day. Man, I am a jerk. :eek1

I will be back in Yuma in a few weeks, and I hope I have a free weekend again, because I, ahhh... Oh hell. I don't know what I would do besides drive to California, and go climbing, or something.

Next time though, I will bring gear, so I will be sure to have to work all weekend. That's a sure fire way to not get time off. Have plans for the weekend, you will have to work.

I will check out Burgers and Beers, for sure.

One of the gifts was a screaming monkey with elastic arms, and it flies through the air, then floats down on a parachute attached to it's back. I got it at the international banana museum. It was the last one. So you can't get any. Sorry.

That place was worth the drive alone.




Also bought Danger Girl a shirt at a hippy tourist junk shop in Joshua Tree, the city, not the park.