Wednesday November 9, 2011, 107 miles (172 km) – Total so far: 2,420 miles (3,894 km)

We boarded our bikes at 7:10 for the ride to Yuma! I was surprised at all the farmland instead of the expected desert. We made good time for the first several hours with a slight tailwind. The first pass was at Mohawk Valley and there were mountains! The climb was easy and we stopped for a quick lunch at a Chevron station in Tacna. After lunch the wind was more cross and head. We had a long day ahead so powered through it. We came to our first larger Telegraph Pass at 767 feet. This isn’t much if your bike is working but mine failed the first three gears. I ended up walking some until it flattened out and I physically moved the chain in the rear to the 3rd gear. What a pain. I finally nursed it over the top when the head winds really picked up. We pulled into Yuma at sunset after 107 miles (our record!) and found a motel since all the camping sites are for RV’s. After another sink laundry and showers we went next door to a Pizza Hut for their delicious buffet at $8. And the beer was only $2 a glass. The question of the day: Why is it that at the end of the day as you are headed into a town do the winds pick up and become headwinds? Just wondering. What a beautiful country!