OFFICIAL WORLD WANDER STATIONARY

March 6, 1995

San Diego CA to Joshua Tree National Park CA

I'm writing from a campground in Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California. Today is Day 6 and our fifth day on the road. Day one we all met and had Dinner. I arrived in San Diego by truck on Day Zero (if you will). A fouled Aircraft spark plug and my working on the house till the last possible minute failed plans of flying south. Mom & Dad drove me down in their pickup. The bike and gear bouncing in the back. I did get most of the inside of the house repaired, got my driveway drainage system installed, new steps for the back deck, and the Bath/Utility room remodel completed. Whew!

The flip side of the work on the house being completed is that I didn't get any training rides in....Well, I did ride the rollers for two hours one day.

Nineteen people met in San Diego, out of the twenty four who indicated they were interested.

Ole - the instigator, and experienced bicycle tourer, and long distance hiker, 44 years old, most currently a hostel manager.

Kevin - A thrifty car rental man. Did a bike centennial cross country ride in 93. From Tulsa, Oklahoma, approx. 48.

Ric - In the Ski Business, bell hop and waits tables at different Colorado ski resorts, 41.

Michael - A retired health care lawyer, married, His wife is moving to the Portland area to take care of aging mother. No previous touring experience, 55.

John & Cynthia - Married, from Alaska. They've toured down the west coast, WA to CA, late 40's.

Brad - Did a cross country in Sept 93, took one month, averaged 100 miles per day....He's a brute. Decided to join the trip last minute. Quit his job, got a divorce and is renting out his house, 27.

Jodi - A white water raft tour guide. She's the youngest of the group at 25. Looks like your basic attractive beach blonde. Has several thousand miles of touring experience, and has traveled to Nepal.

Christine - Jodi's school friend from eighth grade. Is planning to do just the US portion of the trip. No touring experience, but a strong rider. Mountain bikes a lot, 25.

Jim - Retired, riding a titanium Mt. bike with front shocks. A gadget man who clearly doesn't have any touring experience, but is a very friendly guy and will learn quickly, 62.

Gene - Ex bike racer and retired military man, now a security guard. Wasn't on the list of interested people cause Ole didn't think he was interested, but he showed up so he's going, married, approx. ~50.

Sally - Retired school teacher. Just got back from a cross country ski race in Canada. the oldest in the group and tough as nails, 64.

Helen - Mother of 7, divorced. Does lots of traveling, tall, slender, 58.

Tim - A computer engineer from the south with a thick accent good home values, concerned about the people around him. No touring or camping experience but a strong cyclist. Got into cycling after two knee injuries and operations from Basketball, approx. 32.

Liz - A short slender powerhouse, has toured Vietnam and done a bike centennial tour. She has a very heavily loaded bike. Worked as an electronic tech, but for the last three years has been living off an inheritance.

Spy - Short for Spiaos. A triathelete and real estate broker. Very slender and friendly and helpful personality, ~31.

Louise - Another Hostel Manager from Seattle. Very little biking experience, a bit overweight but keeping up, approx. 46.

Regina - I don't know much about her yet, she seems to be friends with Sally and Helen, ~48.

We spent the first night out at San Pico State Park near Ramona CA, approx. 48 miles. Second night out: Tamarisk Grove Campground 48 mi. Third night: Borego Springs Campground 15 mi. (rest day) Day five: Entrance to Box Canyon near Mesa CA. First wild campsite (i.e., no campsite) 65 mi. tonight. Joshua Tree Campground 21 mi. The next two nights will be wild on our way to Vidal junction.

The group is getting along very well, it's pretty entertaining to watch some of the characters interact, i.e., Kevin, Ric and Gene. We've had more days of rain than sunshine. Night before last I left my ground cloth out to far, the rain fly dripped onto it and then puddled under the tent. The foot of my sleeping bag got very wet. Careless me.

Today we had approx. 20 mph head winds as we climbed 2000 feet to camp. I was on dinner crew. We've split into tour teams so only have to cook dinner once every four days. Breakfast and lunch is individual. Not much talk about the future yet, we're still getting to know each other. Of the people who are riding their bikes all the time (some people have been walking the hills), I'm one of the slowest....I expected that. There are about 7 riders who are really strong (fast) Kevin, Gene, Ric, Jodi, Christine, Spy and Ole.

We've had 5 flats already and two people have fallen off their bikes. All in all it's an enthusiastic crowd, and people at this point want to stick together. We'll see how it goes.

Keep in touch.

John