Blythe, CA, does not grab me as a viable choice for residency… Nothing bad about it, but simply no appeal to this traveler… I suppose part of that is a bias I have against the far west generally, and towards remote desert locales. I do love to visit places like this, however! In fact, I think California, and all the west for that matter, is an absolutely stunningly beautiful place, and its many natural sites and scenic routes offer some of the most ideal riding conditions for bikers anywhere.

The western half of our nation is also a very long way from 80% of my friends and 100% of my family, so it could never be a realistic choice possibility, ergo, the bias. I did consider it once upon a time, however… I became enamored with Albuquerque when I rented an apartment there several years ago. Between the location, good riding, and friends I have there, it was easy to add it to my short list of possibilities… Alas, that distance thing cropped up, and I ended up buying a house in Alabama instead…

I can handle the differences in the politics of folks… to each his own, and I am not inclined to evangelize. I am not only tolerant of cultural differences, I enjoy learning about them, and I do seek them out. As long as folks will leave me unmolested to my own thoughts, I don’t have any problem with leaving them to theirs’. Crowds are another thing entirely…

The only major problem I have with California besides the distance thing is the unbelievable population! No worse in terms of density, of course, than the northeastern corridor on the opposite coast, but… Folks everywhere, all moving about and chocking the highways, producing long lines no matter where you go: Supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants, motel check-ins. I just spend entirely too much of my time straddling ALI with both feet on the ground or waiting in line somewhere. Perhaps this is one of the many reasons Montana is a favorite of mine! Anyway, here I am…

Normally I wouldn’t have even thought of venturing over here, but while scanning my trusty Atlas, I spotted the Salton Sea and Joshua Tree NP… OK, I do need to revisit those places… It’s been a long, long time since I was through there, and it wouldn’t hurt to make sure they are still where I left them… Blythe was in an OK spot to launch a visit by doing a big loop and winding up in Twenty-Nine Palms.

I got up early, as usual, made preparations, and headed out. We rode south then southwest to Brawly, where we were to make the turn up to the Salton Sea SP… An enjoyable ride with few vehicles encountered for a long stretch… until we neared the Imperial Sand Dunes, NRA, at Glamis, CA… Dang! Some sort of event going on, as dune-buggies and RVs were everywhere! Impressive site, if one is in to that sort of thing. Apparently, many are!

By the time we entered Brawly, traffic had become heavy, and the temps had continued their predicted rise. No Gerbings this day, and now I was starting to wonder if my leathers would need to be removed, as well. I was thirsty, tired, and a wee bit disoriented, so a stop to take a break was in order.

As I pulled into the convenience store parking spot, a lady was standing in front of her van in the next space over watching a couple of techs fumble around under the hood… While putting the kickstand down, I quipped, “Some folks just have all the luck, huh?” She smiled and responded… with something like, it was better here than where she’d been or was going!

I entered the store, found some much needed relief, then purchased some replacement fluid and some cookies. I went back outside to escape the crowd of folks inside. The lady and I began to chat, and I gave her a cookie. She was on her way to her father in law’s funeral the next day… Her children would be joining her there, but not her husband… He’d been killed the month before in an auto accident! She then began to weep, and I gave her a hug…

She regained her composure about the same time the tow truck arrived, and the techs then proceeded to load her van. She left with them to go to the dealership, but she thanked me for the hug and wished me well… I did the same. As they drove off, she turned and waved… I responded.

At times like these, I often feel a strong urge to give myself a well-deserved swift kick in the pants! How can I have the audacity to feel down or dare pout about some little inconvenience or petty boo-boo? Many people in this world have real problems and genuine tragedy in their lives, but I have known by comparison relatively little sorrow. I am so fortunate, yet… I felt rather guilty right that moment.

In our conversation, she’d mentioned that I was almost at the Salton Sea… just continue straight up that road and I’d see it… I did. Well, I saw it off in the distance to the east of my route… I’d intended to ride up the east side of that saline inland body of water on the two-lane road alongside it that would take me to the Park HQ. I should have done a tiny bit of map-work at my stop, but I had become distracted by a struggling, lovely soul in need of a kind word… I just couldn’t help myself.

No problem, the road I’d intended to take would intersect the four-lane I was on about forty miles north, so I’d just double back… I did. Wouldn’t be able to make Twenty-Nine Palms this day after all, but no sweat, I’d just get a room in Indio, I concluded, where there should be plenty available…

I did do the double back, and I’m glad I did. I rode on down to the Park HQ, saw their video presentation, looked over their souvenir offerings, then sat at a picnic table in the shade and looked out over that interesting expanse of water… and thought about stuff…

I was absolutely delighted to be there… to be me doing what I do. I watched other visitors come and go, tourists all, doing what tourists do. Unlike any of them, however, I was all alone, thoroughly enjoying my solitude… and feeling mighty glad things had worked out just that way!

I then headed for Indio… and proceeded to get turned around in Coachella before arriving… Yep, I’m still as navigationally challenged as ever! By the time I’d found my way again, I was fed-up with traffic, increasing heat, congestion, crowds, and all things busy! I jumped up on I-10 in Indio and headed east towards the turn-off for Joshua Tree NP and Twenty-Nine Palms. I figured to see a suitable place to stop soon enough… but that was not to be…

I was most of the way up that long, steep grade when it occurred to me that I wasn’t going to find anything soon, and that I might just have to ride all the way back to Blythe… I didn’t want to ride through the Park so late, as I thought more time would be needed to properly enjoy that treasure, so… Blythe became the target destination… again.

I cruised into town an hour or so before sundown, and I got a room at a different motel at a different Exit this time. An upgrade, I thought, so I could rest my weary carcass well, plus be closer to dining opportunities this time. It all worked out well, and another wonderful day in the saddle concluded. Dang! I sure am proud to be here!!!