So I got a chance to take a nice ride today. Off after working too many 12 hour shifts. I was looking at The Weather Channel this morning and saw a lot of crappy weather in midwest and north and was feeling sorry for a lot of you Valkyrie riders. All of a sudden it is GREAT weather in the desert. Under 80 today so I went through some back roads and down a canyon for about 20 miles.
Absolutely no traffic on this narrow road. We had rain here recently so some debris on the road and a little more careful riding.
The road does go through a canyon with spectacular rock formations on both sides.
Then out of the canyon through a lot of agriculture. Table grapes, corn, avacados, citrus, etc.
Even dates shown here near harvest time. You can see where workers have put paper covers around the dates to protect them from birds and such. This area is the prime date growing spot in the U.S. accounting for 95% of the nation's crop.
I head on down the east side of the Salton Sea. Largest lake in California and 3rd largest saline lake in US. Present form from 1905 when Colorado River broke through dikes and flowed into area for about two years forming huge lake.
Surface elevation is 227 feet below sea level. There is no outflow for the lake so its salinity is greater than seawater and that limits some of the fish that can survive. It has been called a "crown jewel of avian biodiversity" with over 400 species of birds documented. It is also a major resting stop on the Pacific Flyway and many species start through here at this time of year.
I stopped at this beach and was reminded I had better head home for adult spirits and the first game of world series.
As you go around the south side of the lake through Brawley it is only about another 20 miles to Mexico. The road back up the west side of the lake is a big route for smuggling drugs and aliens. About 10 miles up there is a border control checkpoint. There was a long line of cars and trucks so I just went by everyone to the front where agents and dogs were checking the vehicles. I pulled over stopped and tried to get pics of the border patrol with the Valk, but they said it was not allowed . . . . Oh well, on home after a nice 225 mile ride. Fun.
