Off for a day so wanted to take a ride and thought I would go for pie. Had a few choices . . . about ten minutes from where i live i can start up in mtns from 200' elevation and end up 60 miles later at 6000' - 7000'. checked temp and it was 38* up there . . . no way. I read about you guys with heated gloves, jackets etc. don't have it and don't like the cold.
Went the other way for "short" ride. About 50 miles through desert roads at 68*, now that i like. then hopped on I-10 to head up to chiriaico summit for my pie. if you have gone east or west on I-10 from CA to AZ you went through there. 1700' and going west you head down to desert and Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs etc. there is a coffee shop started in 1933 by a guy, joe chiriaco, who went from alabama to see them play stanford in Rose Bowl. ended up opening gas station and general store on same day that 2 lane paved road, US 60, opened. family business since then.
in 1942 General George Patton established the Desert Training Center there and the only place for soldiers to go was joe chiriaco's place right next door. in 1945 joe established a memorial for patton ond got support from BLM. no electricity except generators until 2000. now there is the coffee shop, gas station with minimart, tiny post office and museum. no gas for 40-50 mi each way so a lot of people stop there.
so first i went to the coffee shop.
had my pie -- peach
checked out post office and strolled over to the museum
waived goodby to the General and headed home. good to get out
, about 150 miles and good pie. pushing 75* on way home, feeling bad for you guys in the cold.
