Update #34 - December 14, 2006
Cardiff, CA
10,167.06 miles ( 16,267.30 kms) since March 27th,
10,668.73 miles ( 17,067.97 kms) since Jan 01st

It is really hard to believe that I finished the trip across the country several days ago. I arrived in National City (south Diego, California Monday afternoon after riding around 48 miles from the county park in Potrero. I rode quite close to the Mexican Border. From National City, there was no other direction to travel but northward up the California Coast. I had about an 8 mile ride to the house of my host through the Warm Showers program in the Mission Hills district of North San Diego.

I was hoping to make some contact with the Messianic Congregation that I'm familiar with in the San Diego area or possibly a church so that I could find a place to maybe winter out for a month or two. Instead, I'm getting on my bike again for a short trip of around 300 miles to stay with some friends of mine in the Santa Maria area north of Santa Barbara. I have to spread the distance in short sections since I need to arrive no earlier than the 23rd. I might be able to find some place to stay in that area better than I would down in San Diego.

There isn't much to say about the trip from Phoenix, AZ to San Diego, CA. I did have the third longest ride for the year of 105 miles between Gila Bend and Wellport, AZ. I was amazed at seeing all of the produce being grown between Yuma, AZ and El Centro, California. The Imperial County in California is the 10th largest county with regards to agriculture production in the country producing well over $1 billion in produce and fruit. The Imperial Valley was also the lowest place I've traveled in this year. The city of El Centro, CA is about 53 feet below sea level. The Salton Sea north of Sea Level is around 200 feet below sea level.

I did have some more mountains to climb over. There was a long stretch between Ocotillo and Jacumba, CA that got me over 3,000 feet above sea level. At Campo, I crossed the southern terminus of the Pacific Crest Hiking Trail that reaches from Mexico to Canada. Several times along the way between Jacumba and San Diego, I got within a quarter mile of the Mexican Border. There were lots of Border Patrol vehicles out.

I spent three nights in the San Diego area (the last night was at the Point Loma Hostel). Between San Diego and Santa Maria, I'll be camping out in my tent at several state beaches and parks along the way. They have designated hiker/biker campsites that are only $3 a night. This weekend (especially Sunday) might be a wet one since they are calling for a major storm to come down the coast from the North. Hopefully, I'll find some places inside along the way since there are a few Warm Shower members along the way and there is a hostel in Santa Monica that I've stayed at before.

I'll try and post an update as often as I can if my plans change. The next update should be posted between December 21st and December 28th.