D4 4/11 Blythe Ca to Salome az

STATS- 61 miles and 2300ft of climbing
Steve and Walt launch early 6:45 and head out across the Colo. river which is flowing well we haven't sucked it dry yet.

 Weather is beautiful, head across the river on a dedictated bike path, steve texts betsy mid river not bad for old farts.  We immediatly are routed onto I-10, on the positive side there is a smooth shoulder on the negative  side  everythin else, oil slicks, noise, debris, and lots of discarded  "motor-mens friends".
We have two good climbs and then off to quartzite where Bernie distributes a few of our postcards to some admiring women who love that it's a bunch of old guys and not all these hansome   young men who keep riding by?  Last climb after quartzite takes us to 2000 feet and then lunch with our assembled road angels, hoagies with cole slaw and of course a few beers and some Sauvignon blanc before attacking the last 20 miles into Salome.  This stretch of road was clean and lightly travelled and offered us a propane company named Passmore Gas and teh town of Hop which posted a sign at the end of town " you are beyondb hope".

  Joanie found a fabulous old motel the Westward, lovingly resotred and run by  Randy and Janetlee.  there are only 3 rooms so in order to aaccomodate us Randy opened up his trailers, steve stayed in a 1930 Airstream  and the Boyds and Osgoods got the very cool 5 th wheel RV.  It's just off the main street by the post office. Of course we had to check out the Cactus bar before tackling the multiple slow leaks Cathy picked up over the last few days.  As usual Doug and Robin organized the afternoon snacks , we headed out to the old Sheffields restaurant next to the Cactus where we indulged in liver and onions, chicken fried steak, meatloaf and southern fried chicken.  We'll be heading back for breakfast.  Randy set up a firepit in back and we all gathered for some songs ( Rizzy and Walt)  and then off to bed at 8:30 yes the 250+ miles are beginning to moderate the partying ( but not much). We knew we were a long way from now where but this Timbuktu sign was a bit of a shock.