Hello from Jacumba Springs, CA!  It took us awhile to get here, what with climbing about 3000 ft and much of that with a head wind - a tough ride was had by all.  The last 5 miles of the day were pretty much all downhill which helped.  We had all manner of wierd riding conditions and surfaces today, from a very wide shoulder albeit on Interstate 8  (not as scary as it sounds and legal apparently in CA.) to some very bumpy, gravely glass strewn roadsides.  One of our group has had flats both days, but otherwise we are all intact as are our bikes.    Today at a rest stop (actually a pie stop...) some of our group met a fellow bicycle tourist who is taking the same route as we are, pulling his gear on a small trailer behind his bike.  We rode through mountains with incredible canyons, much of it through Cleveland National forest, sparsely populated areas but with an amazing amount of green considering how little rainfall this area has gotten lately.  One of the days' highlights was having a really healthy looking coyote begin to cross the road and then hightail it back into the brush when he spied my friend Elizabeth and I.  Also spotted a small hawk ( not yet officially identified but the other trip birder saw it too) and we rode by about 20 large windmills, making us feel slightly better about pedaling into the unrelenting wind!   We were passed all day by a number of Border Patrol vehicles, usually speeding as if on their way to something important.   This was our first big clue that we were very close to Mexico until we spied a long, fencelike structure running out of our sight in both directions as we were coming into Jacumba Springs.  So, we are fatigued, glad to be looking at tomorrow's ride which is less hilly, grateful for the beautiful riding weather that has been with us so far.  Here are some pics from the day.