We've had a fine day climbing and are near the top of the mountains at 4000 ft, 15 miles east of Pine Valley.

We were up again at 4:45 this morning to pack and eat a breakfast of coffee, instant oatmeal, and a banana in Jim and Ellen's spare home.  Then we tried to leave things as we found them, and were out on the road by 6:15.

Our long climb from 300 to 3300 ft began gradually enough, but as we got onto the mountains it was steep enough to have us in our lowest gears for the duration.   We stopped every few miles and by about 8 were near the 8 mi, 2000 ft point and stopped taking a photo when Jim and Ellen pulled up in their SUV to see how we were doing.  We let them know we were fine and they waved goodbye and we assumed headed on toward San Diego.

We were just about at the 3000 ft point when Barb spotted a familiar duct tape-patched orange cyclist flag in the ditch.  She knew immediately it was Jake's, our young cycling friend who'd been over the same road on Halloween.   So she picked it up, stuck it in her rear rack, and then I had her pose with it at the 3000 ft marker.

We sent the picture to Jake who confirmed he'd lost it on the way up the mountains, and we'll see if we can return it to him.

We got off the interstate and onto old US Highway 80, climbed another 300 ft, and then gently descended into Jacumba for lunch. The Jacumba Spa and Resort was open and we enjoyed a delicious lunch of hamburgers and fries.  We were tempted to stay and soak in the water from the hot springs, but doubted we be able to get back on our bikes to ride.  So we bypassed the opportunity and were back on  the road climbing toward the small town of Boulevard.

We met another touring cyclist who had started the Pacific Coast route, but became disenchanted, bought a cheap car,  drove to San Diego and sold it.  Now he's doing a loop across the mountains and back to LA.  Everyone's ride is different.

We stopped in Boulevard at the lone restaurant,  an Italian place, for dessert, but sadly the tiramisu and cheesecake were of the frozen variety, and a little disappointing.   Still calories are calories.

Then we climbed again through Live Oak Springs and a few miles later arrived at the Golden Acorn casino.  They weren't all that happy with our desire to camp here, so we've been relegated to a far corner of the parking lot.  But we showered, ate a reasonably priced prime rib dinner, and are back in our tents preparing for a cool night.  Low of 44 predicted.

Tomorrow we'll be up, and have a few short climbs before we descend into San Diego and finish our ride.

Feeling fine and ready for tomorrow.