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Based in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, we three are longtime single cycle riders. After early retirement, Karen and David bought a jumbo-sized Cannondale tandem. It's white (very), trimmed in red. We call it the Pillsbury Doughboy. We were joined by Bill, an old friend, on his 14-year old single Cannondale and made the call that started this adventure. He's supposedly retired but continues to find real work when he chooses.We planned to pedal self-supported across the U.S. in Spring 2011 from San Diego CA to St. Augustine FL. In beginning this adventure we agreed philosophically with Jean-Jacques Rousseau: "The person who has lived the most is not the one with the most years but the one with the richest experiences."

Friday, April 8, 2011

We be in jacumba



around 4200 ft,  2nd day out of San Diego





So here we are at the jacumba hot springs spa and lodge. We are a a half mile from the border fence. Mucho border patrol, NO danger here. Still struggling with this ipad. And rain. Sleet. Snow. Wind. We decided to push ahead from Pine Valley when the forecast went from 4 to 6 inches and schools were closed and chains were recommended for cars crossing one side of the mountain pass. Got 30 more miles in, thanks to grocery bags wrapped around feet and a $12.95 pair of insulated gloves from the liquor store. 1800 feet of climbing. Napa Valley winery owners were on the route too, four of the nine riders in their group will be continuing to St. Augustine. We may find ourselves again in their company in Brawley. 70 miles tomorrow, or we camp roadside.
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7 comments:

  1. UnknownApril 8, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    Those tires aren't made for snow! The hot springs must feel great. Kinda sounds like the first full day of my bike tour with Dad; frozen, wearing everything I brought, wondering if I was screwed. When it starts like that, its got to get better. You're just getting that stuff out of the way. I didn't know it snowed down there. Have fun, ride strong, and stay warm.

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  2. UnknownApril 10, 2011 at 8:12 AM

    Edited from Wikipedia:

    Jacumba (pronounced "ha-COOM-ba") had a population of 660 at the 2000 census. The town is in a valley in the Jacumba Mountains at an altitude of 2,800 feet. The area is dry with an annual average rainfall of 11.8 inches. It is served by Old Highway 80.

    Located on the US-Mexico border. A small settlement exists on the Mexican side, known as La Rumorosa. The unmanned crossing was closed in 1995. The new, enlarged border fence now runs through the area. The United States Border Patrol maintains an increased presence in the area to curtail smuggling and illegal immigration.

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  3. UnknownApril 10, 2011 at 8:13 AM

    The Kumeyaay peoples occupied Jacumba and surrounding areas prior to European incursion. Around the turn of the 20th century, the health and relaxation benefits of natural hot springs began to be commercialized. The Jacumba hot spring is prolific and delivered enough water to fill large public baths, the remains of which can still be seen. The water contains sulfur but has a pleasant clean smell.

    In 1919 rail service connected Jacumba to San Diego. By 1925 the town had a world class hotel, the Hotel Jacumba. In the 1930s, Jacumba had developed into a top destination and had a population of more than 5,000. Many of the foremost movie stars and celebrities of the time regarded Jacumba as a prime destination for relaxation.

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  4. UnknownApril 10, 2011 at 8:14 AM

    Jacumba's role as a prime destination continued through World War II; however as the southernmost California hot spring, it began to feel competition from more northern ones, including Murrieta and Palm Springs. After the new Interstate 8 bypassed Jacumba by two miles, most of the roadside service businesses folded and the community went into economic decline.

    The Jacumba Hotel closed and was destroyed in an arson fire in 1983. The ruins stood until 1991. Today, the stub of the massive central fireplace can still be seen. The great public baths closed, the swimming pool was filled in, and the well was capped by its rights-owner.

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  5. UnknownApril 10, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    In the 1980s, the Jacumba Motel was the only hotel facility left in Jacumba. However, the area continues to attract primarily foreign visitors and the motel has acquired rights to the spring and opened a spa.

    In 2002 the facility was sold with the intent of renovating it into a timeshare spa type resort. In 2006 it was resold and setup as a bed and breakfast. It is in operation as the Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel, with pool and spas fed with the hot spring mineral water.

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  6. UnknownApril 10, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    You probably don't care about Jacumba anymore, but here is a little background on it never the less.

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  7. Karen, David & BillApril 12, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    As real estate moguls might claim, it has potential. Its history is dimmed by being too far off the path of industrial tourism.

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