Intrepid desert adventures

Pictured above is one of the rest stops on the new CV link (bike path/walking path) that winds its way through the Coachella Valley. It's rumored that the path will eventually make its way to the Salton Sea. To cover that distance and to avoid the subsequent searing heat we would have depart before the sun rose.

The CV link is our new fascination. As it allows us to cycle worry-free, away from the less-than-attentive geriatric driven vehicles as well as the many local drug induced drivers.

I know last week I ended with a stellar review of Paul Bar/Food --I love writing that too much -- and I am also aware that blog runs the risk of turning into a travelogue, but the truth is Ms. Muse and I are spending a little more than a month out here to escape the harsh Southern California winters. 

And the place does provide so much grist for the Siegel Curmudgeon Mill.

I'm not in the ad business anymore. Nor do I have anything interesting to write about an industry that seems bent on becoming less interesting by the shareholder quarterly reports. 

Similarly, what can I say about politics, which is devolving at an exponential rate. 

"Hold my Diet Coke, advertising."

And so I have been reduced, or saved, by posting about swimming, cycling and the local offerings this magical place has to offer.

Our journey last week took us to the lower portion of the CV Link.

We were promised 16 miles out and back, but were disappointed, when after 14.7 miles through some beautiful, though smelly, landscapes...

...the path came to an abrupt end in What-The-Fuckville!

We turned around and reconvened at the next stop, which looks a lot like the one in the picture above. With one glaring exception. You see, the photo above is AI altered to include restrooms.

There was a young Hispanic, heavily-tattooed man who appeared to a local, seated on the bench. We asked him about the construction of the path, which was still ongoing. We also asked where the nearest bathroom is and why they didn't put porto potties at all the rest stops? 

His answer was immediate, "They can't put in bathrooms because of the eventual damage or theft from the nearby drug addicted homeless population."

We can have some nice things. But not all nice tings.