Day 156: November 7, 2009 Mile 26 on AZ-238 to Mile 20 on CA-98 (46 mi)

San Diego on the mind. Waves in the soul. So close! Im in Cali, even though everything so far reminds me of Texas/New Mexico.

Early start and a cool morning. The day started real quiet on AZ-238. No cars. Just the desert wind and a train every once in a while on the parallel railroad tracks. After the first five pushes my stomach cramped so I walked the first mile. Things were progressing too slow so I got on the board. Cruising at 8mi/hr, wooo off to Gila Bend and the beginning of the interstate hoping it would be as copless as New Mexico.
At 910 I was in Gila Bend, reloading on water and Poptarts. Then it was off to I-8. 2 miles into I-8...
"Weeeeeooowww"
"Fuck me, already?!"
"Sir, what do you think you are doing? You are not allowed here" said the smartass DPS officer
"Sir, Im trying to get to San Diego. This is the onle road that will take me there"
"Im sorry, do you have an ID on you?"

He jumps back in his car and I wait. Straight up, about 20 minutes later as I was sweating my ass of sitting on the side of the road, he comes back out

"Sorry Omar, you are going to have to find an alternate route"
"But there is no alternate route"
"Thats not my problem"
"Sir, Im almost there, please just let it slide this one time"
"Sorry, state law prohibits you from skating on this road" with not a trace of sorrow in his voice
"Well, I have no idea what to do now"
"I can't help you there, but if I find you on this road again, Ill have to take you in. Consider this a warning"
"Thank You"

So I walked with my head held low. If I must walk this 100 some miles, then so be it. I was pissed. This cop was an asshole and treated me like shit for no reason. Oh well. I walked and so it was. I got picked up by a white Hyundai. Francisco was his name and he was heading to Mexicali to visit his family. To El Centro we departed where I would get off and never have to be on the interstate again. (Since from Yuma, AZ to El Centro, CA there was no alternate route but the interstate)

I left Francisco in Calexico and off I skated on CA-98 a mediocre road. Farms on both sides and scorching heat reminded me of Safford, AZ. San Diego baby. 3 days, here I come