The train ride was awesome. Met up with my brothers two sons on a lay-over in Chicago, one of, I hadn't seen for years. That was a total pleasure. Hung around on the train with a 79-year-old man, Leo, who had done more in his life time than any other individual I have ever met! He had his bicycle on the train, he takes bus, plane, or train with his bike to whatever area he wants to explore and then rides his bike all over that state, country, etc., until he tires of it. He then rides his bike to the next mode of public transportation to embark upon his next exploration by bike. Nearly every town we went through, Leo knew all about it. Even if he had not been there he knew what it was famous for or who from there was famous, etc.! He takes very short steps when walking and moves at a very slow pace.  He was hit by a car while walking in Albuquerque, New Mexico and had to be given an artificial hip. I mean, he moves so slow that he steps out of the way in the isle of the train so as to allow others to get around him... the man is obviously crippled. When I asked how he could possibly still ride a bike, he explained that the up and down movements of his legs were not effected at all and he barely noticed any difference from before the accident, and added, "Wouldn't make a damn though... I'd still ride it!" Leo is my hero.

I reached Yuma at 3:45 am Sunday morning. I was the only passenger to step off the train... what a lonely feeling... there was nothing there! I did see a little building with lights on and I assumed it was the Yuma Amtrak station and walked in. A tall skinny man in cowboy hat and boots, said, "This here ain't no damn Amtrak Station." "Excuse me sir." I said, can you tell me how I get into the town of Yuma?" "This is Yuma." He said. I asked then how I could reach the downtown area of Yuma, to which he said, "This is downtown Yuma." And I said, "I mean downtown as in, where can I get coffee and something to eat?" He said, "you can go that way, through the tunnel, or that way, down the steps." the problem was, the cowboy never pointed or even nodded in any direction??? So I simply turned around and walked outside, after looking all around, saw some steps (never did see no damn tunnel?) and just started walking, having no idea where I was headed. An hour or so later, I found an IHOP restaurant. While I was there, a very large Hispanic cross-dresser (not a very good one) was thrown out for cursing very loudly. The argument that ensued between the restaurant manager and  the female impersonator was quite good 5:00 am Sunday morning entertainment. The lady wanna' be called the male manager a bitch and the manager then snapped back, "I least I know what clothes to put on in the morning!" Ans so on it went.

Google Maps suck!! I took off from the restaurant with high hopes and in good spirits! I followed my Google Map directions religiously. Late Sunday afternoon I came to the exact spot where I was supposed to take Frontage road to reach Rattlesnake road... There was no road, there was instead, a brand new Casino on the Indian reservation. I walked way past where the road was supposed to be, just to make sure. When I came to a border crossing into Mexico... I was fairly certain the road entrance did not exist. I went into the Casino and asked several people and finally found a young man who sand buggies the area frequently. He assured me there was no such thing as Frontage Road in the area. He said, in order for me to reach Rattlesnake road, I would have to walk several miles across the desert. If I still used a cart behind me as I did on other walks, I would have loaded up on water and headed out. But, not pulling a cart with water behind me, I knew I would run out of water.  The only other way out and to my next destination, El Centro, was Interstate 8, I'm not allowed to walk on Interstate highways. So I had a meal at the Casino and took off walking back to Yuma. I pitched my tent about halfway back as it was becoming dark. The next day I caught a ride from Bob who took me back to Yuma. Bob lives in his van in the desert. He had worked carnivals in China and in Venezuela. He said he loved China because the people were very friendly and very smart. He didn't care for Venezuela, saying there was way too much crime.  Bob dropped me at the bus station and I grabbed a bus to El Centro, CA. where I am now.  I will leave Tuesday morning and walk to Brawley, CA.