I'm not really sure the reason but I think that when I moved from the Bay to Sacramento I turned into a high temperature junkie.

At first I was pretty miserable, even though I was no stranger to triple digit temperatures I think that I was still shocked at the reality of the climate I was entering. The heat was relentless... It would be in the 80s when I stepped out the door for work and then it would climb up to 110 (or higher) by lunch and just sit there all day. Sadly I spent almost all of my first summer here exclusively in air-conditioned spaces, I was just so overwhelmed at first.

The summer a year later was even worse though, one of the hottest on record. It was made even more uncomfortable for me since my primary mode of transportation at that point was a motorcycle. I didn't even have proper hot weather gear either; I was riding around in unventilated gear on top of a hot ass motorcycle that rode on pavement that I'm sure was melting. I think that was the point when I began to love the heat though.

It almost became a game...
Starting point: Auburn, ca
Objective: See how far can Aaron make it before he gets heat stroke and starts seeing spots.

50 miles? 75? If you can make 90 you're over the East Bay foothills and home free! I think it was this little test of will that compelled me to make friends with the heat.

Now I love it, whenever I see the mercury start to rise I find myself consciously saying “bring it on &*#@$!” Last year I only turned the AC in my car on a handful of times.

So, what this all leads up to... This August I have tentatively planned a trip across the Southwest on my motorcycle. I realize that yes, this is not quite the time that other people usually do this sort of thing, but it’s the only time I have available. Oddly enough though I think that it’s the best time for me. What could be a better theatre for an old fashioned vision quest than wide open spaces, red painted canyons and the whole bigger than thou nature of that area combined with the cathartic element of oppressive, never-ending heat.

This week's climbing temps has got my imagination going and and I'm rearin to go…