Heading east

The goal of the next leg of my cycling journey is to pedal eastward from the Salton Sea so that I can meet up with Ellie in her real location in Mesa, Arizona (or Apache Junction, a little further, if I pedal quickly), to arrive no later than March 25th. I want to enjoy some of those fun bike rides with her and the other badass babes! Mapquest suggested this southerly route of 280 miles, which seems to promise more frequent towns and sights to see and discuss than the less-traveled northerly route.