BIKE TOUR

WE stopped in Dryden. It really was the only place to stop on our ride today. We watched the end of the man from snowy river with the man who ran the lone shop. I ate canned peaces and drank hot coffee. It was a welcome escape from the cold wind. It was the second movie of the day following Monster-In-Law that we'd seen on HBO at the hotel. We made it to Langtry after the "town" had closed down. We'd been delayed with another bloody nose. After about a week, I won't have one for several months. We found the community center where the map indicated we could camp. We chatted with the few RVers before setting up camp. I ate my cheese, tortillas, summer sausage, and zucchini, while Jon struggled to put together his old whisperlite. It was pre-shaker jet and the gas started to come in bursts. I decided to go visit some of the nice RVers and get out of the cold. The airstream had a commercial fisherman from the Bering Sea and Idaho. He traveled alone and he took time to...

I forgot to mention that we saw a hanged chicken on the road from Kent. Pictures will follow. The night was cold. It appeared that I kept a continuous stream of thoughts while my water froze outside. Jon had a similar night of sleep and decided not to wake me as he packed up fro the Marathon Coffee Shop. I slowly gathered my wits and met up for a warm homemade blueberry muffin and coffee. The only two coffee shops on the trip that serve fair-trade organic beans are within 50 miles of each other. Now we're in Sanderson watching the Jesus tomb saga. Coming back from dinner I informed Jon that the rants about tips are quite annoying but months from now I'll reminisce about it. We met three other tourists heading to Alpine. They gave me their card. Names: Missy, Shane, and Cheney. I had my second bloody nose. The first was at a bakery in Fort Davis. The repeat of my uncontrollable and seemingly everlasting nose trauma came while riding just a few miles from Sanderson. Jon asked if ...

Today was a good day. This is not to suggest that other days are bad. I woke up and took a walk back to the library. I took a look at a few more things and did a bit of typing. Then I moved to La Trattoria. This is the first cafe I've been to on the trip that served organic fair trade coffee. I was excited. I ate a locally baked foccacia veggi sandwich with my coffee while I chatted with Molly. Molly is a grad student in the geology program at Sul Ross State University. It was just up the hill. Through conversation, I learned that they have an Masters of Art program and ceramics. At 11:30 I decided I should visit this place since I was already there. Jon and I packed up the bikes, went to the bank, and the grocery store. We saw Dom, who was down on his luck and just came from the doctors with his kids. Moving to check out I saw the bike show man again. He was at Blues last night. I chatted some more and he checked out our rigs. I rode up the hill to the university in the hopes that...

How do I explain the day's events? We're staying in an under-construction adobe because of Dr. Bronners. At the Alpine Library I overheard that the Agave Natural Foods was having their grand opening even though it had been in business for three years. I inquired, because I needed a refil on my soap. "What kind?" she asked. "Dr. Bronners." "Peppermint?" "Yes actually. I use it to brush my teeth and wash my hair." "Well I have a bunch do you want some?" "If it's no trouble." She went of and returned 45 minutes later with her quarter full gallon jug. SHe filled up my bottle and somehow she offered to let us stay at the adobe. No showers, but it has a toilet and a wood floor. She, Tanya, was at the library with her brother, Dominique, and after we had settled our business on the internet, he showed us the way to the adobe.We followed him and his wee daughter, Lila, carrying a stuffed cheetah she nearly forgot in the li...

Today happened so fast and I felt tired the whole time. Morning came too early in the dilapidated shed after a fitful night of sleep. Something ran across Jon's sleeping bag. We left Kent after inquiring about its lack of inhabitants. In the process I met the one resident. I thought his house was abandoned. Then we stared towards the observatory. Against the wind with 2000+ feet to climb, we moved at about 6 mph. We came across a man from Dallas hunting for some sort of ship temporary separated from his partner. Since El Paso, he probably was the first really friendly person we chatted with. Everyone seems hesitant. A few hours after deciding we would like to hitch a ride, someone actually came along that could pick us up. Johnny has three kids and was heading to the observatory to pick up payment for some cafeteria machinery. I felt like I was on the top of the world and we got there so quickly. We cheated 20 miles. I slowly became disillusioned with the "star party " an...

Jon is already trying to sleep. Yesterday at this time we were just getting to Van Horn. We left at about noon after stopping at the hardware store. Jon did something and I got pipe insulation for my handlebars. They are quite cushy now. The man who I would guess owned the shop had an impaired walk and a drop clung to the tip of his nose. I bet he has a story. We stopped at a truck stop restaurant for lunch. Grilled cheese and blackberry cobbler a la mode... The waitress had a cast on her arm and she was out of lemonade. I picked up some more postcards in Kent, but there isn't anything here. Less than 20 years ago the last folks left. There's a squatter in the shell of a school. The post office is padlocked. There are turds all over the floor of the house we're at. I preferred the lean-to. The glass is minimal and effectively blocks the wind. 12.4 ave - 36.2 max - 1056.8 odo - 3:11:02 time

Highlights of the day include a grunting javelina and a checkout woman at a service station who was continuously on the phone and called me love. To be fair she also called Jon love. I thought I was special. The adjustable showerhead was also special. A good shower is not overrated. The continental breakfast tomorrow will require us to rise at 8:30 (now central time). We only intend to go 30 or 40 something miles tomorrow. It will mellow out our average after a 60 and 75 mile days. The Oscars are on and Jon is talking to the commercials. Sometimes I try to ban him from carrying on a conversation, but doesn't work. Also of note: I now have an extremely defined tan line mid-thigh and the 500 ft descent in the dark to Van Horn was brilliant. 11.3 ave - 28.1 max - 1017.1 odo - 6:34:51 time