Rest day Ft. Davis, TX

The key word today was rest. I slept in until after 7:00 then went to the hotel restaurant for a light breakfast. After I ate I wondered down to the trailer to see if anyone was cleaning their bikes. Lois S and several others were going into town for a quick look. The shuttle was leaving so I decided to join them. Of course, I did not have my camera. Lois took several pictures for me but her flash driving is not working so she cannot transfer them to me yet. Hopes to have a new one in Kerrville.

Didn't do much in town but walk around. Was back at the hotel in a couple of hours. I then cleaned my bike and wondered around the hotel. I got these pictures of a herd of javalina on the grounds. I spent pretty much the rest of the day in my room, knitting and relaxing.

Van Horn to Fort Davis, Tx

Today was a very tough day for me. It was a scheduled 90 mile day. I just never could get my head into the ride. It began with a 40 mile ride on I-10. After 20 miles I decided to be bumped up to the send of the interstate ride. Much to my my unhappiness I then faced a very hard cross wind that actually was moving my bicycle and me across the road. I opted to sag the rest of the way in to Ft. Davis after about 15 miles. After I saw the ladies who did the whole ride come in that evening I was glad I had chosen to sag. There were absolutely beat.

Dinner that evening was a Mexican buffet provided by the hotel. It was very good. You could tell how tired everyone was by how quiet it was in the room.

There were lots a yucca blooming along the route.

A view of my room

More views of my room

ditto

View of the valley we are in from our hotel.

Roaming Texas

I have been without internet last few days and posting with BlackBerry takes to long. Soon maybe internet

Fort Hancock to Van Horn, TX

Today everyone got an early start for two reasons, it was a 74 mile day and we lost an hour going from Mountain Savings Time to Central Savings Time. Nancy and I were the first two to leave at 7:07. I really enjoyed today's ride. It was 73.67 miles giving me a total of 982 miles for the trip. I am almost 1/3 the way there.

Nancy is from Vermont and we had a delightful day spinning along with a nice tailwind. We had a couple of miles on I-10 at the beginning and about 9 miles on I-10 at the end. The rest of the way was either rural road or an empty frontage road. Except on the interstate we rode side by side and chatted. It was great.

Tomorrow is a 90 mile day with the first 40 miles on I-10. I have not decided if I am going to ride the whole thing or get a lift to where we get of the interstate. Either way it is almost time for dinner so must sign off. Day after tomorrow is a rest day!

The Hudspeth County Railroad Depot Museum. Unfortunately it is only open on Wednesdays but it is definately a great building. Located in Sierra Blanca it is where the Texas-Pacific and the Southern Pacific RR joined creating a second transconinental railroad.

An old car at the museum.

We are now in a new time zone.

El Paso to Fort Hancock, TX

We were told to get a little later start this morning to let the Monday morning El Paso work traffic pass. At 8:00 we were chomping at the bit and pretty much left as a group. I really enjoyed today because it was a very flat day with mostly a tail wind. The best thing however, was the fact that most of the women stopped several times to visit the missions and have lunch. When we make that many stops we seem to be a more cohesive group because there is always someone around tor ride with.

Got to the motel around 1:00pm. Again nice to have the whole afternoon to relax. I cleaned my bike and walked across the street to a chili outlet and bought some various chili powders to have shipped home. Then one of the ladies, Peggy, and I went to a diner where I had a scoop of ice cream and she had a salad.

There is no internet in our rooms but there is wi-fi in the lobby. That is where I am posting this.

Today was 47.32 miles for a trip total of 908. Tomorrow is a 74 mile day. Right now we are in the middle of a West Texas dust storm. Sure hope it dies down before tomorrow. The winds are about 30 mph with gusts of 40 mph. The sky is and air is brown.

We may not have had a welcome to Texas sign but this morning the waffle iron at the hotel made Texas shaped waffles. How fun.

Statue above a welcome sign to the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo outside El Paso.

Mission Socorro

Alter at Mission Socorro

Plaza at the Presidio de San Elizerio.

San Elizario Chapel.

San Elizario Chapel alter

I think these are pecan trees that have been pruned back.

next phase of the pecan trees.

another phase

La Calesa Restaurent in Tornillo

Manuella, the owner and cook at La Calesa. A wonderful cook and a delightful person

SAG stop along the way.

Interseting rock formation.