Got to Love Them Texans (April 16, 2015)

If you have stayed in a motel/hotel in the past several years that include breakfast with the room, you are no doubt familiar with the waffle-makers that typically result in a round waffle.

Texans have taken "state pride" to a new level ... check out the pattern on this waffle-maker. 

Got to love them Texans!!

Desert Views (April 10, 2015)

It has been five more days of riding through West Texas.  Five more days of viewing varying types of desert flora.  Five more days of dealing with wind.  But five more days of seeing an area of the country that I have not seen before.

Other than the desert, most of the things unseen before have to do with the many small towns that one passes through ... small towns that are for the most part closing down.   The Southern Tier route in West Texas primarily follows the railroad tracks.  Many of the small towns developed around the economic boom brought along with the building of the railroad route in the 1880s.  The highways then connected these towns as the era of automobiles came in the early 20th Century.  But then the Interstate Highway system was built in the 1950s-60s on more direct routes, and the smaller towns were bypassed.  So now many of the small towns are returning to the desert as the mostly wooden structures deteriorate.

If it were not for the overwhelming presence of the Border Patrol, I don't think there would be much of any economic activity in this area.  Most of the larger towns (population of 1,000 +) usually have a large Border Patrol facility ... each of these facilities must have in excess of 150 vehicles patrolling their specific area.  Helicopters, blimps and hundreds of vehicles searching the area for the illegal entrants.

It seems as though this whole "close the border" campaign has been relatively new to our society.  In reading some of the historical roadside plaques, I have become aware of the fact that there were "mounted watchers" and bi-planes used in the post-WWI era, which means the chase has been on for some time.

Anyway, since leaving Van Horn, the overnights have been at Marfa (75 miles), Marathon (57 miles), Sanderson (55 miles), Langtry (60 miles) and Del Rio (60 miles) ... all in West Texas.

On the ride from Van Horn to Marfa, I finally met up with the Canadian couple I had been hearing about for many a day.  Out in the middle of none-thing-ness (about 26 miles west of Marfa), there stands a lone structure showcasing Prada products.  Lounging in the shade (which is a rare commodity in this part of the country) were Cynthia and Rollie.  So very nice to meet-up with other touring cyclist.  We had a short conversation and thought we would be seeing each other on a daily basis.  Even though it turns out we overnighted in the same towns, riding schedules did not coincide.  I again met up with them yesterday in a restaurant in Comstock (30 miles west of Del Rio).  Again, the conversation was very enjoyable.  Alas, they are taking a rest day today, and are considering (due to a health issue) renting a small Uhaul van and driving to Austin.  I will be arriving in Austin on the 15th of this month (body and bike willing), so don't know if we will be getting together again.  Not many other riders heading east, so it could continue to be a solo ride.

So, time to load up the bike and head east, hopefully the desert views will soon be a thing of the past.

The Wind Doest Blow (April 4,2015)

The wind also doest suck.

Unbelievable ... night and day the wind blows ... night and day.  Doesn't matter to me this evening as I have opted for a motel room in Van Horn, TX ... let it blow.

Short story:  Last night I camped in the Sierra Blanca town park, and the only spot that I could find that was remotely protected from the wind was the stage area of the band shell ... nice but difficult to anchor the tent with stakes given the concrete floor.  The evening's inconvenience due to the wind was outweighed by the nearness to the railroad tracks ... actually by the noise of the 15 to 20 trains that came through town last night (horns were blared at each of the five roads crossing the tracks!).  Not much sleep last night, which makes this evening's enclosed motel room that much sweeter.

Side note to Peg Jorgensen:  While much of what I mention could be construed as whining, actually I am just offering up observations of occurrences inherent in bike touring.  There is much joy for the majority of the time while riding.  Besides, as was pointed out in Sandy and Mark Doumas's journal ...  real touring cyclist don't whine.

Having said that ... 34 miles into 18 to 20 mph headwinds all day today ... waaaaaaaa.

Still heading east.  The road sign in the adjacent pictures is 10 miles west of  Van Horn ... 510 miles west of Dallas ... it may be years before I exit Texas.

And the wins blows ...

Looking for Positives (April 2, 2015)

On previous rides along coastal areas or northern routes, views of the landscapes often leaves one in awe of nature.  On this particular ride, I have to say that I am not seeing much "wow".  Other than the rides up and over the two major passes (Mule Creek and Emory), the desert terrain has been most blah.

After leaving Silver City four days ago, the overnights (and mileage) have been Hillsboro (56 miles), Arrey (23 miles), Las Cruces (57 miles) and El Paso (47 miles).  The ride to Hillsboro included the climb up and over Emory Pass, which proved to be a challenge ... 2,500 feet in 16 miles.  Starting in the heat of the high desert proved to be physically taxing.  By the time I reached the pass, the weather had changed to overcast, cold  and windy ... very windy (and not the wind that pushes from behind!).  Toward the end of the climb I called on my usual climbing-mantra which consists of various biblical and sexual references ... not something I would repeat in mixed company.

The 16 mile ride down to Hillsboro was pure joy.  Down-side of arriving was that other than a winery outlet, nothing was open in the way of food or drink.  Fortunately, there are those who drink-and-drive, as I was able to receive a cold beer from a young guy who stopped at the city park to relieve himself of previously consumed beer.  While I discourage the act of drinking-and-driving ... that beer was mighty tasty!

The ride from Hillsboro takes one east to the Rio Grande River, then southward paralleling I-25.  I stopped at the Arrey RV Park due to a perceived lack of camping opportunities further south toward  Hatch, NM, which was only another 20 miles or so.  This RV park was quite interesting in that the overall ambiance was that of a used tire store located in a small town such as Eloy.  While it served the purpose of an overnight camping spot, it had a certain level of grime in all facets.   Almost all of the semi-permanent residents were grizzled-looking guys who spent their daylight hours prospecting for gold.  From the looks of most of the RVs, I don't think their efforts have proved to be profitable.  Interesting and friendly folks to talk with, but just of a different breed.

If ever you have wondered where RVs and/or trailer homes go to die, come on over to this area.  

The following day I headed south to Las Cruces, which proved to be quite a boring (visually) trek.  Lots of green and red pepper fields and more barren/trimmed-back pecan trees than I have ever seen.  I mentioned earlier that I stopped at the Arrey RV Park because I did not see any camping facilities south of the park toward Hatch.  Much to my disappointment, upon entering Hatch from the north I saw a most wonderful (new) city park adjacent to a new Community Recreation Center.  Now it may be that they do not allow overnight camping, but most small towns do realizing that overnight campers spend money.

Anyway, finished the day's ride in Las Cruces and enjoyed the luxury of an inexpensive motel, then on to El Paso yesterday.  More agriculture and loads of pecan trees ... and wind.

One of the common reasons non-bike riders in Tucson give for not riding on the streets of Tucson is fear of the car and truck traffic.  Those folks should come over to El Paso ... at one point I stopped to check the back of my shirt to see if someone had surreptitiously attached a target.  Scarey, to say the least.

So today I head east into West Texas.  Looking at the maps it appears that there is very little in the way of services, so it should be interesting.  The past two days I have been told of two other touring cyclist just ahead of me by a half-hour or so ... hoping to catch up to them in the next day or two.

Catching up to them would be a definite positive. 

And This Ain't Globe (March 28, 2015)

From the prevailing brownness of my first couple days getting from Globe to Safford, the colors of the landscape have taken a turn to green, then back to brown ... and my face and arms have taken on a distinct red tone due to a cloudless sky and hot daytime temps.

I have often said that no matter how much one trains prior to leaving on a bike tour, the first three or four days are hard on the body.  When you are training you come home to your kitchen, your furniture, and most importantly, your own bed.  Maybe what you should do during the training period is eat your meals out of the local Circle K and bed down in a sleeping bag at a local meat freezer.  Just a thought.

Indeed, the first three days were difficult, but I am feeling better and getting back into the swing of touring ... even managed to get temporarily lost this afternoon in Silver City, NM ... tells me I am officially touring.

Yesterday was the brown-to-green-to-brown day.  Camped the previous night at a place called Three Way, AZ (about 9 miles south of Clifton ... odd they call it Three Way as it is a four-way intersection).  The morning started with a 13.5 mile/2600' climb up to Mule Creek Pass.  The climb was well worth it as it took me up to pine country ... beautiful.  After cruising through the pines, I enjoyed a wonderful down hill to the Mule Creek area.  As the adjacent picture shows, this is an area of rolling grass-covered hills, with the mountains of the Gila Wilderness area beyond.  The road follows the natural terrain, so while visually it is a delight, physically it is quite painful.  This particular area ran for about 12 miles of the second half of the day's 44 miles.  Ouch.

Today I rode the 37 miles from Buckhorn, NM to Silver City ... another day of some climbing, including cresting the Continental Divide.  My goal was to make it to Silver City in time to watch the Arizona Wildcat's basketball game.  Oh well, so much for feeling good about that bunch of bums ... fire'em all!!!

Tomorrow's ride will include the major climb up and over Emery Pass ... about 2500' climb.  Another three or four days and I will be heading eastward across Texas. 

So far the ride is going well, but man it was hot today.

This Ain't the Northwest (March 25, 2015)

Over the past six summers, I have spent many-a-mile riding through the greenery of the Northwest, the Pacific Coast, upper Midwest and New England.  Lots of green.

Just started this summer's bike tour yesterday ... started in Globe, AZ and heading eastward on the ACA Southern Tier route.  For those who are unfamiliar with the area east of Globe ... lots of desert brown coupled with more desert brown ... and wind ... and shortage of places to camp.

While it feels good to be out riding again, the riding so far has been less than exciting.  I had planned to put in about 40 miles, then find a spot off road to set-up the tent.  Talked to a young English lady who was riding westward, and she indicated the only place she saw to camp was a park in Ft. Thomas ... 53 miles from Globe.  53 miles is doable unless you are confronted with a head wind.  I was cooked on reaching Ft. Thomas, but the park felt better than just pulling off the road.  Even though I did not get much sleep due to trains and trucks, it was okay.

Short 22 mile ride into Safford today for which I am grateful as my legs were sending an emphatic message ...  holding up in a hotel this evening, feeling much better and hopeful of a sound night's sleep.

Recognizing the difference in physical effort required in "planning" and actually "doing" ... I am planning on following the Southern Tier to Florida, then (depending on mental attitude) ride north along the Atlantic Ocean to Richmond, VA.  After that, I (again) "plan" to head west on the ACA TransAm route.  Planning is the easy part.

So that is the long-term plan ... short-term plan is to climb up into bed (as opposed to crawling into my tent) and sleep soundly.  Sleep is good.

Found the Blues (July 7, 2014)

Ah, the good life.

After sinking into a truly blue funk due to the cold wet weather and the sense of wanting this most recent trek to be over ... the skys turned blue, the heat turned up and the ride turned off.

And the joy has returned.

After camping at Fort Stevens State Park (west of Astoria, OR) and at Fort Canby State Park (near Cape Disappointment ... southwestern-most corner of Washington), I had my fill of camping in the rain.  These are two beautiful areas, very lush and very green. And very wet.  One thing both of these campgrounds had in common that allows one to not dwell on the cold and wet is the size and the abundance of mosquitoes.  I swear, I saw a small poodle being taken away by one of these monsters.  At Fort Canby I decided to fore go dinner rather than fight off these nasty little pests while heating up something to eat. 

The ride eastward from Fort Canby brought back some happiness into my life ... blue skys and (what several locals termed) very hot weather.  82 miles in 95 degrees.  Felt like home!  It was a very long day, but at least it was warm.  The following day (Wednesday, July 2) I rode the 64 miles into Portland ... another clear and warm day.

As mentioned earlier, I had been ready for the ride to be over for about a week.  I found myself thinking how wonderful it would be to be able to teleport (I think that is the word) oneself from one spot to another ... instantly!!  Kind of depressing to want the day's ride to be over and still have four or five hours of riding to complete.   Had it still been raining I probably would have considered the ultimate "bale out" ... rent a car.

Anyway, got to Portland and spent the next four days at the Portland Blues Festival.  That's Boz Scaggs on the stage in the adjacent photo (click one time on the picture to make the picture large enough to see the stage, but not the Boz).  He, like me, has aged considerably since becoming a music superstar (he, not me).  Still makes great music.  It is a joy to listen to such wonderfully talented musicians producing such great music.The setting of the festival is also wonderful ... majestic Mt. Hood looms to the east and the Willamette River runs by at the foot of the festival park.  Really enjoyable.  Immediately behind the festival park is downtown Portland, which is a great place to roam.  I made a few trips into Powell's bookstore and purchased food from several of the food stalls.  Quite interesting.  Being that I have come to realize that I have acquired the ability to get lost quite easily and quite often, I found it amusing that several people asked me for directions, or info about the MAX transit system.  Just walk fast and only break out the map in secluded spots.

So it has been a good time here in Portland, but am more than ready to get back home.  I put the bike on the train today, and will be flying to Tucson tomorrow.

As for this past two months, I must say that even though the last week or so was not so great, overall it was quite good ... and quite hard.  Would I  do this particular ride again?  No.  Do I regret having done the ride? No.  As difficult as it is (climbing non-stop), the route takes one through incredible beauty.  I saw areas of California that were new to me (Yosemite, Lassen, Shasta ... and kinda-sorta saw Crater Lake).

But what allowed the ride to be particularly joyful was meeting Sarah and Alex.  There I was huddled in my tent on a wet and miserable day, and what should I espy across the way but two cold cyclist coming my way.  The three of us formed a fast friendship that carried me through the remainder of the trip.  I can not say anything other than "thank you" to both of them.  Could say much much more, but really truly ... thank you.

So this trip is in the books.  I had planned on doing another ride this summer starting in late August, but at this point I am burned out on the bike touring thing.  Time to get back home and get back to living a life with more than three shirts, one pair of shorts and long pants, etc.

On a different note, just received a text picture of Noe Haines Garmon (age: one hour +/-) in her Mother's (Lindsay, my daughter-in-law) arms.  Both healthy (and I am sure Lindsay is happy her work day is over) ... and my son Chris just stepped into a whole new chapter of life. 

With that in mind:   Life is good ... and life goes on.