Cycling Ellen

1.45 miles today

This has turned out to be a great place for a layover day.  Silver City is a lot like my hometown of Brattleboro, VT with its bookstores, cafes, little shops and a microbrew pub.  Rest days aren’t exactly that as all the things we don’t have time for when we’re biking have to be fit in but it’s definitely a different kind of day.  I think we all woke up wondering how to structure the day.  It’s so easy when we’re told where and when to eat breakfast, what route to follow on our bikes, where to stop for good pie or ice cream, where to sleep and who to room with.  Dinner is prepared in the trailer by Linda, our fabulous cook and the only decision is how much to eat because everything is delicious.

My first job was to get my clothes into a washing machine.  With 30 of us and one machine, we all have our strategies.  My roommate, Jan and I were on the get up first plan.  Candice was already downstairs with her first cup of coffee and found that the motel wouldn’t turn on the machine until 8 a.m.  Since it was just after 6 a.m. we had some waiting to do.  I had my breakfast, caught up on e mail and shared a machine with Candice as soon as it was turned on.  Everyone else signed up on a list with her room number and we let each other know when the machine is available.  Pity the poor guest last night who wanted a turn.  He wasn’t on the list and probably left this morning with the same dirty clothes.

At breakfast, I was surprised by Linda who handed me a package!  Everyone likes to get mail and a surprise package; especially one wrapped with packing tape that looks like heavy chains was especially intriguing.  My friend and colleague, David, sent me some German cream used for the parts of the body that sit on a bike seat all day.  Thanks, David!  What a perfect (and very welcome) gift!

At 9:30, Michelle set up shop out back by the trailer.  The bike stand was available for her to help with mechanical issues and the cleaning supplies were out for all of us.  I’m getting faster at cleaning my bike, especially with the fancy colored pipe cleaners someone found at a dollar store.  I figured out my bike computer all by myself so I’m ready to ride in miles tomorrow and in the right time zone!  After, I headed into town with my bike to another bike shop to get a new longer cable installed as the one I had was being rubbed from my front bike bag and beginning to fray.

I wandered around town, poking into different places including the Silver City Museum where I learned about the mines around the area and the “olden” days.  There was also a replica of a cabin where Billy the Kid lived.  I found a place for lunch where I ran into Candice and enjoyed a sandwich together.  Jane joined us later for a trip to the local Coop (I got my discount), the gelato shop (Girl Scout Thin Mint gelato – yum!) and a German lager at the Silver City Brewery.  We hiked back up to get things ready for our big trip up the Emory Pass tomorrow.

I’m going to head downstairs to soak my tired legs in the Jacuzzi and have a little dinner.  It was great to read all of your comments on this blog and catch up with email.  Thanks once again for all your support.  I may need it on the big climb tomorrow!