Cycling Ellen

44 miles today
1,300 total

In my fatigue of last night, I forgot to mention an incident that happened yesterday with the Border Patrol.  We were next to the border in El Paso, and some before that as well, and now we are right at the border again in Del Rio.  Along the side of the road, there are border patrol roads made of light colored gravel.  Each day they drag big tires along the roads and inspect them in the morning.  That way they can see if anyone crossed during the night.  Yesterday, the Patrol found a place where 10 people had crossed.  They were sending out for the helicopters to look for them.  It’s a 7-day walk across the desert to get to I-10, their apparent destination.  A couple people talked with the Patrol where they learned that the Mexicans mix puddle water with lemons to make it potable and carry Pediolyte (an electrolyte solution like the Gatorade we drink) to survive the heat.  I have a new respect for the danger and the motivation that would make people attempt to cross into the U.S. illegally.

In the 100 plus miles that we traveled yesterday, we have crossed from dry desert into humid ranch country.  The mornings of being cold and wrapped up in layers for the first hour or so are now an attempt to get through a lot of riding before the heat and humidity of the day sets in.  There is a lot more green in the landscape, mostly bush-size, and we’re seeing goats, sheep and cattle occasionally along the side of the road.  The ranches are fenced in for miles and we see different kinds of gates at their entrances.  (Again there is no internet access so you’ll have to wait for the pictures.)

I stopped off at the Amistad Recreation Area visitor center first thing this morning after leaving the hotel.  There were displays of prehistoric arrowheads and early baskets there as well as information about the wildlife in this area.  The Amistad is a huge dam and reservoir fed by three rivers that provides the water for lots of crop irrigation in this area.  Yesterday, even knowing it was coming, it was such a shock to see a huge reservoir.  We haven’t seen so much water since we left the Pacific Ocean and at the end of the day, it was like seeing a mirage!  The reservoir is known for its huge bass and the models there made me wonder how you could ever catch a fish with such a big mouth.  This area is also part of the monarch migration route to Mexico.

Our route stayed on US 90 again but this time with a few turns as we went through Del Rio, a town of about 30,000 people.  Many of our group stopped to shop.  I stopped at a pharmacy for cough suppressant with Arda, but then headed off to the first sag stop at mile 20.  Just before that, I found myself a length of clothesline on the side of the road.  Mine has gone missing for weeks and I knew I had laundry to hand wash today.  Score!  Carol had set up the sag right outside Laughlin Air Force Base.  She’s retired Navy herself but you wouldn’t know it with her new cowgirl hat on.

Not long after, Jane and I headed out and encountered the dreaded chip seal again.  It felt worse today.  Was that because it was newer and not as worn down or was it just our worn down bodies?  It’s so frustrating that you can’t even coast on the downhills!

We arrived here at Fort Clark Springs in time to look around.  This is a “real” fort, now decommissioned and on the historical register.  We’re staying in the original barracks, now comfortable motel rooms.  We’re not allowed to hang our laundry from the balconies (thus the clothesline in the room) or keep the cooking trailer in sight.  We are able to take advantage of the huge spring fed pool.  Jane, Phyllis and I jumped into the refreshingly cool water shortly after our arrival here.  It has to have been good for our tired muscles after the initial breath-taking shock.  I love swimming after a ride.

Yesterday we completed the 3rd of our Adventure Cycling maps out of seven sections.  We start climbing again tomorrow as we get into the Texas hill country where Lance Armstrong is from and trains.  Tonight, I think I’ll have a Shiner’s beer which Lance is rumored to drink.  It’s got to help on the hills, right?