| DAY 32 Monday April 1st, 2002 Mileage: 93 miles!, total of 1049 miles. I left Carrizozo, NM with the intention of riding halfway between Carrizozo and Roswell, NM. Climbed to 6,940 ft at Indian Divide just out of Carrizozo.. Stopped at each town i passed (Capitan, Lincoln, Honos) to chat with some locals about the ride and my experiences. The town of Riverside consisted of an RV park where the squatter/caretaker invited me to stay for free. Seeing as how it was still early afternoon and i was full of energy...I continued on the road towards Roswell. I missed the opportunity to watch the chicks hatch from their egg-homes at the Riverside RV park/convenience store/cafe. What i gained was a GREAT ride all the way to Roswell. Construction crews had the day off on this Easter Monday, so the two lane highway being constructed alongside the old 380 Highway was all mine. And I enjoyed the 30-40mph descent to its fullest. What a great afternoon of riding to break my record high at over 90 miles in one day. I think this means that i am getting stronger. I notified my host family of my early arrival and by the time i arrived to their home..they were gone!!!! They went looking for me on the road, while we managed to miss eachother in passing. Definitely some of my biggest followers, I was pleased to meet the Hartmans of Roswell. They had served in the Peace Corps in Brazil in the mid 70's. We had a nice visit over dinner and ice tea, then called it a day. DAY 33 Tuesday April 2nd, 2002 Mileage: 44 miles, total of 1093miles. Roswell, NM to Mescalero Sand Dunes, NM I said my farewells to Hartman´s after a superb breakfast of strawberries and homemade apple pie, and was on the road shortly after 8am. The winds were stronger than i anticipated from their home...and seemed to get progressively stronger directly against me the entire ride. Unhelpful winds, in addition to a cold front and a slight increase in elevation made for a long and slow day. Despite biking all day long i did not get very far and decided to call it a day at the Mescalero Sand Dunes Public Land Use Area. Just two miles off the 380 Highway, were primitive campsites within the rolling sand dunes. Areporter from the Roswell Record Daily Newspaper found me on the road to take photos and inteview me regarding the ride. Awelcome chat with reporter Bill Moffit, after a day of solitude on my cycle. He gifted me a bottle of water and a hug and wished me well on my journey. Now THAT would never happen in NY! A bit chilly tonight, but i found comfort inside my tent between mounds of sand to shelter me from the winds. DAY 34 Wednesday April 3rd, 2002 Mileage: 39 miles, total of 1132. Mescalero Sand Dunes, NM to Tatum, NM Though the winds were less strong, they continued to slow me down. Road the 39 miles to Tatum, NM without passing much of anything besides some crude oil drills and some curious livestock. I find it amusing to watch the cattle or horses watch me as I am passing. They tend to look me head on, moving their entire bodies as I pass instead of simply turning their heads. I must appear to be some odd creature, a centaur perhaps, in which they pity for having no legs and moving so slowly. Besides the occassional passing of a crow or two, the ride was uneventful and slow. I find myself singing old commercials and making up new lyrics for old tunes. My arrival in Tatum, NM was a relief and i headed directly for Tiny´s Burger Barn ( on recommendation) for a burrito and ice tea lunch. Lots of friendly chats with the patrons and waitress. Definitely the welcome reception i was longing for after a day of cycling solitude. I wound up staying at the Sands Motel that had somewhat clean and comfortable rooms that looked more like a bedroom in a friends home than a motel. No complaints, just an observation. Had a nice relaxing evening watching and rewatching the weather report hoping that with each new forecast it might change in my favor...unfortunately it looks like it will be windy and cold tomorrow. Besides a passing of a stinky skunk, not much to report from the Sands Motel in this Highway town of Tatum, NM. Oh, I made front page news today in the Roswell Record!!!! I´m a star! Go to http://www.roswell-records.com then go to archives for 4-3-02. Seeing is believing... DAY 35 Thursday April 4th, 2002 Mileage: 36 miles, total of 1168 Tatum,NM to Plains,TX I am still lingering in Tatum, waiting for the sun to shine and make the ride a wee bit more enjoyable. Had breakfast at the only cafe in town, Steakhouse Cafe. Lots of hellos and good lucks from locals. Even got a bop on the nose from a jovial local older man as he told me to be careful on the road. Others had mentioned seeing me on the road in passing or leaving this place or that en route from Roswell, NM. I´m a celebrity. Much fun to come... Will cross the NM TX border in just 15 miles and will have a new phone number today along with a change in time zones! YEEEEeeeeeHawwwwwww, as they say in Texas! Arrived in Plains, TX in the late afternoon and was surprised to see how tiny this town is (population 1400). Went straight for the library to get information, as one should. I found MUCH more than information at this library....I found friendly and helpful folks that make me realize that this town called Plains is a special one indeed. The librarian invited me for hot coffee and homemade cookies in the coffee room while she busily contacted folks to assist me with overnight accommodations. Just then from out behind the video collection, came a friendly invite to their home just a few blocks away. Pam and Bill Rowe took me into their home like they expected my arrival. They learned a bit about my ride while i learned a bit about gospel music, a learning experience for us all. I am forever blown away by the acts of kindness and generosity I have been fortunate enough to encounter on this trip. The Rowe's are no exception. Many thanks to you both and a speedy recovery to Bill! DAY 36 Friday April 5th, 2002 Mileage: 34 miles...and counting. Plains, TX to Brownfield, TX The day is young and i am just taking a rest, possible stay depending on my mood in the city of Brownfield, population nearly 10,000. It looks like rain is coming as it has remained overcast and cool all morning. The Department of Transportation drove on the side of the road to chat with me en route from Plains as i pedalled East on the 380. Lots of thumbs up and waves hello from truckers and drivers from their passing automobiles. I have officially declared Texas as the Most Likely to Wave Hello State. Anything to add entertainment to the less than entertaining scenery that i am passing. Don't get me wrong...it is nice to bike on flat land, but I am finding myself talking & singing to inanimate objects. I have also begun to sing loud enough to scare away all forms of wildlife. Good news is that I am happy to report that a rider may be joining me in Ft. Worth, TX! I will soon add a 'things to bring' button to my web page for all interested riders. DAY 37 Saturday April 6th, 2002 Mileage: 61 miles, total of 1263 miles Brownfield, TX to Post, TX A long, hard, slow day in the rain. All day in the cold rain and not much in the form of roadside attractions. An older man slowed down to ask me if i wanted a ride to town. I laughed and said "no thanks," only later i was kicking myself wishing that i had not been so stubborn. By the time I reached my destination town of Post, TX it was late and i learned that there was a fishing competition going on, which meant that all three motels were booked. Thunderstorm warnings in effect and no campsites in proximity...i asked around and finally went to the police station. There were two inmates sitting with the clerk in the office and we joked about me sleeping in a spare cell. Just as i was thinking of how to get myself arrested...one of the motels phoned back to say that they had a last minute cancellation. Compliments the Post Police Department, I was treated to a room at Twin Cedars Motel, where i shared the bathrooms and kitchen with some fishermen. Upon arrival i was shadowed by a very curious 10yo who thought my flag looked 'purdy.' DAY 38 Sunday April 7th, 2002 Mileage: 52 miles, total of 1315 miles Post, TX to Snyder, TX DAY 39 Monday April 8th, 2002 Mileage: 64 miles, total of 1379 miles Snyder, TX to Anson, TX DAY 40 Tuesday April 9th, 2002 Mileage: 67 miles, total of 1446 miles Anson, TX to Breckenridge, TX Go Home Go to previous page Next page |