Day 57 Home to Memphis, TN

Gray and family arrived at my motel a little after 7 AM for a final visit. The little girls were sleepy but ready to go on to Sea World. My limo driver arrived promptly at 8 AM. . . I rode in grand style to the Jacksonville airport. The flight home was uneventful. Arrived Memphis in a rainstorm. Catherine had planned to bring the children inside so that Sarah Catherine could watch planes landing, but due to the weather, we nixed that plan. They met me at curbside instead. It was wonderful to see all of them. Sarah Catherine listened politely to Catherine and me and then offered her sweet conversation. Although Daniel was backwards in his seat, he kept his face turned toward me and offered the sweetest smile. . . After unpacking and sorting laundry, I went over to Catherine's for dinner. Danny, who is a master at the outdoor grill, cooked chicken shish-ka-bobs using Frank's secret marinade recipe. UMMMM good! . . . . .

Well, the trip of a lifetime is over! As the result of tremendous prayer support, I truly enjoyed every day. I never felt unduly tired; I slept well; I felt comfortable and safe even under sometimes rough conditions; and, despite eating a LOT of Linda's good cooking and lots of DQ ice cream, I didn't gain a pound! In fact, I lost one pound, so I'm happy about that. God is so faithful and met my every need in many ways with His Amazing Grace!! Thanks be to God!

Statistics: 3 093.5 miles registered on my odometer; 48 riding days; average of 65 miles per day

Day 56 Palatka to St. Augustine, FL

Riding into St. Augustine today is quite possible the most exciting and self-satisfying event that has ever happened to me! The weather was perfect today and the roads from Palatka to St. A were beautiful - lots of over-hanging trees, good shoulders, little traffic when there were no shoulders. Jane and I pulled out just after sunrise at 7 AM - plenty of time to allow for the unforeseen ,i.e. flats, wrong turns, etc. It's a good thing, too, for we missed a turn onto Federal Pt. Rd. It turned out to be just fine. We just approached Hastings from the east rather than from the west and in Hastings, we got back on route. Glad we didn't miss this pretty little hamlet. From there we road through Racy Point, Riverdale and Molassas Junction along the St. John's River with beautiful homes along the river on both sides of the road. Then, all of a sudden we were on the west side of St. A at the designated firehouse where we gathered for the mass, police escorted, final five mile ride to Anatasia State Park and the Atlantic Ocean!! Oh, my, how thrilling! We were lined up two by two by age with Beaner (Jeanne L) leading on her tryke and riding with Barbara M. on her recumbant. Next were Katie and Jane on their Friday bikes. Coincidentally, Barbara and Katie are both in the "older sixties" group. Then came Judy and Penny followed by Hanna and Clark (me), then Genie and Barbara S. Behind all of us were those in their fifties, then the forty age group, and finally, Micki, our youngest. There were five police cars who halted traffic and led us thru red lights and over the Lion Bridge out to the park. As we approached the beach, the police all turned on their sirens. There was no way our friends and families couldn't know of our approaching caravan!! At the bridge we were stopped momentarily for traffic to clear. I struck up AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL and all the ladies chimed in. I really had chill bumps. Amazingly, I was dry-eyed, but God gets credit for that. The first person I really saw at the park was little Eliza holding up a poster that she made to welcome her Nana home. Then, I saw Emma Grace, Gray and Margaret, then Brenda and Buddy from DeLand. Even before the park, I had visitors at the fire station - Maryanna Malone was there with Fran Stevenson - longtime historian for Delta Gamma Fraternity. When Maryanna introduced me, I was just floored! Since 1959 I have known of Fran and admired her lifetime of service to my beloved collegiate sorority. Pictures were taken - who knows? I may wind up in THE ANCHORA! Maryanna and Fran were also at the beach and joined all of us for a picnic lunch. . . . The first order of business at the beach was to carry our bikes to the shoreline and dip our front wheels in the Atlantic. Imagine! Eight weeks of two wheeled travel over purple mountains majesty, deserts, Indian reservations, Texas plains,Texas hill country, east Texas (does Texas ever end?), beautiful St. Francisville, Alabama coast, Mississippi coast, and, finally, the panhandle of Florida and the Atlantic Ocean. I couldn't stop laughing and grinning. Gray took lots of pictures of me - especially lifting my TREK Pilot over my head. (I've done lots of pushups to be able to do that!) Gray offered to carry my bike out to the shore, but I needed to do that myself. I did, however, let him carry it back. . . At the picnic it was fun to visit with my support group and to meet the families and spouses of the other ladies. . . Gray packed in my bike for the drive to the bike shop. There we found that WT had failed to call ahead so that boxes could be stockpiled. Michelle had to spend her afternoon hauling bikes further down the road, possibly to J'ville, to be packed and shipped home. Bless his heart, Gray offered to take mine home to SC and ship it from his bike shop. . . The next glitch I encountered was discovering tonight that my connecting flight has been cancelled and I will spend five hours in the airport and get home around 10 PM- unacceptable! USAirways reticketed me on an earlier flight and Gray has lined up an 8 AM shuttle to get me to the airport. Alas, all things have worked out!

Day 55 Alachua to Palatka, FL

Everyone's getting excited now about reaching St. Augustine tomorrow. We were pulling out early today, but, then, we had 70 miles to cover! Arm warmers felt wonderful. Socks and finger gloves would have been nice, too, for the first hour or so. . . . Jane and I stopped at CVS to buy note paper, and tonight I've written a short note to each participant. The morning ride thru little villages was delighful - Brooker, Graham and Hampton. Then we hit Hwy 100, speeding trucks of all shapes and sizes, a shoulder, albeit rough, and constant traffic. On spotting a Baskin Robbins about 10 of pulled in. Jane had a flat there which she quickly changed. Debbie, the day's SAG driver, was there so Jane had access to a good pump. We learned later that Katie had a flat somewhere by herself. It took her 40 minutes to change the back tire on her Bike Friday. Why she ever brought that thing is beyond me. Jane rides one, too, but it seems to be a better version. . . . The Best Western is nice. . . Talked to Gray - They're staying tonight at St. Simons Island in order to be on time tomorrow to see me (and the group) arrive and dip our tires. Oh! I hope I can keep from crying!! I am SO excited.

Day 54 Perry to Alachua, FL

The day began quite cool. According to the tv weather, it was cool all over the country - high of 66 expected in Memphis and the wine crop in CA is being damaged by frost. I didn't take off my jacket until mile 40 - about 10:00. The highlight of today's ride was a visit to Ichetucknee Springs - beautiful blue-green, clear water with limestone bottom. I soaked up to my knees - others swam until they saw a snake. He went off into the weeds and Mary declared he wouldn't bother anyone. On the way to Alachua a bunch of us stopped at Floyd's for lunch or ice cream. I actually had the best milkshake I've ever had. Floyd's is an unusual 50's restaurant. We're at The Days Inn tonight in Alachua - a rather inhospitable motel and totally opposite from last night at The Hampton Inn. Among other things, we were asked to park the trailer about a block away from the rooms which makes dishwashing difficult. A friend of Mary's brought us wine and a few hors d'oeuvres tonight. Mary actually rode her bike home to Gainesville for the night - 125 miles. . . . After dinner (Shepherd's Pie and salad), Michelle responded to my invitation for her to sing. She did several numbers - at least two that she wrote. The woman is VERY talented. . . .. I've been told that the ladies are giving individual gratuities rather than combining all of it for each guide. I'll need to buy some thank-you cards. . .

Day 53 Wildwood to Perry, FL

This morning breakfast was inside the Inn and snacks were inside the trailer due to rain. Rain chased us for awhile and finally caught up with us and stayed off and on for the entire 54 miles. Jane and I rode into Perry and stopped for lunch at Wendy's. The bottom fell out as we drove away from Wendy's for the final 1/2 mile. The staff at The Hampton Inn welcomed us with pool towels to dry off with and allowed us to hose off our bikes and wipe them down, too. I offered to pay for my filthy towel (dirt and grease), but no way. It would be bleached and if that didn't get it clean, they will use if for cleaning purposes. This is without a doubt the best hotel chain that has hosted us. . . . It's early this afternoon, but I've washed my clothes and myself and I've cleaned my bike and relubed the chain. . . . Only three nights left to be with this great group of women and then we return to our homes and families and resume normal lives. I really hope to keep up with a few in particular; and I hope someone organizes a reunion in a year or two. . . . Maryanna Lewis Malone "found" me via Susan H. and plans to see me in St. A with perhaps another DG or two. I wonder if THE ANCHORA would be interested in an article . . . Beginning at 5:30 the Hampton served us wine, etc., chocolate covered strawberries and delicious cookies. During dinner which was served inside, Candice came in and said there was someone in the lobby who's father knew me. I went out to the lobby and saw Gay Pitts Galbreath - Willie's daughter. She saw the WomanTours trailer and asked if someone from Memphis was part of the group. She remembered when I stopped by to see her mom last summer on the MS trip. Well, we had such a good visit after I finished talking to Willie on her cell phone. He misses Mary Mac but Gay assured me that he's been on the upswing of late. Willie and I have been cycling buddies for a long time and Mary Mac was once one of my counselors at Camp DeSoto. Coincidentally, Gay is an Ole Miss DG - I didn't know that! Small world. . . It's so good tonight to have Barbara S. as my roommate. We've enjoyed each other and have been roommates about five times. Dinner tonight: salmon, broccoli w/almonds (hot and garlicky), salad and cookies.

Day 52 Day Off at the Wildwood Inn, Crawfordville

How sweet it was this am to be able to sleep late - 7:30! And, I got a really good night's sleep for the first time in several nights. . . . I forgot to mention on yesterday's posting that last night we finally had our Georgia margaritas! One might think we're all lushes when in reality one or maybe two 5 oz. glasses is not very much! We mostly enjoy the camaraderie and the treat for crossing yet another state on our quest. . . .After continental breakfast in the lobby, several rode off to the Catholic Church which is just down the road. Katie, Jane and I road 1.5 miles back to Wakulla Presbyterian Church for the 10:30 service. We were welcomed with open arms and even asked to stand and tell about our adventure. Dr. Nancy Forinash and her flock were just as sweet as could be. We thoroughly enjoyed the service and especially her sermon on Love. It seemed to speak directly to each of us, as we've tried to be loving in our environment of 30 women and 30 personalities. . . . Well, we cooked our potatoes in the lobby microwave, as well as broccoli and then added cheese. Still feeling a little hungry, we split a hamburger from the golf shop which is next door. As it happens, that's also where we'll have supper tonight. There just is no place around here to eat and we're responsible for our meals on our days off. It probably wouldn't hurt any of us to start cutting back. We'll be back to the "real" world very soon. I weighed yesterday at the HI Express and was pleasantly surprised. I won't believe a weight loss, however, until I weigh on my own scales this coming Saturday AM. . . . I'm beginning to get excited, too, about getting home. Oh, and by the way, I've decided to do another tour next summer in August - the Northwest Loop thru Washington, Idaho, Oregon. I hope my prayer partners will stick with me!!!

Day 51 Quincy to Crawfordville, FL

This was a very short day - only 47.5 miles but most extended it by about 10 miles to visit Wakulla Springs State Park. The park was beautiful and even before we turned into the entrance road from the highway, we could feel a distinct drop in the temperature to very cool. The lake was most unusual with white, lime shelves on the shallow bottom. We thoroughly enjoyed the $6 guided boat trip around the mile long lake. Saw many alligators of all sizes, osprey, an eagle nest w/bird, turtles, Limpkin, blue herons, baby blue herons, Anhinga, grey ducks with red beaks. Lots of fish in the shallow areas. This lake is where CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON was filmed with Tarzan and Jane. . . Jane I. and I stopped by Walmart for her to get a new camera card. Katie had already stopped there to get baked potatoes for our lunch tomorrow. . . . I'm so glad to have Barbara S. as my rommate for this layover stay. It's the 5th time we've been roommates and we're quite compatible. B is doing the trip with her cousin (by marriage) Genie which has been fun for them. We're staying at the Wildwood Inn which is quite lovely and relatively new. It's a long way from anything, hence today's shopping for tomorrow's lunch. We spotted a Presbyterian Church coming in and plan to attend tomorrow. It will be our first Sunday not to be riding. . . . Dinner: Turkey Taco Pie, salad and cheesecake. After dinner we watched an hour long video of the 2006 Southern Tier. It was fun to see that group of ladies' reaction to rain, long days, soreness, etc. Without going into further details, there were very mixed reactions from our group about the video.

Day 50 Marianna to Quincy, FL

Went across the street this morning for donuts and coffee before Linda had the oats and eggs ready. The eggs were about gone when I got back and I declined the oats. The 50 mile ride today was incredibly lovely and enjoyable. We had tree lined, cool roads and then a traffic-less road thru a corridor of pine trees and hardwood forests. It was a delightful day. The cue sheet mentioned restaurants around the town square in Quincy. NOT. I'm afraid Q has been left behind economically. We finally found a Captain D's that was OK. Arriving at the Parkway Inn (formerly Holiday Inn), four of us found that we were actually assigned to the brand new HI Express which was next door. With high beds, 4 pillows, beautiful linens, long and thick towels, you'd think I'd be set up for a good night's sleep. Not. The temp never went below 75 and I tossed all night. Oh, well. . . . Today we went thru Sneads, then Chattahoochee. Before C we crossed the Appalachicola River where I took a picture of a half bridge (talk about 'bridge out'). Going up the hill to town - it sits on a high bluff or ridge - I saw a quarter and a nickel on the road and stopped to pick them up. :)) Mama would be pleased.. . Also in C, we turned north on Decatur St. and rode 3/4 mile to Georgia state line! Margaritas are promised for tomorrow. . . Leaving C we rode along Lincoln St. and passed many lovely homes. . . I've ridden 2777 miles to date!

Day 49 Crestview to Marianna, FL

I really had fun today! It's FL and it's HOT! We pulled out at 6:45 (Jane and I) to beat the heat. She seemed to be struggling, but by noon, I, too, was struggling. From then on we stayed more or less together. We never ate lunch - just our pb&J, cliff bars, cheese nabs, GatorAid, water. The constant headwind caused some difficulty but the wind, combined with cloud cover also kept us cool. Ninety miles, tho, is a lot. By the time I got here I'd changed my mind about going for a century. I was numb, sticky from gatoraid, and hot AND the traffic thru Marianna to the Ramada Inn (totally starless) was fast and furious. Instead I washed out my clothes and iced my knees. . . Finally tonight we had our FL margarita night - 3 nights late but always enjoyed. Linda had a good dinner, too - red beans and rice w/sausage, slaw w/pecans, left over carrot salad and delicious dump cake for dessert. Mary Kay is organizing a poker ride for tomorrow. I contributed my deck of unopened cards (thought I'd play a lot of soltaire. . .ha-ha). . I stopped @ Regions Bank in DeFuniak and got more cash. Then took 11th street to Live Oak and followed Circle Drive back around to Hwy 90. What a treat! This street overlooks Lake DeFuniak and is lined with gorgeous homes from the late 1800's and early 1900's. Other than that, today's ride on Hwy 90 was featureless.

Day 48 Pensacola to Crestview, FL

After yesterday's excitement, it was difficult to get back out on Hwy 90, but that's what we did - for 8 miles. The rough, unuseable shoulder lasted about 3.5 miles. Then, our ride continued for 6 miles out of Milton on a delightful bike trail. Local people were walking and cycling and we passed one self-contained couple who were traveling cross country. After the trail we had some good country roads with practically no traffic. The Cozy Corner in Holt, FL proved to be a good spot for lunch. Everyone sat outside at bright, colorful umbrella tables. From there it was 15 miles on Hwy 90 and some on Hwy 85 to our Quality Inn in Crestview. In Holt I called 2 PC and asked for safety prayers to be included on the Prayer Matters list for that afternoon. Too many incidents have occurred recently. . . . Last night Jane Irwin asked if she could ride with me today. We have a lot in common and I really enjoyed her company. . . Brenda Raines called; She and Buddy plan to be in St. A to meet me! I can't wait to see them; it's been a long time since we grew up together in Columbus. . . Talked to Jim at the Island Bike Shop about packing and shipping my bike home. . .Iced both knees for 2 hours. Hopefully they're ready for 90 miles tomorrow. . . Dinner tonight: Chinese vegetables on brown rice; salad w/L's balsamic dressing; carrot cake. . .

Day 47 Dauphin Island to Pensacola, FL

I think everyone hated to leave our lovely accommodations, the beach and pool, etc. @ Dauphin Island; but leave we did. We were all at the ferry by 7:45 for the 8 am ride over to Gulf Shores. On such a beautiful day, the ride was very pleasant. I visited with some of the auto drivers and watched the Laughing Gulls. I incorrectly referred to them yesterday as seagulls. They are such characters as they chatter and glide around over head. Some have red beaks. After the ferry I really enjoyed the ride on Hwy 292 thru Gulf Shores and along the beach. After I crossed the high bridge near FL state line, I saw the highrise condo - The Carib - where Catherine and Danny stayed last year on vacation. Soon after that, Bo Peep was parked next to Mary's brother-in-law Allen, who drove down from Atlanta to welcome her home to FL. Mary's from Gainesville. He had a sheet draped over the car with "CAL - FL. We love Mary." As was suggested, I and a dozen others stopped at Triggers for sushi. They no longer serve sushi, but the oyster po-boy was mighty fine. After that the ride went a little south. The scenic hwy 90 thru Pensacola to the Ramada Inn was quite dangerous. There were some incidents that occurred which put a damper on things, but, thankfully, everyone is OK.

Day 46 Day off - Dauphin Island, AL

Dauphin Island is THE BEST place for a rest day or a family reunion! With the windows open and the ceiling fan on low, I slept soundly and didn't get up 'til 7 am this morning. In our condo we wished we had taken coffee from previous motels as we have a pot but coffee is not available. Being Monday, the island seemed shut down at 8:00 am when we went off on our bikes looking for breakfast. (On 'off' days we're usually on our own for food.) At the one food market that was open, we hit the jackpot. Not only found good breakfast foods (frozen pancakes, yogurt, fresh strawberries), but also plenty of variety for lunch sandwiches as well. I also found all my Alabama postcards AND stamps. During the day I've written and mailed the cards, toured some of the island, walked a ways on the beach, lounged near the pool and read. I also spent a long time this morning cleaning my bike, especially the back cogs and the chain. It should be in good shape for the rest of the journey unless I encounter rain, mud, etc. . .All of us have the worst tan lines! Too bad that one day on the beach won't even out the lines. . . I've enjoyed watching the seagulls and plovers. Some of the ladies watched an alligator this am at the Audubon Bird Sanctuary. He'd gone under by the time I arrived. . . Michelle's cooking tonight since there are no open restaurants. Linda has the day off. . . Rumor is that she also plans to entertain us on her guitar. I'm looking forward to that .. . Well, it's back on the bikes tomorrow . . .

Day 45 Pascagoula to Dauphin Island, GA

New state - our 7th and you know what that means! This crowd (including me) really looks forward to Michelle's margaritas. She's perfected the recipe! . . . We rode over the awesome looking bridge to DI with no trouble. Even Candice swallowed her bridge phobia and made the ride successfully. Unfortunately, Katie had a flat at the top on her Friday but was able to ride on in to the condos. . . . I enjoyed riding today with Linda, our cook, from the 20 mile sag on. BTW - Linda is featured in the May issue of BICYCLE magazine with her famous Mac and Cheese recipe for bike groups. . . . Mary Kay located a restaurant via www so most of us looked for it today for lunch. The Barnacle Restaurant turned out to be the perfect place for me to have an oyster po-boy. I've wanted one since we hit LA. . . . We're settled for two nights here at the Dauphin Island Beach Club and Condos. There are 5-6 of us to a condo. They all overlook a lovely swimming pool and beyond that is the beach and ocean. The decor is charming; we feel quite at home. Most of spent the afternoon lying by the pool or walking the beach. Phyllis fell asleep on the beach and got burned. . . My sunscreen protected me just fine. . . . I heard from Susan H. today. She and James, who has just graduated from high school, went skydiving yesterday! That is something I would NEVER do, so I'm really proud of Susan. I probably should take a ropes course or try sky diving in an attempt to get rid of my height phobia. . .To go with the margaritas, Linda prepared a delicious Jambalaya, salad, cornbread, and Paula Dean's recipe for banana pudding. I wouldn't think of telling you the ingredients of the latter but it was mouthwatering! My total miles are right at 2500. Getting close to the end and still enjoying every day.

Day 44 Wiggins to Pascagoula, MS

What a glorious ride today from Wiggins - beautiful MS backroads, tall pines of every description, pretty fields of goats, sheep, horses and cattle and some beautiful homes. Also, a fair number of trailer homes. It rained hard last night but today has been crystal clear. . .After leaving Wiggins on Hwy 49, we turned off onto Sunflower Rd., followed by Bethel Rd., SR 15, Bridge Creek Rd., Old Biloxi Rd., Joe Batt Rd - on and on until we turned south on SR 57 in VanCleave. From there we went thru Gautier, then over two bridges to Pascagoula. The 2nd bridge was long and high but not scary. I even stopped at the top and took pictures w/Jan and Arda. Candice just walked by and said that she crossed the bridge and her friend Dawn snapped her picture to prove she rode over. She has a real fear of bridges but has crossed a lot of them on this trip. . .We pulled into the La Font Inn just behind Kathy B. and Kathy arrived just after her sister Belinda w/her two young boys. They brought two huge coolers of crayfish, shrimp and boiled potatoes. These crayfish were perfectly seasoned and were such a treat for lunch. Belinda even brought frozen strawberry daiquiris! Wow! The early birds really chowed down because we hadn't had lunch. I've been by the pool today, too, with a new book. Finally finished SATURDAY by Ian McEvan. Bought a used copy of TRAVELS WITH CHARLIE in St. F and started that today at the pool. It's amazing but I've been 2447 miles so far on my journey across America!!! What a phenomenal trip. . . We found out tonight that yesterday's dogs have had recent rabies shots. All three of the ladies who were injured rode today and said that they felt just fine. . . . Linda had a wonderful dinner tonight as requested by yesterday's BD girl: lasagna, homemade ww bread, salad, and chocolate cake. Boy, was it good! . . . It was good to have a visit late this afternoon from Peggy Baugh, originally from Columbus but now from Gautier. I think her sister, Margie D., told her about my journey and since she lives so close, she called the other day to say that she wanted to stop by. I really appreciated that she came.

Day 43 Bogalusa to Wiggins, MS

We're in Mississippi!!! Can you believe I've been this far on a bicycle??? What a trip!!! Since yesterday's ride went past Franklinton to Bogalusa, today's ride was shortened by 18 miles. There were two alternatives even today - 50 miles with 30 miles on Hwy 26 to 60 miles with only 3 miles on hwy. 26. Jane and I took the longer route and were so glad we did. Those 3 miles on busy Hwy 26 were stressful due to the hills, the logging trucks and the wind. The winds today were quite gusty. It didn't seem to matter which way we turned. The back, country roads were sometimes in bad shape, too. I noticed lots of new roofs; many were tin. I wonder why. Is tin more durable than roofing tiles? I'm sure the new roofs are a result of Katrina 3 years ago. Early this morning we crossed the Pearl River just outside of Bogalusa. All stopped to run across and take a picture of "Welcome To Louisiana." A little further down, I snapped "Welcome To Mississippi." For many miles we wound around on REAL MS backroads and through what appeared to be very poor neighborhoods - old trailers with blue tarps and falling down houses with blue tarps. Near Poplarville we passed by a trailer home settlement. Two large dogs came out - a black lab/like dog and a large brown of some sort. They seemed to want to play with each other in front of my front wheel. Three times they circled me but never showed animosity. Later, tho, with a group of cyclists, the black dog bit two of the ladies - one seriously. Both spent time in the local ER. The sheriff was called. Micki couldn't rouse anyone in the house altho there were several new cars out front. The boarded up windows roused suspicions that this might be a "meth" house. Both ladies are in and showered and will be fine. We don't know yet about the rabies shots. Also, Phyllis went over her handlebars after probably hitting a huge bolt that was in the road and having a blowout. She's got a lot of roadrash and torn shirt and a banged up bike, but she'll be fine, too, in time. . . . In Poplarville, Jane and I stopped at The Baker Connection for a donut and coffee, then followed the back road route on into Wiggins. This was a very eventful day. . . The almost 2400 miles seem to have caught up with most of us. We're a tired group. . . It's Margarita Night again - we crossed from LA to MS today. . . Celebrated Carol's 50 birthday. Lots of cards and small gifts. Of course, we did the Beaver Song. I don't think I've written about this routine that's become special to this group of ladies. We do the animated song for anyone who does something special for us. I'll try to get the words and share them later.

Day 42 St. Francisville to Bogalusa, LA

I am so tired tonight I don't know if I can write or not. Our ride out of St. F. today was so beautiful with over hanging trees and lovely homes. At about mile 25, however, things changed drastically. We came up a "bridge out" sign and believe me, it was no joke. Evidently WT didn't know about this glitch. One end of the bridge had a high roadblock of roofing material. We climbed over that and walked along the wooden slat bridge to the opposite end. There the slats disappeared and only the vertical studs existed and some of them had long nails sticking out. The drop was quite deep. God had Micki there for me or I'd still be there wondering how to cross. She hoisted my bike and carried it to the other side and came back for me. Micki literally talked me across. I held on the side beam and she told me where to place my feet. Since I'm so afraid of heights, I was terrified. It took me quite some time to forget about the experience. From then on I experienced a lot of very rough LA roads and very gusty headwinds. Our original route was to end in Frnaklinton, LA at 107 miles. Due to some complication, WT booked us in a motel 20 miles further east in Bogalusa. Some rode 100 miles and sagged the rest. About 1/2 of us did the entire route which for me was 125 miles. Debbie encouraged me to go the distance when she said, "When will you ever be in this good of condition and have an opportunity for this many miles?" I made my decision @ mile 80 to ride on to Bogalusa. Well, I did it but I hurt all over - my knees, fanny. . . Michelle returned from Colorado and Patty goes back to Montana tomorrow. Patty cooked scrambled eggs this morning with spinach and cheese. This made a really good sandwich to help me finish the day victoriously!!!

Day 41 Day off in St. Francisville, LA

How lovely to wake up today to a cocophony of bird calls! Sandra plugged in the coffee pot and I came downstairs at the 1st aroma of fresh coffee. Croissants, juice, cereal/banana made a good breakfast - and a good change from oats and eggs. :)) Sandra is going on homes tours with her St. Louis friends. I've left a request by phone for a home tour of the Butler home at 9:30 for the WT guests. . .I can't say enough about how restful and peaceful it is out here in the country. And, I'm so glad I chose not to ride yesterday, but to give myself 2 days off the bike. . . . (later) Ann Butler gave us an interesting talk this am on the history of this area of LA. Her home, the Butler-Greenwood Plantation dates back to 1796. It's a cottage style home built for lots of ventilation with floor to ceiling doors on two sides and plenty of air space underneath. All of the furniture is original to the home and it's always been occupied by the descendents of the same family. In the formal parlor is a 13 piece set with even the original fabric! Since the room was only "gently" used, she believes that contributed to its long life. She still occupies the home and sleeps in a gorgeous teester bed of her ancestors. Ginger Locke drove down from Baton Rouge and graciously took us around town (Katie, Jane, Cheryl and me). We had the buffet lunch at The Myrtle Plantation. Then, drove to the post office for the girls to mail home the books that they bought at the Butler home. Anne B. is quite an author. I want to read her life story WEEP FOR THE LIVING . . she has a beautiful old fashioned plant called Ardesia - similar to nandina but much prettier with brillant red berries. . . . We drove out to the end of Ferdinand St. to view the high water of the MS River, then around to Grandmother's Buttons which is housed in the old Commercial and Trust Bank building. There's a collection of antique buttons in the vault that was amazing - well worth driving to St. F to see if one likes buttons! Our next stop was the Visitor Information Center and museum which also was very interesting. We had thought we'd tour Rosedown Plantation but by then it was 2:30 and we all wanted a good nap! I hope Ginger was able to stay awake driving home. Since naptime, Katie, Jane and I have been doing laundry in Jane's cottage, reading and writing postcards to our grandchildren all friends. We have wine in the fridge and cheese and crackers for dinner and are considering biking to the grocery for potatoes to microwave. . . . . .Katie and I did the grocery run.. . .our dinner was complete with baked potatoes topped with chilli and sour cream. . .Ummmm. Life is so good.

Day 40 Simmesport to St. Francisville, LA

After last night's lodging in Simmesport (rather like the Rebel Motel in Oxford, MS might have been in 1963), we've all looked forward to St. Francisville. Because of heavy rains up north of here, the ferry across the Mississippi River is closed indefinitely. So, 14 of us volunteered to be sagged via Baton Rouge this morning to St.F. The others biked to This Ain't Your Mama's Cafe and waited until Linda could get us to St.F (90 min. trip) and go back for them. The idea was that we the first group could get here and do a long or short bike ride on our own. In reality, we took our luggage to our rooms and headed straight for lunch in town at The Magnolia Cafe and now are peddling around town, or, like me, blogging at the library. :)) Like most places in the south, this morning was quite cold. I put on all my cold weather gear just to stand out at the trailer before we left at 8:30. It still feels comfortable altho the day is pristine.
The group is divided between the St. F Inn which is in town and the Butler Greenwood Plantation which is 2.8 miles from town by my odometer. I was assigned to the Butler and am so pleased with the assignment. First of all, the location is just beautiful - a charming old home (haven't had the tour yet) on large acreage which is covered with charming cottages - about 6 of them. I and two other ladies are assigned to the Dovecote. I took the 3rd floor bedroom which is up two sets of windy stairs. Sandra took the fold out sofa which is in the kitchen on the 2nd floor and has a bathroom. Katie is on the bottom floor with a king sized bed and bath w/sunken tub. I'll have to be extremely careful going down the steps in the middle of the night! but I've got my trusty flashlight. . . The kitchen is stocked with coffee, croissants, orange juice and milk. There's also a stove, microwave, etc. for more serious cooking which, believe me, we are not interested in! There was some discussion about each lady purchasing something to make up a pot luck supper tomorrow night. I discovered on the drive this morning that absolutely no one seemed interested in that idea. We may get a little wine, cheese, crackers and fruit but no serious cooking for us! Most of us plan to get a good meal tomorrow and noon and just snack for supper. My roommates and I are thinking of having lunch at The Myrtle's Plantation and touring the home tomorrow. . . But first, we'll start with sleeping past 6 am (if the peacock allows), make a pot of coffee and enjoy the croissants on the porch. Except for the peacock it's SO quiet out in the country. Since the Sportsman Motel last night was between the railroad and the highway, tonight should be a slice of heaven! Well, since it's really too pretty to be inside, I'm going to leave you now and come back tomorrow to finish today's journal entry. . . .

Day 39 Opelousas to Simmesport, LA

Will post later when I have my journal.cht

Day 38 De Ridder to Opelousas, LA

Another cool day but the wind was more in our favor. This 90 mile day was easy and really enjoyable. The main road had a wide shoulder. . the country roads had no shoulder but little traffic. So, with good winds and mostly good roads, this was an easy 90 miles. There was one 2 mile stretch that shook us to pieces - gave me a headache. It was packed gravel where the road is in process of being resurfaced. This was on SR 104 between Oberlin and Mamou. Michelle had warned us about LA roads. . . In Mamou we hoped Fred's Lounge would be open but it seems Fred's is only open on Saturday for live zedeco music, beer and food. Instead, several of us got food at the supermarket and had a picnic across the street from Fred's - cucumber, tomato, tuna, chips, carrots, humus and chocolate cookies. . . .Debbie suggested we not go thru Opelousas alone. It probably would have been OK but we took her advice. Our Holiday Inn hotel is very nice - good beds, thick towels, quiet, etc., etc. A WT graduate who lives nearby brought 40 #s of crayfish and local beer. Some wouldn't shuck the crayfish but many of us did and enjoyed the treat. . . . Michelle left us today for a few days R & R in CO. WT has sent Patty to cook and Linda will act as tour guide. She got training by fire this am when the van would not start and required a new starter. I think AAA put in a call that was answered by a man sitting in church! He was able to get us running again. Arla's husband Dave came from Navasota just in case we needed him to pull our trailer to Opelousas! Two ladies today had broken spokes causing them to have to sag for the last few miles. I think both wheels need to be trued. . Jane's Bike Friday's back wheel is cracked in several places. It finally collapsed today 1/4 mile from the hotel. She's ordered a new wheel and should be fixed up in St. Francisville. We're all looking forward to a day off. . . I feel surprisingly good after two 90 mile days. It sure helps to have flat roads and tail winds!

Day 37 Kountz to DeRidder, LA

We got quite a surprise this am when we stepped outside. It was COLD. Since my arm warmers and rain jacket live in my bike bag, I put them on. It was noon before I shed the jacket because the constant wind kept me cool. Today we had good and bad roads, sometimes a shoulder, somethimes not. Went thru villages such as Silsbee, Fred, Spurger, Mount Union, Kirbyville, Bleakwood and Bon Wier. Had lunch in Kirbyville at Elijah's - a very nice and popular lunch spot. Baked potatoes and corn chowder were the favored selections by our group of 10. . . Had 40 miles to ride after lunch and they were grueling. I fell way behind due to the strong headwind. No matter, this is not a race. At mile 68 we officially left Texas!! Lots of pictures were taken at the TX state sign. It's actually a concrete statue of the state. There had been no such sign as we entered TX on Easter Morning, March 23 on the way from Las Cruces NM to El Paso, TX. After the photo session, we crossed the Sabine River and were then in LA. Tonight, therefore, we'll celebrate crossing a state line with Michelle's famous Margaritas. . . There was a car wreck going into De Ridder and happened quite close to some of our cyclists. They are fine altho a little shaken. One wonders if the driver was watching them and not paying attention when he rammed another car. . . Linda from last year's tour brought gumbo, rice and pralines to go with our supper tonight - really good gumbo, too, with lots of shrimp, pork and sausage. Linda also had barbeque pork sandwiches (no more TX brisket) and slaw and pecan pie. We truly had a wonderful southern/LA dinner. Afterwards, Michelle accompanied herself on her guitar and sang a song that she wrote 6 years ago on the 90 mile ride we did today. JESUS LOVES ME BUT DOGS STILL BITE. . . We had lots of dogs chase us today. . . The Country Inn leaves lots to be desired. The door frame is completely away from the wall of one of our rooms. . . The head winds really tired me out today and I've got another long day tomorrow. . .

Day 36 Cleveland to Kountz, TX

Only 55 miles today but as usual, we left early - about 8:00. The sky was pitch black. Before I'd gone a mile, I stopped to put on rain gear including a shower cap to keep my head dry. At the 1st sag stop andmaybe even before that, I put it all away . . . The day remained cloudy but the rain went another direction. The road to Kountz was straight and flat. As we changed counties, we also changed pavement surfaces. Went from chip seal and no shoulder, to cs w/shoulder, to chip seal being resurfaced to finally a smooth road w/shoulder. The beginning miles were a little scarry 'cause of the lumber trucks. After we passed Georgia Pacific plant, there weren't many more trucks. . . . Just out of Rye, TX several of us stopped at Ginny's and really enjoyed a piece of Buttermilk Pie and coffee. Actually, I shared pie with Pat. . Arrived Kountz at 12:15 and immediately stopped at Mama Jack's Restaurant - a very popular local place for Southern cookin'. The buffet looked fabulous - fired catfish, okra, shrimp, etc., etc., I enjoyed a barbeque brisket sandwich (not as good as pork but quite good), homemade potato salad and homemade bread and butter pickles. Arriving at the Super 8 by 1:15 it was good to find our rooms available. This Super 8 is newer than last night's and much nicer - a no smoking motel, 2 floors and elevator. The rooms are larger and bed is much more comfortable. I spent the afternoon trimming all nails, washing today's bike clothes and watching tv. Can you believe it? (I rarely watch tv) While doing my stretches I happened on an interview with Charlton Heston (Chuck) who died last Saturday. It was so interesting as he was a consumate actor, gentlemann and devoted family man. Then, I watched BUCCANEER in which he played Andrew Jackson in the battle to protect New Orleans from the British. I think Carolyn Jones played a lead, too. Will check that later. Wandering outside I found Linda preparing our salad for tonight. . . . .It was good to hear from Glenn T. today. . . The logging trucks and tanker trucks were a challenge this morning. With practically no shoulder to escape to, some of them came very close. Most, however, were considerate and moved over or stayed behind until it was safe for them to pass. All part of the adventure!

Day 35 Navasota to Cleveland, TX

Well it finally happened! RAIN. It started about 15 miles out of Navasota and continued for the 70 mile day. Most of us biked more or less non stop until we got to the Super 8 in Cleveland. This was bound to happen sooner or later and I'm thankful that it happened later. It's warmer now and, I'm happy to say, my Mary P. paper jacket kept me mostly dry. Everything in the handlebar bag got wet but the camera was in a ziplock, so it's ok. I thought the yellow bonnet cover was waterproof but NOT. We're on a new Adv. Cyc. map now and it shows absolutely no elevation which means we're on mostly flat roads. Today's roads were good and had shoulders most of the time. The logging trucks and others were considerate, at least for me (I haven't heard any horror stories yet from others). And, just as I approached Cleveland there was a rather long, old bridge to cross. An SUV behind me kept way back of me and in front of a huge truck to allow me to cross by myself. I waved my thanks. I stopped at a grocery at 50 miles to confirm that I was on the correct road. Found Phyllis there having a cup of tomato soup and a baked potato! We were both so cold that I took her suggestion and had soup, too, to go with my pb&J sandwich. I bought a can of tomato soup, dumped it into a tall styrofoam cup, added hot water and slurped it down! Didn't stay there more than 15 minutes. The goal today was just to get to Cleveland, but food and water are necessary! The prediction for tomorrow is dry weather. Great! Today is Judy's BD. She's requested spaghetti, salad and strawberry shortcake for dinner. I'm really looking forward to it and know it will be delicious!. . . Mary Kay did a cute presentation in map meeting tonight to identify poison ivy. . . Michelle told us of Lorraine's death 2 years ago in Cleveland - accidentally hit around 5 pm as she entered hotel parking lot after having missed the driveway and was returning to hotel driveway. Earlier she had had premonition of death on the trip and had even talked to Jackie, the ,Pres. about it. Seems she was a nervous rider and had just retired as an MD. Most of us had heard about this or read about it on someone's blog. Michelle was wise to give us the straight story. It's always good to be reminded of the importance of riding smart and safely. . . . Only 18 more riding days. :(( We'll all miss these days very much.

Day 34 Navasota, TX day off

How lovely to sleep late today! Didn't get up until after 7:30 which is very late considering I normally get up at 5:45 or 6:00. Carol, Merle and I had a fabulous breakfast at La Casita down the frontage road from the motel. It was recommended to us by the night desk clerk. It was quiet, too, providing an opportunity for a long visit. They dropped me off at the library before heading back to Dallas. Carol and I go back to 9th grade so their was lots of reminiscing. I met Merle last October when I attended Carol's son's wedding in San Antonio. M now seems like an old friend, too. They are part of my huge support group! Thanks for coming! . . . Since I did my laundry last night, the only thing I really have to do today is clean my bike. I may stay here at the library for awhile, though, before walking back to the motel. It's nice to be able to act like a patron (customer) and just sit and read. . . The staff here is just like my staff at Raleigh - welcoming and helpful. . . I'm still reading SATURDAY by Ian McEwan. Merle suggested I re-read TRAVELS WITH CHARLIE while I'm on the trip. Wish I had a paperback copy but there's no book store in Navasota. Sports seems to be big here as there's a stadium nearby that drew a huge high school crowd last night. The town itself seems to be in a 1950's time warp. As we drove around last night after supper, folks were sitting out in their yards visiting. Remember those days? My home had a wonderful front porch where we sat in rocking chairs that had fold down armrests. As a teenager I spent many hours reading and rocking. Many of the homes here are lovely, comfortable and old. As in many of the towns we travel thru, the stores on main street have been recycled and are still open, trying to provide income. . . . I may add to this later, but, for now, I'm signing out to write my postcards and maybe look at a newspaper. To those who have written comments or sent emails, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I've tried to answer the emails, but if not, I hope the blog does the answering. Time is precious when I do get on a pc as others are always waiting for their turn. Love you all.

Day 33 LaGrance to Navasota, TX

This is the first day that I've started the ride without a jacket of some sort. It was warm, humid and stormy looking, so I took a jacket in my handlebar bag in case of rain. The clouds loomed all around, but I never felt a drop. All along hwy 137 we rode along antique alley. Barn after barn and field after field had tents set up for flea markets and antique sales. The signs advertised the dates from March 27 to April 5 so we just missed the action. Round Top, TX was at the end of antique alley - a well preserved antique town itself!. They had a display of original home and barn structures. I bought postcards at the mercantile store for SC, D, EG & E. I missed a turn into Burton but didn't go too far out of my way. The experience sort of threw me for a loop, tho. Anyway, a local policeman found me practically crying and personally led me back to the correct road! God's provision once again. The funny thing was that I'd been singing my new favorite song - Amazing Grace when I missed the turn off. "Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved. . ." I think I was overcome with the assurance that I was fine and never really lost and that's what brought on the tears! My family and close friends know how emotional I get over practically nothing, good or bad . . . I loved riding thru Gay Hill and also Independence, TX where Baylor school began. We turned right down a little side street in Independence and discovered a wonderful grocery owned by the Leukmeyer family. Hanna and I had a grilled bratwurst sandwich (on white Wonder bread (the only kind of bread in TX)- one piece, with mustard and mayo) - really good. The benches out front provided a relaxing place to eat lunch. The neighborhood dog ran off with Mary Kay's sandwich when she went inside to sign the guest book. .They encourage bikers to sign their book. Pulling into The Best Western, I checked in, turned around and there were my friends from Dallas who had driven down to see me - Carol P. and Merle I. It was so sweet of them to do this and boy did they hit a good night. Genie L's husband drove over from Crockett, TX to ride with her from Independence to Navasota. Chuck brought quite an assortment of wine and cold drinks and many hors d'oeuvres including homemade deer sausage, cheese cubes, humus, crackers, homemade salsa, strawberries, etc., etc. Chuck even brought long stemmed glsses! It was quite a party. Tonight's dinner included lots of guests - Carol, Merle, Chuck, Dave T, Tom, John (Beaner's husband. They're celebrating their 25th anniversary) and Mark, Sandra's son. Mark was in Seattle on business and returning to Kenya when he decided to drop down and surprise Mom for a few days! What a surprise it was, too, when she loaded her luggage yesterday, turned around and saw Mark standing in the parking lot. We were all thrilled for her. Dinner tonight was beef tacos, corn salad, green salad, Mexican rice with whole, small tomatoes and fudge from Round Top that one of the men (I think) contributed. My guests really enjoyed meeting the ladies and hearing some of their stories. The ride today truly was the most beautiful day to date. The wild flowers were breathtakingly beautiful - just fields and fields, as well as roadside beds of yellow, orange, pink, blue and purple. I took several pictures that may or may not show off the beauty. Judy and I roommates tonight. She's my friend from NC and we haven't been assigned together since the first 2 nights in San Diego. Catherine inquired about my burned lip and hand blister. The Aquaphore has finally allowed the lip to completely heal and the blister turned to a callous and never broke. So, I am totally fine. In fact I continue to be amazed at just how good I feel. The scales indicate that I haven't gained weight as I suspected, I sleep well at night and my daily stretches seem to keep me limber.

Day 32 Bastrop to LaGrange, TX

Such a beautiful day we had today! Leaving Bastrop we almost immediately went into Bastrop State Park and for 15 miles were thrilled by the dense forest, rolling hills including several really steep bumps - one reached 17% grade!! I met my match on that one and walked the top part. We stopped at a vista point and enjoyed a beautiful view. Once out of the park, the road was basically flat but did include some rollers. About 6 of us formed a loose paceline and got to LaGrange at 11:30. We were looking for Frank's Place but when we got there it was closed up. Someone from last year's ride recommended the hamburgers and onion rings. A local worker suggested The Riverside Cafe out from town and across the Colorado River. Off we went to find our lunch. I lifted my bike over the guard rail to go across the bridge on the sidewalk. After a few yards, tho, I had to get back on the road. The walk was much too narrow for me. Not a single car was on the bridge with me! The hamburger and onion rings were just terrific. The ORs were freshly cut and cooked tempura style - fantastic. Afterwards, Ellen and I got apple streudal from Yuka's bakery - also delicious. Stopped to take picture of the courthouse. It's reported to have been featured in THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS. The town square is at the bottom of a fairly steep hill. Leaving the square to find the Best Western on the by-pass, the return up the hill proved not be too bad. It really is amazing how a lot of hills flatten out!

Day 31 Blanco to Bastrop, TX

Breakfast today was at 7 am and we were pulling out by 7:30 on what we thought would be a 94 mile day. But, alas, it was only 89.52. Psychologically, 4.5 miles seemed like a huge savings. I pulled into Wendy's for a chocolate Frosty just before the Comfort Inn. (Wow - I'm really going to have to rein in on all this eating when I get home. For now I'm just not worrying about it.) The cool start turned into quite a warm day, so the ice cream tasted mighty good. I thought some of us might stop in Wimberley at mile 26 for coffee. It's a cute little town but at 9:30 or 10 am, the motorcycle riders had gotten there first and the restaurant was packed. We pressed on . . . Along Old Spanish Trail we passed a group of folks out enjoying their T model Fords on a Sunday morning. I waved and one honked "uga, uga". Riding into Lockhart we were treated to a beautiful, old courthouse. One lady is photographing all the courthouses for her husband who is a judge in Washington state. From then on Hwy 20 was very busy and offered practically no shoulder. It's nerve racking to some and a little scary. I call myself very careful on roads like this. I stop peddling when cars approach, hug the white line and keep a careful eye on the traffic. It's times like today when I believe it's foolish to ride without a rearview mirror. I not only want to see the vehicles, but I want to know how many to expect to pass me. . . .I finally saw a small roadside bed of blue bonnets today. So far they are not as prolific as I expected. It may still be early. We're heading away from the hill country, though, and may just miss the explosion of blue bonnets. I have seen a lot of Indian Paintbrush, coreopsis, spiderwort and evening primrose along the roads. We're diffinently back in civilization - lots of homes that are close to the road, cattle and horse farms and larger towns and TRAFFIC. I feel as though I've come through a foreign country and now I'm back in the south. It's beginning to look more like home.

Day 30 Kerrville to Blanco, TX

Deep in the heart of TX Hill Country. That's where I've been today. Leaving the Y.O. Ranch Resort we soon turned onto SR 173 and shortly thereafter onto Wharton Rd and a few miles later onto Skyline Dr. and then SR 480 to SR 27 at Comfort, TX. We stopped in this old and very charming town for at least an hour. The recommended bakery was open and each item purchased was said to be "the best." I had a scone that was quite tasty. Just down the street an antique shop was serving free coffee, sweetrolls and hotdogs and lemonade and also offered us the use of their restroom. The coffee hit the spot with our sweets. (That's all we had!) Then, we rode around a bit and found the Sat. Flea Market. that was just getting started. I enjoyed a couple who were playing Celtic music on fiddles. It was hard to leave but we had to press on. Our next segment on Hwy 1621 led us to the General Store in Waring - an antique but still operated store. They have steak night and local music on Sat. nights but no square dancing. The hamburgers being grilled sure smelled good. The gas pumps outside were 1940 vintage. Our next stop was the Sister Creek Vineyards in Sisterdale on Sister Creek (pop. 25). Sisterdale is one of the oldest settlements in the TX hill country. The winery is 20 yrs. old and housed in a 100 year old cotton gin. About 8 of us enjoyed a brief tour and complimentary tasting of 3 of their wines. I enjoyed the Gold Medal Winner Chardonay and also the Muscat Canelli Reserve. Did not care for the Merlot. Fortunately, or unfortunately, TX wines cannot be shipped out-of-state. Leaving Sisterdale we turned onto Rd 473 which led us to Kendalia and Old Blanco Rd, across the Blanco River and into town. The roads today were farm-to-market roads - truly backroads. The farming and ranch lands were lovely. I saw fields of cattle, goats and sheep. In one field the sheep were all huddled together. Guess there was food in the middle. . . The rolling hills were a lot of fun. Almost for the first time, I opened up and let my bike fly. It felt comfortable because the roads were good and carried little traffic and I could usually see where I was going - no switchback downhills. This was my over all favorite riding day so far. . . The group is in 2 motels tonight. I'm at the Blanco Country Inn - not quite as exotic as it sounds but it's clean and comfortable. As I wait for my rommate I'm enjoying the windows being open and the ceiling fan on and the door open. Several of us have hung clothes between our rooms on my clothesline. A glass of Sister Creek wine sure would be good. . .:) Dinner is a block away at The Swiss Lodge where the van and trailer are parked. . . . Tonight Linda outdid herself with grilled salmon, broccolli w/slivered almonds and dressing, garlic mashed potatoes, salad, bread from the Comfort bakery and apple pie from Love Creek Orchards in Medina, TX. UMMMMM

Day 29 Kerrville, TX - off day

By my odometer, we are halfway to FL. I've been 1537.71 miles to date. Imagine that!. . . Woke up today in Laura's lovely guest room. After a leisurely breakfast, she and I walked all around her neighborhood with her neighbor, Eleanor, who is a gifted artist. She's done some really beautiful painting and sculpting with gourds! It was a real treat to see some of her work. All the neighbor's yards were also lovely. I was happy to see my friend from Germantown Library so happily married and situated. After using Jim's computer to read and answer emails, I also updated the blog of a few missing days. Then at 1:00 they took me to Friedhelm's Bavarian Inn for an authentic German meal. I had the Pepper Schnitzel which was delicious. Afterwards, we stopped at the P O.. and mailed a box of winter items home - shoe booties, fleece, etc. Then, Jim drove me around the F'burg residential area and out by the LBJ Ranch home and to the one room school where Johnson first attended school and also signed an education bill. The streets in F'burg are all 6 lanes wide! When the town was founded in the early 1800's, this was to allow enough room for wagons to turn around without having to back up. So many of the homes and buildings on the main street are now recycled but still there. Many other original homes are now B&Bs. It's a lovely, old town. Jim downloaded my camera pics to my flashdrive before driving me back to Kerrville. Spent over an hour on the hotel lobby pc continuing on the blog update. It was a good day - restful and enjoyable.

Day 28 Vanderpool to Kerrville, TX

Being at Foxfire Cabins was like being in camp again except that the cabins were much nicer. Three - six ladies shared each cabin. Some had separate BR's and some slept on day beds or hide-a-beds. Linda enjoyed having a real kitchen again for cooking. . . . Today's ride began a little cool but without the mist. There were two really tough climbs both a mile in length and twisty and gruelling. The grades were clocked at 10 - 15%. I know that even "waltzing" was out of the question as I could hardly turn the crank at all. My speed was down to 3.4 mph! Between climbs we stopped in Medina at Love's Apple Orchard - a really cute shop with comfortable cafe. The menu, however, was limited to apple pie and coffee or strudel and coffee. Debbie and I shared the latter which was absolutely delicious! Several miles later we had the 2nd long climb. I sucked down GU and drank deeply from my gatoraid before starting up. Somehow, I made it without falling over. . . Got to Kerrville and went straight to the bike shop. The owner did his magic on my shifters, and hopefully, I'm good to go and won't have any more trouble. Laura and Jim drove over from Fredericksburg and had dinner with us here at the Y.O. Ranch hotel restaurant and then took me back with them to F'burg. I really enjoyed staying overnight in a real home - feel as though I've had a vacation within a vacation. Met some of their friends this AM as Laura and took a walk around the neighborhood. Did laundry, mailed a package home of heavy winter items, worked some on emails and my blog. Then, they took me to a German restaurant where I had a delicious schnitzel (sp ?) dinner. Jim downloaded my camera card to my flashdrive before they drove me back to Kerrville. This has been a fabulous and restful day off.

Day 27 Camp Wood to Vanderpool, TX

Arrived here at Foxfire Cabins in Vanderpool, TX (pop 20) around noon and what a lovely, peaceful spot. I'm staying in the Peachtree Lodge with 5 other ladies. This is a rather new, lovely yellow home with all modern conveniences including washer and dryer just off Hwy 187 and about 2.5 miles from Hwy. 337. Today's ride was awesome! It was only 39 miles but in anticipation of 3 one mile switchback climbs, Linda had our coffee, oats and eggs ready at 7 am. By 7:30 we were off with flashers flashing. It was a cool start and looked like rain. Rain held off and the overcast sky made for a perfect hill climbing day. The long climbs were 10 - 11% grades and one roller coaster climb reached 12% at the top. The vegetation has finally gotten green making for some exquisite vistas today. One man told me that the blue bonnets and other wild flowers are about a week away. I told him about seeing two male deer locking horns and he told me that Bandera Co. is overrun with deer. Continuing to see amusing ranch gates. Today Rust In Peace featured lots of rusting farm equipment in the field near the road. Then, there was MyAnne Ranch and 2 Hearts Ranch. As difficult and long as the climbs were today, they were doable. We were so high at times that I got vertigo looking off into the distance. I tend to keep my head down and my eyes focused on the road. Then, when I reach the top, I stop, get off and enjoy the view. Of course all the way up, I'm waltzing or I'd never make the top. Eternally grateful to Ellen for passing along such an invaluable climbing technique. As I sit here at the kitchen table at Peachtree Lodge, I can see cardinals and squirrels enjoying their corn and sunflower seeds. I'll bet there are deer, too. . . it's now just 2:30 - I've showered and my laundry is about completed. Will read some of my book today. It's good to have a full afternoon of down time.

Day 26 Brackettville to Camp Wood, TX

We began our ride today from Ft. Clark Springs in a heavy mist. My paper rain jacket was perfect for the first 30 miles. The fog made it a little dangerous, but with my flasher going and my yellow jacket on and just riding sensibly, I felt just fine. And, too, there was very little traffic. The scenery was mostly deer carcasses. I counted 10 altogether. After a good flat ride, I enjoyed a series of rollers that were lots of fun. Stopped a couple of times to read historical markers. The Franciscans started lots of missions in TX to Christianize the Indians. One sign stated that the Indians weren't too interested but that some did become allies. We traveled today close to the Nueces River. The first time we crossed it, the wide river bed was totally dry and covered with sun baked, yellowish white rocks. In it's way, the river bed was lovely. I should have stopped for a pic but was going at a good clip and chose not to stop. I did, however, take a pic of the 4 Aces Ranch gate. One could do a study of ranch gates. Yesterday there was one with a kneeling cowboy that I photographed. I moved so well today and felt much better after Sunday's century. Only made short breaks and reached Camp Wood at 12:50 in time for an hour on the public library computer. The library is run entirely by volunteers and the daily hours are 10 - 2. It seemed like quite a busy place. Without my journal it's difficult to blog, so am way behind. Also, lack of internet access since the 27th has been a problem. Today is Genie's BD. We'll celebrate at dinner. . . .In Camp Wood, a very small Baptist town, we're staying at the Woodbine Hotel which only has 15 rooms. About half of us are in outlying homes which the owner rents. I'm in Rob's Lodge and have my own room with double bed. Bath is across the hall and shared. Michelle and Linda are also here and Linda again has the pleasure of cooking in a real kitchen. Just talked to Laura. . . Looking forward to seeing her and Jim when I reach Kerrville.

Day 25 Del Rio to Brackettville, TX

After yesterday's brutal ride, most slept until at last 7 am. Our motel host cooked breakfast for us - 2 eggs over easy, bacon, hashbrowns, toast and coffee. Being a short day today, we took it very easy. Our motel was on the west side of Del Rio, so riding into town, we saw the first stores since El Paso. Some stopped at WalMart. Others stopped at a bike shop and H.E.B grocery/pharmacy. The pharmacist there (Joe) was extremely kind and helpful to me in finding a product that I hope will heal my sun/wind burned lower lip. He also promised to pray for me and asked my name. The greeter at the store watched our bikes. . . Yesterday my shifting became bizaare. If I shifted down from the big chain ring to the middle, it skipped the middle and went to granny - then, I'd have to shift up to the middle. This morning, Michells squirted all the moving parts of the shifting mechanism and got me going again. She agrees w/Annie in Silver City that I may need new shifters. . . . Several of us picnicked today at a rushing stream. . Sat on the guard rail and concrete. . . . I have a blister on my hand from yesterday and it has hurt all day. Will change gloves tomorrow. Coming into B'vlle, I enjoyed a 2 scoop really good ice cream cone. It must be about 90 today and humid. Staying tonight at Ft. Clark Springs a restored 1852 frontier fort. We have rooms in sort of a motel building and they're very nice. They asked us not to leave our bikes outside and not to hang any laundry outside. . . If it were cooler I might tour the fort. We even got permission to have our dinner inside the dining room facility. Good thing, too, for Linda made delicious chilli which she served with salad, cornbread and watermelon. The chilli was a little hot for outside eating. . .

Day 24 Sanderson to Del Rio, TX

I've dreaded this long day. The weather forecast was for gusty headwinds and sunshine. The first half of the day was heavy mist - totally overcast. This turned out to be a blessing! The sun finally came out and the winds picked up. Between the wind and the rough chip seal pavement, it really was a VERY difficult day. I completed the entire mileage, though, which on my odometer was 108.86 miles (9 hrs. 42 min. at 11.2 mph). . . . I crossed the Pecos River at mile 78. What a beautiful sight. The river is at the bottom of a really deep gorge. Someone said the bridge is beautiful. . . I'll have to check the internet later. My fear of heights was quite evident as I rode across with tunnel vision. We also crossed the Armistad Reservoir. Both of these bridges proved to be 2 more Red Sea experiences as the Lord once again held back all traffic for me cross over alone. One bridge was over a mile long and I think the Pecos bridge was at least that long. Being by myself meant that I could "take the lane" and not be too close to the edge which terrifies me. We passed several places today where the terrain looked like the Grand Canyon. Otherwise there was little to see today. I thought, however, that plants seemed to have turned green overnight. The Border Patrol were all over Hwy. 90. There is a gravel frontage road along the hwy which they drag everyday with huge tires. Then, they go out in ATV's and look for footprints of illegal aliens from Mexico. The border has been just to the south of us all day. . . . Michelle told us the terrain would be rolling hills. They turned out to be rolling, winding mountains! The 25 mph winds and chip seal beat us to death. There is no part of me that isn't sore. . . Even have a blister on my right hand from gripping! Today, memorized the 5 verses to AMAZING GRACE.

Day 23 Marathon to Sanderson, TX

This morning was misty and overcast but warmer and still. By 10:00 the sky was clear and it truly was a beautifl TX morning. Because the miles were short today - 54, I didn't leave until 10 AM and got to Sanderson about 2:00. I found the local library and checked emails and my bank account. All checks have cleared and pension check has been deposited. :)) I have a new appreciation for local libraries that offer internet access. It's been a plus for me. .Since I can't carry my journal on the bike, it's difficult to blog. Today, I sent an email to everyone in my contact list. Hope this sufficed. The TX landscape continues to change. Today we've been in the Quachita Mtn. foothills that were formed from glacial upheaval 157 M yrs. ago! They look rounded and often are bowl shaped. There's a lot of stratification caused by erosion and sometimes vertical stratification lines resulting from being squished millions of years ago. . . I continue to feel really good and am so happy to be on this trip. Here at the Outback Oasis Motel (rather the opposite of The Gage but quite adequate) the owner put out a stack of News Leaders, the local paper. The editor used a news release from the San Diego paper for an article about our group. It includes a picture of Penney, Judy and me. It's a cute pic for my photo album. We're staying in two motels tonight. The only reason we have rooms at all is that the oil men workers went home for the weekend. Originally we thought we might be sleeping on the floor of the local church. Preparing tonight to get up earlier tomorrow and be ready to roll out immediately after eggs and oats. It will be our longest day so far.

Day 22 Ft. Davis, TX to Marathon, TX

For some reason all of us got up early today. We only had a 60 mile ride so there was no reason to rush. But, this group is driven to "get there"! Bfast in the lodge was at 7:30 and we were on the road by 8:15. Most miscued on the weather and didn't dres warmly enough. I, for one, nearly froze to death for the 1st 15 miles. The group I was riding with missed the restaurant stop in Alpine, and since the sky was threatening and the wind was blowing hard, we pressed on for the final 31 miles to Marathon. Arriving at 1:00 I enjoyed my first hamburger of the trip at the Gage cafe with Linda, Michelle, Jan , Hanna, Penney and Arda. After lunch we checked into our room at The Gage Hotel. What a gorgeous place this is. Our rooms were around a perfectly beautiful courtyard with the greenest grass I've seen since last spring in Memphis and beautiful pansies.
The architecture is adobe - very southwest. The beds are high and huge with luxurious bedding. Quite a change from some of our other accommodations, but, then, they have their own charm, too. The doors here are antique swinging doors, even the bathroom doors. The shower stall is beautiful blue and white tile. The towels are huge and thick and each room has 2 terrycloth bath robes! About a block away is Eve's Garden - a colorful SW home made of paper bricks. Since I can't begin to describe her home or gardens, you may want to check her website. I'm going to when I get a round tuit. . . http://www.evesgarden.org/ More about The Gage. . In my room the floor is that beautiful red square tile with two animal skins on the floor. In one corner is a saddle stand with antique saddle. On the wall is a pair of chaps. This is REAL Texas. The hotel was once the home of a Vermont land barron. I'm told that the rooms in the main home are not nearly as nice as those around the courtyard.
Observations today: Seeing more cattle grazing. Even saw a heard of Brahmin bulls. Coming out of Ft. Davis we had a series of steep, pointy hills and always surrounded by PMM. I think I'm deep in the heart of Texas! Here in Marathon I've seen lots of starched jeans and shirts and cowboy hats.

Day 21 Ft. Davis

Today is an "off" day and I'm at the library in Ft. Davis trying to get caught up. Since the computer is slow about uploading pictures, I'm going to lunch at Murphy's and then back to the lodge. Today is my birthday! and I'm having a great day. I've talked to Catherine, Gray and Margaret and have a message from Carol. The girls strung a HB banner outside my room and hung balloons from it this AM after breakfast.

More later.

After I returned to the lodge, there was a map meeting just outside my room where the van was parked. As the ladies enjoyed an afternoon wine or cold drink, they began pulling out little gifts for me! Everyone had been into town and done a little shopping. I received bar end tassels for my bike and green sparkly clips for my sandals, a tin of tasty pecans, cowboy kleenex packs, Ft. Davis souvenirs and other funny, cute or nifty gifts. Linda had purchased a Red Velvet cake and had BD Clark written on the top which everyone enjoyed. My BD turned out to be a wonderful celebration of my special day and I appreciated so much all that everyone did for me.

Day 20 Van Horn to Ft. Davis, TX

Linda had eggs and oats ready today at 7 am. By the time I had breakfast, I had loaded my bags and pumped my tires. By 7:30 at first light and with flashers blinking I was leaving the parking lot. It was to be a LONG day and more difficult than anyone suspected it would be. The first 20 miles were on I-10 frontage road; the 2nd 20 on I-10. Then, we turned south on SR 118 and followed that the remaining 50 miles to Davis Mountain State Park/Indian Lodge where we're spending two nights. This is a lovely lodge nestled in the foothills of The Davis Mountains. We had some really tough climbing for about 36 miles to the McDonald Observatory - I mean REALLY tough climbing - some grades as much as 10%. Only half of the ladies completed the day; the others sagged from 40 miles and beyond. I really thought today was much more difficult than Emery Pass, and tonight my knees are most uncomfortable. I wish I'd made two ice packs, but didn't think about that soon enough. Michelle admits that this is the hardest day of the trip. I know I still have to face Eagle's Nest in the hill country, but will think about that when the time comes. (Myra, if you're reading this, I'm sure you remember Eagle's Nest on our Texas Hill Country Ride some years ago. . .). Katie and I have a room on the back side and lower level of the lodge and the trailer is parked just outside. So, our front walk with rocking chairs was the gathering place this afternoon for relaxing and discussing the day. The sag drivers, who double as dishwashers for the cook, used our tub tonight to give all the pots and pans a good scrubbing and sanitizing. Actually, we all wash our own plates and utensils each night, but tonight we ate in the lodge. The sag drivers wash the cooking pans every night. Our dinner in the lodge was a delicious Mexican buffet that included a great Tortilla Soup. There's no cell phone service except for Verizon and even that only works in a certain spot. . . . As I was pulling in this afternoon, a small Javelina wondered across the road in front of me. Couldn't get my camera out quickly enough to get his picture. .
Observations:
Vegetation today thru the canyons was Yucca plants. The hills were covered with them making the hills look as tho they had the measles. . . As we got higher (we climbed 2000 ft), the cedar trees took over reminding me of Gila National Forest.
The McDonald Observatory was lovely to look at from afar. When I reached the visitor's center, I declined to continue the climb to the actual observatory! No way!! I was content to purchase postcards. . . Those who've done this trip before me understand, I'm sure.
Several of the ladies are sick or recovering from bad colds, upset stomachs, etc. We're doing all we can to keep it from spreading further. ..

Day 19 Ft. Hancock to Van Horn, TX

It was warmer this AM but still cool enough for a 2nd layer - arm warmers, wind vest, socks (with my sandals). By 10, though, I shed all of the above. Today we were to ride on I-10 and also for much of the day on the less traveled frontage road. Yours truly pulled out ahead of a lot of riders and soon found herself entering the freeway prematurely. Well, I was singing America the Beautiful, praying, and just enjoying the purple mountain majesty (PMM) and was not paying attention to the cue sheet. I only went 1/2 mile out of my way before I made a correction. Riders behind me saw my mistake and called the sag driver to chase me down. By the time Micki passed me, I was well along the correct road. It's good to have support. . . All day today I enjoyed the PMM on the right and mesas on my left with mountains right beyond the mesas. We stopped in Sierra Blanca @ Curly's Barbeque for lunch. About 4 state trooper cars were outside so we figured it must be a good place to eat. The brisket sandwich was outstanding but lunch took nearly 2 hours. Between all the law officers (another group of immigration officers also arrived), the 8-10 of us and another large group, the poor woman and her daughter were totally overwhelmed. After lunch on the flat road and with a wonderful tailwind, I covered the next 20 miles in one hour. Back on I-10 w/continuing tailwind, we just flew into Van Horn. About 5 miles east of the lunch stop, I glanced up and to the left and saw a cross on top of a high peak. (By the way, there was another cross on a high peak that we rode toward as we entered El Paso on Easter Sunday. That really was neat.) This was confirmation to me that I'm where I'm supposed to be. It's still amazing to me that I am so privileged as to be crossing this beautiful country on my bike - me, of all people (traditional Southern woman, etc.), and at my age. According to the AC map, the Quitman Mtns were on our right (south side). A lot of ladies complained about the chip seal road today. It really was fine, though - much better to me than dodging the interstate trash on I-10 shoulder that includes screws, bolts, wrenches, windshield washers, glass, tire wire - you name it! Linda cooked a good Chinese dinner tonight and had Sam's apple pie for dessert. I covered almost 75 miles at 15 mph. I've covered 1033 miles todate!! We're moving on. . . Also, we're now on CST.

Day 18 El Paso to Ft. Hancock, TX

Today dawned a beautiful clear sky and slight wind 5-10 mph gusting to 15-20 at times - nothing like yesterday. With only a 45 mile ride we were encouraged to sleep in and leave later than usual. Most got up about 7 am which was a luxury. The continental breakfast was good and included Texas shaped waffles, hard cooked eggs, Danish, Toast and excellent coffee. By the time I had put together some snacks, pumped my tires and loaded my bags in the trailer, it was close to 9. Mary and I stopped at Walgreen's for new chapsitck and lotion. We followed the Mission Trail Rd. Stopped in Socorro at a beautiful church dating back to 1700's and again at the church in San Elizario. Stopped in Tornilla at La Calesa Restaurant - sort of a Mexican mom and pop place. Enjoyed Flautas - crispy meatfilled tortillas served with spoonful of rice, spoonful of beans, bit of lettuce and small cups of guacamole and sour cream - $6. Not too good really but OK. The final 19 miles to Ft. Hancock reminded me of the MS 150 road to Tunica - straight, windy and boring. The good thing was there was virtually no traffic. We passed plowed field after plowed field, could see mountains way off in the distance, occasional cows and several horse farms. (Emma Grace, you would have loved seeing the horses) Mary and I stopped to visit with a lady who was out watering her iris plants. Her trees (mulberry we think) were filled with bird nests. The birds had pretty calls and were black. Mary thinks they were cuckoos. . . . Ft. Hancock reminds me of the village in Ukraine where I volunteered once on a dental trip - very poor. The main street is paved but every single side street is dirt. We're about 1 mile off Hwy 258 that we were on all day and about 2 blocks from I-20 exit. The the way to the Ft. Hancock Motel which is run by mideast Indians, I stopped in at the Ft. H Merchandise store. Turns out it's a Texas Historic Site and filled with antiques and antique curios. It seemed to be like an old western general store - hardware, groceries and saloon. I bought an ice cream sandwich - perfect for the hot afternoon. . . . Arriving at the motel I discovered that the water system in the entire town of 1713 folks was down. It's supposed to be restored sometime this afternoon. The road today was really good with a clean, wide shoulder until we crossed a county line. The shoulder ran out and the terrain became more desert life. Ft. H is very close to the Mexican border. In fact close by is a large border patrol station. Another thing I've seen today are the roadside canals and irrigation system for the fields and pecan orchards. I wonder if the canal water is coming from the Rio Grande River which is close by....We ate tonight on paper plates, but the water was, finally, restored. My shower was a trickle, BUT it was hot.

Day 17 Las Cruces to El Paso, TX

Happy Easter to all! Five or six responded to our invitation for a short sunrise service this morning at 6 AM. Because of the cold and wind we met in the exercise room. . . We enjoyed two Easter hymns, the tradition Easter greeting, scripture from Matthew and John read by Debbie. We recited the Lord's Prayer and Debbie spoke briefly about the significance of Jesus' resurrection. It was just a great start to what turned out to be our most difficult day to date. . . On our way out of Las Cruces several of us took time to wind around the historic section which was charming. Then it on thru San Miguel, Chamberino on Hwy 28. Turned onto McNutt Rd. where Phyllis and I stopped a little Episcopal Church to use the facilities. They were just beginning the 11 service and we were privileged to hear "Christ the Lord Is Risen Again" again!. I just love it. . . The wind today was horrific - 25 mph all day and gusting to 40 mph every few minutes. A bunch bailed at 20 and 36 sag stops. I couldn't blame them. I was slogging along when Micki and Ann, our mother/daughter team caught up to me. Remember that Micki is the champion racer. I caught onto Ann's back wheel and never left! Micki pulled us the remaining 30 miles thru moderate to busy highway traffic, lots of glass, over hills, around a mountain, over the 273 Loop Rd. that actually was an interstate (exits and entrances to negotiate), etc., etc. What a day - I've never been so tired or ached so badly. We got in about 2:15 with 11.7 avg. speed. After a hot shower, many stretches, Endurox and a cold Corona beer, I began to relax and recover. Also, tonight was Margarita Night. Can you believe that we've crossed three states - CA, AZ, NM! Of course, we'll be in Texas about 3 weeks. . . . Highlights today were seeing many more pecan orchards, wineries and many horse farms and one polo field. At least half the day was in city traffic - not much to see, except we did enjoy downtown El Paso and the beautiful courthouse building - a new looking glass structure.

Day 16 Kingston to Las Cruces, NM

Slow start today after fantastic home cooked breakfast at Black Range Lodge. I was asleep by 8:10 last night and slept really well. Decided to wear regular glasses today because my contact lens irritated my eye yesterday. It's only a few days old. I wonder if I had it in properly or if it was just the wind. The ride out of Kingston continued the downhill of yesterday but was much lower and easier. Rode along Percha River thru Hillsboro, another quirky community. Followed Hwy 152 until we turned east on Hwy 187. Stopped in Hatch but rather than chili, I had a safe ham and cheese sandwich. After leaving the mountains we went thru fertile looking agricultural country. Saw lots of chili processing plants and miles and miles of pecan orchards. All of the orchards had clean ground - no weeds or grass. Also saw fields of what looked like onions and plowed fields with the remains of cotton from last year. On the way into Las Cruses most of us stopped at Caliches Frozen Custard. I enjoyed a strawberry milkshake. Rode in at about 3:30. My average speed today was 16.3 with max speed of 36.4 (on a long downhill where I could see the end and there was NO traffic. I took the lane!) The Hampton Inn is really nice - the best lodging so far and most efficient check-in. After our dinner at the trailer, the HI provided a delicious strawberry cake and ice cream for our dessert. The cake had a picture of a bike and the pink cancer symbol on top. .. . . Debbie and I invited everyone to attend a short sunrise Easter service in the morning. Providentially, we were roommates and spent time after dinner planning the service. . . . . . . . Pam, I'll get your email address from Genie. Many thanks to you and everyone else who has sent comments.

Day 15 Silver City to Kingston, NM

Welcome to Black Range Lodge! "It's massive stone walls and logbeamed ceilings - built from the tumbled down ruins of Pretty Sam's Casino and the Monarch Saloon - were completed in 1940. The original construction of multi-layered bricks dates back to the 1880's, when it housed miners and calvary." (brochure) This place is charming - rustic and funky. Everyone seems delighted. The rooms are like a rabbit warren - in every nook and cranny.. . . This was our toughest day of riding to date. We climbed about 4800 ft. to a high of 8828 ft. at Emery Pass. The climb wound round and round. There were times when my stomach was queasy as I looked out and saw how high up I was. Other times I was between sheer cliffs of rocks. We were in the Gila National Forest which I understand is the largest national forest in the U.S. at about 5 million miles. (that sounds outrageously large, doesn't it?) It's beautiful, too. Specifically, we were going thru Railroad Canyon along Iron Creek. The mountains were the Black Range which is part of the Rocky Mtns. I stopped several times for short breaks - always on a flat. It's funny but every time it seemed I couldn't go on, there would be a brief flat that allowed some recovery time. I, of course waltzed all day or would have never made it. Finally at mile 39 we saw a sign to Emery Pass Vista off to the left. What a treat. That was the most exquisite site I have every seen. After staying at the vista site for several pictures, I started down hill which turned out to be 8 miles of switchbacks! Since I don't like downhills, I was miserable the entire time going down. My average speed was 9.5 for the day. I've decided that I'd rather go up than down - a real departure from my earlier days of cycling. Vegetation today was mostly cedar and pine trees making the mountains look very dark. For those interested in the route we were on Hwy 152 beginning 7 miles out of Silver City. . . . At the lodge the innkeeper had a massage table which Michelle put outside. I was first in line for a 15 min. massage which helped my shoulders tremendously. . . . This morning shortly after leaving Silver City we saw the Kneeling Nun which is a rock formation. Indian legends have it that the nun fell in love and forever repented for her "sin".. . . . Soon after the nun we passed by a working copper mine that was awesome in an ugly sort of way. Kingston pop is 15 which must be why I never found it on the map. I wish I could have stayed there at the lodge for at least another day. I really enjoyed it.

Day 14 Silver City, NM. . .Southern Tier 2008

I actually slept until 7 am today and loved it! The Comfort Inn provided a good breakfast of waffles, whole wheat bread for toast, hard cooked eggs, coffee, etc. As sag driver yesterday, Phyllis was able to spend phone time lining up a driver to take some of us on a day trip to the Gila National Forest and cave dwellings. Bryan showed up in his Pathfinder at 9:45 for Phyllis, Judy, Mary and me. Our first stop was Albertson's for a picnic lunch which we enjoyed much later in the day. Then, it was off on a windy mountain road for an almost 2 hour drive to the cave dwellings. These are cave homes built into the face of the mountain about 1200 AD. We were fortunate to have the personal attention of a national park service volunteer who took us from room to room explaining what archeologist believe the various caves and rooms within the caves were used for. They date the dwellings by the pine timbers which were used to make different levels and shelves. In various places one can still see the original pine timbers. As you can imagine the caves are up quite high. Since I have a real fear of heights I didn't know what part of this excursion I would be able to enjoy. At one point we were to walk along a rather narrow passage and I just couldn't do it. I sat down, though, and surveyed the situation for a few minutes while my friends went on. I could still hear the guide. I decided that the path was wide enough and not too long and as long as I didn't look out (to see how high we were) and touched the wall on my left, I could make it. So, this is what I did. I was so pleased to conquer that terrifying moment because the remainder of the cave tour was really interesting. The walk down was along an even more narrow passage, so the guide suggested that I walk back with her along the route that we took to get there. I considered that God's grace for allowing me to be part of the tour but not having to continue down the narrow return route. . . We found Bryan napping but he'd also been able to take care of some personal business. We then found a picnic table for our sandwiches, chips and water. Then we were off to find the warm springs to bask in for a short time. Jean had told me about this bonus and we found someone who told how to get there. (My friend Jean did the Southern Tier last year). Bryan didn't even know about this particular location. There was a changing trailer for switching to bathing suits and then it was into the hot springs. There really were hot, too. Each one of us eased ourselves in very slowly. For one thing, my right leg was a litle sunburned and that hurt. Since Bryan used to be an athletic trainer, we each took advantage of his ability to give a shoulder massage. He really hit the spot where each of us had a little shoulder pain. It was difficult to leave but by now it was about four oclock and we really needed to face the long drive back to town. You can imagine how glad we were to have a driver, especially one who was accustomed to the roads. I think we're ordering a pizza for dinner tonight and will hit the sack early. The day trip, though, will remain a highlight of this journey.

Day 13 Lordsburg to Silver City, NM

Wow! What a fantastic ride we had today - up and over the Continental Divide!! Another beautiful and cool start. A slow 1% grade for the first 20 miles or so caused most of us to feel as though we were slogging thru mud. But, watching gorgeous mountains made it OK. Then, we did a serious climb up at least a 6% grade only to have a very long and fast downhill. At the top of this climb we found out we were at the top of the Continental Divide at 6355 Ft. What an awesome feeling! I found the climbs to be difficult but oh so doable. Ellen taught me the waltz method of climbing: I count one, two, three in waltz time and on the one count pushing each time with the opposite foot. The push provides a boost and the two-three count provides a rest. This method makes a great rhythm and keeps the cadence smooth. Also keeps my mind off how far the top may be. The day's miles were short, but we had one more serious climb that seemed to go round and round before it started back down into Silver City. I waltzed up and enjoyed the challenge. The first 20 miles appeared flat with fields as far as the eye could see dotted with yucca plants but always with the mountains on the horizon. Took pictures at the Continental Divide. . . I've also learned another technique about drinking from my water bottle. How long have I been cycling and I've never sucked from my bottle. I always squeeze the bottle. However, these last few mornings have been so cold that the bottle is stiff and besides I wear thick gloves for the first 2 hours. So, I realized that I could suck it! Duh! It's really important to stay hydrated even if one doesn't feel thirsty and we go through a LOT of water and Gatoraid. . . . On the way into Silver City, Mary and detoured through the historic part of town before locating the motel on the opposite side of town. We stopped at the home of Billy the Kid's mother where he also lived for a couple of years. Then, we found the Twin Sisters Bike Shop where Annie tweaked my gears and lubed something to make shifting easier. She also pointed out a problem with my shifters that Shimano might ought to correct. . . I'll talk to BP about that when I return. :)) . . . The funniest that happened to me today was standing in the post office next and striking up a conversation with someone that most unusual. She was dressed in a pink or fuchia skirt and sweater with pink beret, silver jewelry and painted nails. But when my eyes reached the face, she was at least a 6 ft. man! We had a most interesting conversation about cycling and he told me about annual bike race that's held in Silver City. Cycling can be very interesting! Today we climbed 2655 ft. We're all looking forward to sleeping a little later in the morning because it's our first day off in eight days. But if I know this group, there will be a gang of us downstairs at breakfast between six and seven. Pics to follow when I can catch someone to show me how to load them.

Day 12 - Safford to Lordsburg, NM

Could the cycling days get any better? I feel like a broken record but today was another one of those glorious days - started off really cool at 37 degrees but warmed up. Never saw a single cloud and we had tailwinds all day (well, except for some serious cross winds going through a cutter). We continued to travel Hwy 70 all day (off the AC map and with less climbs). We had climbs in the AM and at least one fantastic downhill. Because there was no traffic and I could see the bottom, I let it go. Normally, I'm feathering my brakes all the way down. After that we had flats for the next 40-50 miles and tailwinds. I believe we were in the Gila Valley most of the day with vegetation consisting of prickly pear cactus. It was exhillerating to cruise along between 20 and 26 mph. I still only finished witih 14.8 but because 2 of the fast riders had flats, I was the first one in! It was a fun day of riding. All day today we were surrounded by gorgeous mountains. Can life be any better? The big event of the day was in Duncan at mile 40. One of the women has a friend who teaches at the high school. When we passed the high school, all 140 students and all the faculty were waiting at the fence for us with a sign regarding the Cancer Society and welcoming us to Duncan. The cyclist is raising money for Cancer Soc. It was so heartwarming that I got a little choked up. We stopped and took pictures of their sign and talked to the teachers and students. They were all so fascinated by what we're doing. Then, about 2 blocks down the road we all stopped at Ole Joe's and had an early lunch. Michelle had told about this quaint restaurant. The guy students told us that the burritoes were awesome so lots of the ladies indulged. Then it was on to Lordsburg, NM another 35 miles of flat road and tailwinds. I'm told that we climbed about 2200 ft. today. Pictures to be posted later.

Day 11 - Globe to Safford, AZ

After yesterday's disappointment in doing half the ride, we awoke today to light rain and 37 degrees. Dressed in several layers and added a rain jacket and struck out for Safford, AZ. The clouds cleared away after about 2 hours and the remainder of the day was gorgeous. For the longest time I felt like I was riding through the Red Sea. I could see a heavy rain way off on the north and another storm way off to the south. But, we were riding down the highway under soft white clouds and brilliant blue sky! Tailwinds most of way made us feel like we were flying. I finished the 78 miles with 14.5 avg. which for me was great. We started the day with climbs but spent most of the day riding through the San Carlos Apache Reservation with barren flatlands but exquisite mountains in the background. The only site to see in the reservation besides the land was the casino! It was huge and seemed quite busy at 8:30 AM or so. The end of the day took us through Pima (as in cotton), Thatcher and then Safford. This was agricultural country where cotton is the big crop. Reminded me of Silver City, MS on last year's trip. Taylor Freeze in Thatcher was the big stop for the day. My chocolate milkshake really hit the spot. . . . Being St. Patrick's Day, Linda cooked "green". She had homemade split pea soup and green salad, good bread and several desserts. . . . Approaching Safford we were privileged to watch the most gorgeous mountain to date. Mt. Graham is huge and was covered with snow. We must have seen it for 30 miles. We were routed away from the Adventure Cycling (AC) maps today and followed Hwy. 70 instead. I think this may have been less mountainous! I didn't hear any complaints. The road is very good and has a good shoulder despite the rumble strips which we all hate. Somewhere close to Safford, we passed a young man who turned out to be from New Zealand. He is going cross country on a skateboard and trying to set a record for Guiness Book of World Records. He started in FL and is headed for San Diego. I had a flat today, but it was a "room" flat. Actually, it was soft on the road but when I pumped it up it held the entire day. I put in a new tube tonight so I should be just fine. It's gone soft on me several times. Probably a leak aound the valve stem. Overall, this was a really good day. If I can't add pictures tonight, I'll post them later. Many thanks to all for your comments and emails. Forgive me if I don't answer the emails for I really do appreciate hearing from everyone. It's just that I'm on borrowed pcs.