This morning we were not only treated to the usual spectacular
sunrise, but it was preceded by a fantastic moon set. Breakfast at the café in the campground was
at 7 AM , which was opened a half hour
early for us so that we could get out on the road. Today will be a longer ride than yesterday,
and although there will be no climbs, there will be a steady 1 to 2 percent
elevation gain for the entire ride as well as heading directly into a strong
headwind for most of the day. This ride
is all about getting from point A to point B; no smelling the roses today. There are no refreshment stops today, only a
lone public library that may offer some relief.
The wind battered us all day. No one felt good at the end of the ride. Chris managed to arrive in camp a few hours
before the rest of us. Go Chris!
Half way along the trip, in the middle of nowhere, was a
Prada store. It is never opened and is
world famous!
There were several different groups of riders today. The riders in each group working together to
spread the pain, each rider taking a turn at breaking the head wind for the
other riders, allowing them to get some recovery time. Joe rode solo. Nine and half miles from the end and with what seemed like an impossible ride to
complete, Joe pulled off onto to the shoulder for one of many breaks to this
point. He must have been a sorry site: Straddling his bike, legs out and braced for
support, slumped over the bike’s top tube, elbows leaning on the handle bars,
and head looking down toward the ground.
He was wondering if he had enough left to finish, when suddenly a beat
up, old green car pulls really close and stops.
Startled, Joe looks toward the car and sees the out stretched hand of
the driver passing him a cold can of Pepsi through the passenger window. In his mid twenties, with a Hispanic accent, the
driver apologies for not having any more cold water to offer. He then tried to offer a juice drink in
addition to the cold soda. This was a
true act of kindness. Speeding off as
quickly as he stopped, Joe could see the drivers young daughter sleeping in the back
seat of the car, and a refrigerator strapped down in the open trunk. The
man did no look to be well off, so his generosity was all the more touching. By the way, he was out of cold water because
he had stopped earlier to give it to some of the other cyclists. Joe now had the strength to finish the ride,
inspired and refreshed by this truly remarkable unknown individual.
Two miles outside of Marfa was a sign for DQ. Yes!
Dinner followed by a milk shake hit the spot. We all seemed to stop at this DQ, 10 hours
after starting our ride.
The El Cosmico, our camp ground, is a unique place. The showers consisted of some kind of privacy
screening, opened at the top to the sky.
Showering tonight, since it was after dusk, was rather interesting. Just not used to taking a shower by star
light.
We sure did sleep well tonight!
Congratulation Joe for that accomplishment. Hope you got some more than just cold water in camp.
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