Happy Halloween

We took a day off today.  1,100 miles down, 2 weeks in and time for a break.

The route is skirting the Davis Mountains so we decided to take a break and enjoy the area.  Started the day with breakfast at Penny's Diner and then a 45 mile drive from Alpine to McDonald Observatory for the morning tour of a couple of major telescopes up there.

Checked out the town of Fort Davis and found this really cool court house.  Many of these small country County Seat's have interesting historic architecture to show off.  Another sign of the prosperity that once marked West Texas in the heyday of the cattleman.

We came upon this heard of elk driving back to Alpine.  We stopped to take their picture and watched them for a long time.  They were noticeably nervous but didn't bolt.

A lunch menu to please everyone!  I'll pass on the catfish, but our quesadillas and burros and salads were good. 

Lobo to Alpine 75 miles

Sandhill cranes going south--we're going east!!

Today the riders hooked a NW tail wind averaging a whopping 16mph on a gradual uphill to Marfa.  Then the wind changed to SE which slowed them down for the last 25 into Alpine.  They had a good ride to probably our highest elevation for the remainder of the trip.

Alpine was a fun little town for Rosella and me.  Found a few galleries and shops open and had lunch at the Raeta (Spanish for rope.)  A Western themed upscale restaurant with wonderful food.  Thier are murals on buildings all over town.  This is also a major route to Big Bend National Park to the south and there is a nice museum here that talks about the history of the area and the National Park.  We found another notable RV park with the best showers.  We are getting to be quite the critics of shower facilities and have experienced all kinds.  With 4 adults sharing RV space--let alone sweaty bikers--we tend to use the campground facilities.  We could shower in the motor home if we had to but easier this way.

Today's route had a couple of novelties on it.  One is the site outside of the town of Marfa, TX famous for strange lights visible in the desert at night.  Fact or fiction--the lights were reported by early settlers up to modern day and no one seems to have a proven theory of where they originate.  A roadside rest stop marks a viewing spot and information about them.The other oddity is the "Prada" along the road.  Out in the middle of West Texas is this permanent installation art piece by some artist, modeled after a Prada boutique.  The structure includes luxury goods from the Prada fall 2005 collection.  However, the sculpture will never function as a piece of commerce as the door cannot be opened.  Its a tad wierd, a hoot really.

Sierra Blanca to past Van Horn on Texas Mountain Trail

Logistics is an issue on this trip.  Especially now here in West Texas where towns, let alone RV parks are few and far between.  We found a nice spot for the RV in Van Horn for two nights and then drove back down the route to pick the riders up at the end of yesterday and then delivered them back to start point this morning at sun-up.  They were feeling good so they biked beyond us about 26 miles.  So that means we have to shuttle them again in the morning.  Hoping we have it figured out now so they can bike on into camp for the next couple of days anyway.  Rose and I think we should be able to sleep in when they leave at dawn.  Actually, that hasn't happened yet.  We seem to be up early also--enjoying that early morning cup of coffee.

Van Horn, Texas has a wonderful recently renovated historic hotel called El Capitan.  Rosella and I thought we'd have a nice lunch there but they only serve dinner.  We checked out the lobby and opulent meeting rooms and took a bunch of pictures.  It was designed by renowned architect Henry C Trost in what is referred to as Pueblo Revival style.  He did several luxury hotels in West Texas in the 1920's and 30's when this was a hub for wealthy cattlemen, ranchers and miners.



El Paso to Sierra Blanca, TX

Wasn't that many days ago and the bikers couldn't find enough shade to cool off.  Suddenly they are looking for sun to keep warm when they stop.  Winter storm north of us pushed cold air down to where we are and has made for some chilly mornings.  Promises to steadily warm up again as weekend goes on--and  it has remained sunny which helps.  Will is squinting into that sun during their lunch break, says he definitely was not grumpy as it appears.

Rode past gigantic pecan orchards along the Rio Grand River along with more cotton fields.

Gotta be a Texas thing!

Had cable tv in the RV park tonight so we could watch the last game of the World Series.

Columbus, NM to El Paso TX

Was a nippy morning--temp about 47 with a steady, cold east wind that didn't quit all day.  They didn't shed their jackets until they nearly reached El Paso.  We caught up with them about 9:30 and had a snicker bar with them. 

Landscape did not change until the outskirts of El Paso and then it became city real fast.

Three states down!!

Welcome to Texas!!  Not 10 feet from the sign Loren had a flat tire.

A little (a lot) of Texas BarBQ hit the spot for dinner.  Decided we needed to go out in El Paso as we may be out in the "boonies" for the next few days.  We stocked up at the grocery store, fueled up with "cheap" gas ready for West Texas.

Silver City to Columbus, NM

We caught up with the bikers this morning about 40 miles into their 80 mile day.  We thought for a while we had missed them as we didn't think they could have gotten so far.  They were really bookin' down NM180.  Flat (mostly), downhill (mostly), light traffic, and no wind.  Probably their highest average mph so far.  Then south of Deming, NM they met up with a strong west side wind that slowed them down some.

   We followed the same route with the RV and set up at Poncho Villa State Park at Columbus, NM.

It was the girls turn for burgers for lunch at the "Patio Cafe" in downtown Columbus.  Will and Loren managed their cold meat sandwiches on the road while we treated ourselves to some local cuisine.  Anyone for green chili and cheese burgers?  Rosella's bacon cheese burger was big enough to bring half back for a snack for Loren.

Poncho Villa State Park is the site of the one and only invasion of the United States by a foreign nation when Poncho Villa made a raid across the border in 1916.  The loss of American lives stirred up a huge American military pursuit and in fact the first time airplanes were used in a military environment was right here.  General Purshing built up troops here and went onto fame during First World War.  Interesting little museum tells the story of how Columbus got caught up in the Mexican Revolution and the consequences.

Cliff to Silver City

This was a short day, 33miles--over the Continental Divide--which just might be the highest elevation of the trip--and down into Silver City by 11 am.

Rode directly to the best ever bike shop.  No real problems but needed to have it all checked to make sure everything OK--and it was.  The shop mechanics were terrific, tuned up their bikes and did not charge them a penny.  Gave out advice and encouragement for free too.  So if you are in Silver City and need bicycle repairs, this is the place to go!

We are noticing increase in appetite of the guys.  They are fueling up and eating lots!

The afternoon was for relaxing and enjoying Silver City.  We drove up the scenic byway to a little mountain town of Pinos Altos and then farther to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument where we learned all about the ancient peoples who lived in the area about the 12th century.  There were interpreters on the site to explain what we were seeing which added a whole lot to the visit.  Nice change of pace for all of us.

Overview above Pinos Altos



Safford to Cliff, New Mexico

Sunrise take off.

Straight for the Mule Mountain Pass and New Mexico.

The prize after climbing 5 hours--6728'  

  "UFFDA"--direct quote from Loren.

Road down into New Mexico and Silver City

Another state down.  Today the bikers crossed into New Mexico and the highest and most difficult terrain so far.  We drove the RV around the mountains and set up camp in Silver City while they rode over the top.  We had time to check out a few galleries and shops downtown before we needed to fetch the guys. Could spend some time here as there is a lot to take in and see.  This is boyhood home of Billy the Kid, plus gateway to Gila Wilderness and lots of points of interest.

Interesting murals and mosaics on the old buildings in town.

Globe to Safford

Another clear cloudless Arizona day peddling 80 miles down Hiway 70 toward Safford.  Rugged terrain early in the day gave way to cotton fields and agriculture as we entered the Gila River Valley.

    They actually peddled past Safford about 10 miles to set themselves up for the big push over the mountains into New Mexico tomorrow.

     In the "nice-people-you-meet" category, they rode past enough "Taylor Freeze Ice Cream" signs that they were salivating and determined to stop and have a big banana split with their lunch in the little town of Pima.  Pulled into the parking lot and realized that they were not open on Sunday!  ARRG--today is Sunday.  Well, they had  lunch on their outdoor seating anyway.   Just so happened that the manager was actually there doing paper work and invited them in, gave them refreshing ice water and offered to turn on the icecream machine.

   Rosella and I found a gem of an RV park and got settled in.  We backed the unit into the spot like pros--well, almost.  Soon went to check out the town.  Oh yes, its Sunday and everything closed.  Nice little historic downtown but nothing open.  The local Dairy Queen was, however, open for the after-dinner run!

Loren is getting into those hills as his teeshirt says!

Apache Junction to Globe

Left the city lights behind and out into the country peddling east 60 miles up to 4800' before they descend into Globe, Arizona.  Most scenic day so far, also the highest elevation.  Their bones were weary from churning up those hills. Loren's turn for a flat tire--two in fact!  Catching up with Will.  Here they took a rest at the top of Gonzales Pass. 

Peddled through rugged scenery, mining communities and several copper mines along the way

Will at Queen Creek Tunnel

Rosella and I stopped for an hour or so at Boyce Thompson Arboretum to enjoy the cactus gardens and desert trails before it heated up too much to enjoy it.  Then we went on and found a spot at Apache Gold Casino RV park outside of Globe.  Convenient location with all the amenities.  Good place for breakfast in the morning but otherwise we mostly ignored the casino.  We are traveling through San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation.

Trucking through Phoenix

      The biker's job today was to just get through urban Phoenix.  They meandered along streets, along canal bike paths, more streets and came out 62 miles later in Apache Junction.  Rosella and I brought the motor home around via interstate.  I admit I was gripping that steering wheel pretty tight as I was a tad uncomfortable in the big city traffic with a motor home that suddenly felt like it was 60 feet long--but no problems.  Rosella is a great navigator. Found a desert KOA practically right on the bike route and set up camp. 

       First things first--we had to run down the road to a shopping mall and find a nail salon to get our nails done before we left town.  Then we drove over to my long time friend, Elaine's house to say hi and admire her wonderful desert garden and view of Superstition Mountains.  Bikers got in for the day about 1:30pm.

They biked along the Arizona Canal bike path

And past the Arizona Sun Devil's stadium and Tempe Town Lake.

Elaine Georgiou at home in Apache Junction--can't be more than two miles from where we are staying tonight.

Sunrises in Arizona are nearly as pretty as sunsets.  We are seeing plenty of them as the bikers are ready to roll once the sun is up.

82 mile day, Salome to Surprise

Clear skys, winds out of the East (of course) at 6mph, (not so bad) Uphill first 30 and downhill into northwest Phoenix.  Next is just getting through the city as no direct way around it.

We joined the guys for breakfast out this morning at a local restaurant before they started their day.  The idea sounded better last night while planning it than actually getting up in the dark to be at restaurant when it opened at 6am!

More of those cantaloupe fields.  Acres and acres of melons

This is Harriet and friend, the resident campground chickens!

Rosella and I found a movie theater this afternoon and saw the new "Footloose."  Lota fun.  We decided we needed to rent the original to compare.