Retta's Photo Archive

Retta is sending many pictures each day. Only a few are used in her blog, but all of them are being archived in Yahoo Photos. To see her complete archive, also viewable with the Yahoo Photo Slideshow feature, please click the Retta's Photo Archive link now in the "Links" menu on the right of her blog home page -->.

$30 Supper

54 miles today, 1,265 miles down. Enclosed are more pictures of the beautiful hotel last night and my 30 dollar supper.

The rest of today. For me, today is why I ride — I was in control of the ride, minimal traffic, no rumble strip, so the shoulder was rough, but I can’t complain. I suppose the vibration is keeping calcium in my bones! The cactus yucca was in bloom. There are little yellow and purple flowers everywhere. I saw two deer and one road runner. There are old windmills every once in a while that fill a nearby cistern.

I do wish everyone could have this opportunity to see the country this way; even if you have to borrow the sag once in a while. Neat stuff to see.

Retta

Marathon, Texas

60 miles today, 1,211 miles down. Today was a doable day for me. Beautiful Hotel: Gage Hotel on the list of historic places. The rooms are nifty — of course I am on the second floor. I love to carry my bike and luggage up the stairs after a day’s ride.

The Gage Hotel

QuickMap of Retta's location as of March 30.

Rest Day in Texas

Laundry, blue bells, and Fort Davis — an old Army Fort to protect the settlers on the road to El Paso. A sweet little town with an old fashioned ice cream soda fountain. Tin ceilings and antiques are everywhere. Our hotel was built by the CCC. It is beautiful.

There is a peccary - hmmm — a javelina in the photo if you look close. Those cottonwood trees I guess were there when the Fort was started in the 1820's. It closed for the Civil War and reopened. Buffalo soldiers were stationed there.

The scenery is spectacular — I’m in love — the countryside is beautiful. I can’t hear I-44 anywhere.

Fort Davis, Texas

90 miles today, 1151 miles down. Interstate, border Patrol, and stellar observatories. What a day. The Border Patrol stopped us several times and told us to hurry along , ride in groups, don’t talk to strangers, etc. Then we got on I-10 for miles.

After that we climbed to the second highest peak in Texas to the McDonald Observatory. At one time it was the biggest somewhere, now it is number 3. It was very windy, the guide said oh “it’s nothing last week we had 90 mph gusts." Wether it was a sign of intelligence of wimpy — I sagged.

The hotel was beautiful. Do you see the wooden beams in the ceiling? Only in cowboy country can you buy a saddle in a gas station.

Van Horn, Texas

74 miles, 1061 down from Van Horn, TX. We drove near the border again today. The sheriff and the Border Patrol stopped us several times and told us to hurry, stay in groups and don’t talk to strangers. Evidently there had been an “incident” a few weeks ago. We even had a helicopter keeping an eye on us.

We had to ride again on the interstate - not a thing I’m fond of. The road surface off the highway was a bumpy version of chip and seal.

The exercise ball was a pleasant stretch during the ride. See the lunch restaurant had different stuff. I’ve never seen so much Salsa. Nobody seems to drink our usual Coke/Pepsi but other stuff. I didn’t try it.

El Paso to Fort Hancock

47 miles, 987 down. El Paso to Fort Hancock. The day was supposed to be easy - traffic for 15 miles then a leisurely 30 more. Elle our 28 year old leader crashed leaving the hotel and broke her wrist. We were all in suspense about what happened until lunch time. So we had no sag today. We seemed content to ride in a clump. The ride was flat and the wind was at our back. After the traffic stopped it seemed like we were sailing. I managed to sustain 17 mph for a few hours.

We seem to be in the middle of nowhere, without internet service--it should be available in a couple months--I don't think I'll stay and wait.

Hello Texas

We covered 67 miles today. That makes 940 down. We crossed into Texas today. We were on small roads and never saw a sign to photo. I couldn’t face the traffic nor the 22 turns. I believe I have been practicing saying “no” - something I don’t do very well. I am doing what I want and I’m feeling relaxed - a nice thing. I have almost quit drinking Coca Cola — not a bad thing. We met a number of bikers today. Some who met us at the hotel and road with us and others met us along the way. There was a couple on a double recumbent. I was surprised that it was a new kind of bike to most of our group.

The day always seems to start with flat tires. The day ended with a drive right on the border with lots of fencing.

Big Cake

I think my mom had a bigger cake than I gave her. That is my sister and brother in the background. It sounds like she had a nice day.

88 Miles Today, 873 miles down

This morning started at 42 degrees, new snow on the nearby mountain and a rainbow. It was too cold for me I sagged for 25 miles and rode the last 63 miles. There were 6 flats today. An incredible ride with minimal traffic and a decent shoulder without a rumble strip.

Can you see part of pecan grove and a simple wooden fence near the Rio Grande? Then there were horses too.

That cute kid is our tour leader. She teaches Yoga, is a massage therapist and rides a mean bicycle. Oh, did I say she is quite an encouragement to us? I watched her do a handstand. I wonder how old I’ll have to be to do that?

Tomorrow’s ride is thru El Paso — 22 lefts and rights. Watch for traffic here and there, get on the sidewalk as soon as you can - that’s how I fell. I’m still sportin’ a purple hip and a sore rib.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Saturday my mom is having a surprise 80th Birthday party. All will be there except me. So we celebrated tonight with a little candle burning and a little eating.

Have a nice day Mom, I’ll see ya’ soon.

Love, Retta

Click here for an audio blog entry from Retta.

Rest Day and Lawn Ornaments

We have rested our bikes in the laundry room.

The kitchen is closed with only a lone biker doing fix-it work.

The rest of us are resting — what strange lawn ornaments!

Silver City, NM

We crossed the Continental divide once. The weather was a strange mix of hot and cold and impending rain. The pictures are from the evening activity of marking the map from Lordsburg. And a change in the ecosystem, there are some versions of trees here.

Today is the 2nd rest day. It was a long 8 days. There were plenty of personal stressors. Two had altitude sickness. A couple others were just exhausted and too stubborn to say “uncle” and jump in the sag. The sag drivers have become junior therapists for a numbers of gals. My rest day started off in the hot tub — not too shabby.

Lordsburg History

The calvary climbed this rocky hill to scout for Indians.

The marker says the Indians came down the hill at sunset and killed a family on their way to California — the year 1895.

Lordsburg, NM

Yep, we crossed into New Mexico today, as we climbed 2,400 ft. We changed time again. My watch, which I haven’t figured out how to reset, is 3 days behind.

I have a purple hip and knee and sore ribs after my fall yesterday. I sagged the first 20 mi and rode the last 55. It was a long slow climb all day. The traffic was pretty light. Most of the way was on “chip n’ seal” with an asphalt shoulder with a skiff of small gravel. The temp ranged from 48 to 93. There was very little wind and pizza for supper. The terrain is changing with some mountains looming in the distance.

Food Seeking

Can you see the gopher snake hiding in the ledge? I’m surprised we haven’t seen more.

The sag drivers go above and beyond to cater for us. Here is a bite size fruit salad.

Cleats and a Fall

This was a 78 mile day - that makes 615 miles down. We cross into New Mexico tomorrow. Wow!

This morning I put on one tennis shoe and one bicycle shoe with a cleat. I rode half using the cleat — nice — it really does make a difference. I don’t think it helped me fall; I ran alongside a curb and slid right off. I lost just a little skin and I’m sure I’ll have a purple hip in the morning. My side is a little sore. Well, so I fell, I got that out of the way. I don’t have to worry about it anymore.

We have some excellent riders on with us. Some of us in the back-end had a melt down today. The traffic is more than most of us want to deal with. The rumble strip and the debris on the shoulder create a near constant tension. There are a few more showing up in the sag. This is an 8 day stretch of long days. We are ready for a break.

Sunrise, Sunset, and New People

That’s Kay - she is sag driver every other day. She is always encouraging and fun.

These 4 guys are from Montreal. They are biking twice as fast as we are. They got invited to supper and volunteered to do the dishes. They are going to ride with us tomorrow.

Sunsets and sunrises in the desert are pretty beautiful.