Monday morn - after 26 miles Sunday I found a big tree on the road side (checked for Cactus) and camped out.

Yep it is getting greener out there on the way to Uvalde

Downtown Uvalde County court house this city is a lot larger than I thought and a lot more traffic.

and then it starts to drizzel - This guy gives me all the room he can

Well it’s Noon – lets stop and Burger King for lunch and charge up the phone.  Ordered the burger – not a good plug for the phone.

Down the road to Dairy Queen – and then it really starts raining.  Lucky me drinking coffee and playing on the phone.

Checking local Churches I find St. Patricks up the road in Subinal with a 6:30pm mass. Well it is 20miles away. I succumb to a small Blizzard after looking at the sign for 4 hours in the restaurant.  Just as I finish,the rain quits, it’s almost 4 pm. I ‘ll start down the road for a while to get in some miles. When I called the church the nice lady said Father wouldn’t mind if I camped out around there. I plan on coming in late.

St. Patricks in Sabinal, tx. - 6 30pm mass - the rest of the story is after 4 hours at DQ waiting on the rain I found out about the Mass time. Darn 20 mi in the rain - too far.

I start out – after about 2 miles I find I am hanging in there at 8-9 miles and hour even on the rough chip seal and a little up and down. I saw a prayer for a little assistance to make to my Lord and God in time for Mass. Yes you can call this any way you want, I experienced it and prayer and desire does work. I made it into the church just in time for the reading of the Liturgy( The Bible reading)  The best time for me in the last 36 days – Thank you Lord.

Father Antonio from Venezuela , graciously set me up under a pavilion for the night with bathroom open. Thank you Father. Another great day with God leading and strenghing me.Monday 30th 37.6 in rain and tough Chip seal Wow. and 4 hours off at DQ

I still think this is cool.

Fort Clark - great place to visit - another one of those history places. pre civil war Generals Lee and Grant both spent time here.

I always enjoy finding out the little trivia that makes the world different from what I thought it was.

St Mary Magdalene Church in Bracketville, Tx Father Pius is from Nigera and a wonderfull priest. I was able to make both Saturday evenging Mass and Sunday Morning. One of parishioners raved about how the priest had turned the parish around in the past 4 years. New church buildings, out of debt, more families.

Across the street from Church was lunch for sale - brisket box lunch - great start to the days ridiing

Now we that we are leaving the desert you really have to be careful. Those round things up in the tree are not Mickey mouse ears - They are prickly pear cactus ready to jump down on you.

Oh the dangers I have to endure on this ride. Now it’s cactus in trees after me.

You never get to read these when your flying down the highway, used to drive my family to distration when I wanted to stop to read them So now you can learn some history from my trip.

I really never knew where Laughlin AFB was now I do.

Here is Olli Tillard, from Great Britain - Cycling solo San Diego to Jacksonville, Fl. Great fellow who caught up to me as he was chasing another fellow who passed me earlier(Tru) - we met up later

I made it into Bracketville in time for Saturday evening mass at St Mary Magdalene Church.

Rode up to Fort Clark Springs RV park and met up with Olle and Tru both are doing the San Diego to Florida ride. Good time talking about riding where we have been and whats ahead. Olle is on vacation from Britain and just decided to ride, Tru who came from Vietnam when he was 9, just quit his job so he could do his first long distance ride.  Good Luck to them both.

Friday A view from the tent door - the sun is up and warming.

Pulled off the main highway onto a side road slept above the road – great nights sleep, got up when the sun hits the tent.

These Two fellow are out of Austin, Tx and doing a Lance Armstrong Foundation ride around texas and Louisiana, The burley trailer is just like the one I left in Tucson and Helena's

At first I thought they were heading east, instead they were heading west. I let them know about the Sanderson Canyon RV place for camping.

Lake Amistead going into Del Rio - Got in early enough to stop at Walmart get a prescription filled, load up on supplies, check into Motel 6 - great day

Missed linking up with Dave and Marie at the military RV campground – darn.

and of course the best part was a celebration dinner at Rudys - Thanks again to Dave and Marie for steering me this way.

This is Keiths set up for Warmshowers.org in Langtry, Tx. What a great guy and great place. Just what I needed to up date journal and Fix 3 punctures.

A view into one of many canyons along the way.

The Pecos River is a lot bigger along here a few miles before it dumps into the Rio Grand River and onto Lake Amstead.

Going over the Pecos River - This is a really high bridge and the guard rail is pretty low.

I get a little funny feeling about heights – so there was no testing the Guardian Angel on this one.

We have some great pavement out of Langtry after awhile. This really helps the speed and energy to generate it

A View of the Lake Amstead from my roadside camp. Thought about coasting down to the campground and then about pedeling back up tomorrow morning - This is a really nice spot to sleep.

A good day riding 35 miles even with the ups and downs.

Just so you don't think this is all sweetness and light traveling out here. This section of Hwy 90 is a main east west truck route to the west coast, lots of noise at night.

This morning is a cold damp Northwest wind – Good direction, nice if a little warmer.

The North west wind is up. There was a heck of a thunderstorm last night and rained a lot, only the bottom side of the tarped traped some run off water, I was under the cover. Coincidence again

The only way to get to good people and fun things along the way is to get up and pedal every morning, at least by 11:00am.

Besides the truck tire wires on the shoulder- These little beauties run in patches. When the DOT mows the shoulder these get kicked on to the road.

I got a good couple of these later today, in the same tire.

Of course there are hundreds of these markers along the way. This one and one just before struck me. Jose Hernandez US Navy 21 year old when he died here

The thing about life experiences, just a soon as you start crying about your own aches and pains or unfortunate events, something like this marker(if your aware outside yourself) will remind you how difficult it has been in the past and you got through it, or how difficult it is for someone else who is getting through it. On the second tire puncture when I stopped to air up the low tire after the stopleak had temporarily plugged it a fellow in a loaded pickup truck stopped to see if I needed any help. Didn’t get his name, he shared he was traveling around, trying to get used to his wife dying a few months ago. “Hell I am retired, I can do anything, go anywhere I want to” asked him where he was headed and said probable out west, he didn’t know.   I pray he finds something to fill the very large hole he has. We all have these holes, these hungers – for me as the Psalm says, “I shall not rest until I rest in you, my God”

And another good thing while at the Judge Roy Bean Museum the pleasant woman at the counter hears about Warmshowers.org from a coworker and tell me. Keith has a great deal and here I am.

I had signed up a couple of years ago and it lapsed after my email account was hijacked – I don’t think anybody wired money overseas ,when the note said I was stranded in England with out money or ID.

It's nice to be out of the Wind to fix three puntures in one tire. In the 5 miles before hitting the 1000 mile mark picked up three holes. self sealing tubes kept me afloat into Keiths with some stops for airups.

Thats one of the mesquite thorns along the highway. Time for my warm shower and good nights sleep. Oh yea I started out Today’s blog with how difficult it is and yep it got a lot better.

And yes I passed the 1,000 mile mark – Now I feel like I am on a journey, and I know where I will be when it is over.

Tuesday a little head wind and doing OK

It is not flat out there, guess that’s why they call it the bandlands.

Some of the History is the most news they ever had here.

Oops forgot the rotate the picture – just turn the computer screen on end or your head.

Since about 15 miles befor Sanderson I have not ever come across more road kill deer, just by smell and sight at least 30.

and this is kinder gentler photo with out the smell. The traffic really picks up past Sanderson and there must a lot more slow deer.

Yes the work of the border patrol never ends, drag the tires during the day, look for foot prints at night and the next day.

Meet these folks mounting up to round up some sheep that had got on the highway. Marie said this was sheep country, hadn't seen any yet.

There they are sheep with lambs, would be hard to see out across the distance.

This part of the country there are lots of canyons with downs and ups. I have been walking some of last part of the ups.

My son John the Chiropractor, says its good for my back, he was right when he said it and still right now. My back is starting feel better already. Now why don’t we keep up with that stuff all the time. I guess that is what discomfort, pain, and trouble is about to get us to do something that we didn’t need to stop doing in the first place, or to stop doing we started to do that we didn’t need to start. I started sitting all day and my low back starts to hurt. I ride my bike hundreds of miles some everyday, and I start feeling better.

I wondered what the ICE trike looked like from the rear at a distance

And again just in time a Texas picnic area after 30 miles in a little head wind.

I haven’t figured out these Picnic stop locations on the maps and I don’t know if there is certain mileage spacing.  I do know that when it is better for one to be where it is for me – da da it’s there.

And then during the night there is a heck of a thunderstorm and rain for a couple of hours, guess who is under the roof of the picnic area. just another coincidence from your friendly Guardian Angel.

Rolling along to Sanderson little bit of head wind. the trike and the guy pedeling are doing much great today.

The landscape is more interesting to see out here.

At a road side picnic stop I meet Fran and Bruce from British Columbia on their way to Apache Junction to visit his brothe. I suggest they go through Columbus, NM for the history and nice route.

See he is still alright and has more body to lose. The tan is getting really dark and a little leathery - time to pick up some lotion.

Ya know the better shape I am getting into the more fun this becomes – Then it has always been that way for everyone. It’s just getting to the fun part that is so much work.

Made it into Sanderson, saw Dave and Marie walking down the main street in town, I am invited for coffee.

This the same spot the couple back in Clint, NM at the Super 8 recommended. The best part was the coffee and dinner with Marie and Dave.

Dave and Marie from Casper, Wy. What a wonderful couple. Marie made dinner on last second notice. Wonderful conversation. She is from Spain and Lucky Dave was stationed near with the Air Force when they Married.

Thanks again Dave and Marie – hope to see you at the lake near Del Rio.

The view from the fireplace into the courtyard with real green grass very nice friendly place

Once again me and the cloths are clean. Did some updates on the wordpress. The wind is getting up and I am headed to the little store and then to 12noon mass.

St. Mary's church in Marathon. made it to Sunday communion service, it is served as a mission out of Alpine

Good service.

After church another great tail wind - the dust is blowing up and I am in the fast lane again no traffic on Sunday afternoon

I have the jacket sail hoisted on the flag poles and rolling along.  some ups and downs the wind really helps. I am really feeling well after Alpine and Marathon churchs.

At a road side picnic stop I meet Fran and Bruce from British Columbia on their way to Apache Junction to visit his brothe. I suggest they go through Columbus, NM for the history and nice route.

Not much of a picture as they are pulling away. Nice visit, more good people

some interesting rock formations

a road side sign said this area is unique for his geology having been laid down then turned on end and covered up  again. Sounds I have felt some times.  But not today.

After about 19 miles the rear tire is real low and the rear shifter is acting up then what do you know 1 mile ahead was here.So the ICE trike is getting the flat fixed - It was one of the dreaded wires that went through 2 layers of armor liners and keep poking the self sealing tube. The Derailer problem took more time in the morning.

This coincident thing lets see this situation could be really bad, a flat tire and bunged up derailer at the same time.  And it just so happens I made 20 miles in an easy afternoon wiht the wind at my back. I don’t know when the derailer went south but it’s bent probable happened in Alpine or Marathon. I should knock  off for the day rather than push too much and what do you know a nice Picnic spot with covered work area to fix the flat and derailer. Good stuff or not. I think Good stuff. Some folks would thing rotten luck.

I am thinking Guardian Angel on the job.

Started out Saturday with some meditation in the church. Beautiful place for resting, healing and strength

Neat old church with a vibrant priest and congregation.

The wind is up again today and I am headed for Marathon, Tx.

The road today is not desolate this is LeeBob from South Carolina he stopped on his motorcycle to chat.

He manages a white water rafting and Zip line adventure place in South Carolina.

and then this fellow and his wife stopped in there 5th wheel. They were going to Sanderson and stay a few days to look them up when I get there.

Turns out to be David and Marie from Wyoming more on them later.

Along about here at a road side park at the junction of Hwy 90 and 67, I meet Mark, who is from Germany. He comes over every year for a few weeks and stays at Fort Davis. He was riding a bike also.

Rolled into Marathon, Tx early today about 4:30 after 30 miles a very good day. Reading one of the place markers Marathon was named by a sea captain who settled here. He named it because the area hill reminded him of the Marathon Plain in Greece. Who knew.