Day 12 Pics

tune-up in amarillo

Made it to Amarillo after some long miles circling the city.  Staying with couchsurfing friend Alex and his converted dentist office/home/bike co-op.  A great chance to get some advice and have great burger for dinner.

I had a easy morning starting at 4am and putting in good miles through the open ranges.  By daylight I was finally getting to a town with a gas station and a chance to grab breakfast (gatorade and froot loops).  The temp rose later on but I wasn't in much of a hurry.  Dark rain clouds came in,  and wind started blowing.   The wind was blowing east,  but the clouds kept getting closer and soon it started raining,  first time since day 2 in chicago.  The wind also made some dust storms out in the open field,  so I took a break at a pavilion at an Amarillo high school until it blew over,  just another element I've had to face during this trip.

Alex works as a bike mechanic and was able to fine tune my bike and fix up some of my home remedies (no more duct tape!!).   All set to make the long day to Tucumcari, NM tomorrow.  It'll be a long day through more open terrain,  but I won't be in much rush with and off-day scheduled for Wednesday.   Goooooodnight

2 day thru texas

The road finally starts to thin out thru Texas.  I made it only 40 miles today to Shamrock and found out there's basically nothing for the next 90 miles to Amarillo.   I'm off to bed now to get an early 4am start tomorrow to head down the road.

Hoping I can arrive around noon with plenty of breaks in there as well,  got a couch surfing lined up for Monday night.

Life, death and texas

Finally pulled into shamrock, Texas for breakfast. I was trying to get here yeaterday night, A little relief from yesterday since it was about 35 miles and 4 hours to get here with no aid along the way. A billboard on I-40 sai it was the last mcdonalds until Amarillo, Whig is about 100 miles away. I may have to stop in McLean around noon, since not sure what lies between tree and Amarillo. At least with a short day, I won't need to take a full day off yet.

Day 11 Pics

Sad day in sayer

I was hoping to have dinner at an ice cream shop in sayre tonight, Molly and I stopped there back in January and talked win he owner. I just walked by and saw it was out of business, it must've been recent since all the supplies are still inside. A sad day for sayre, Oklahoma.

Worst day yet

Still hot, still windy, still hilly, still Oklahoma

Worst day yet with a relentless wind coming from the south. Heading west it comes from the left and tosses you around the road, which is so rough from very stony gravel pavement. Several sections them veer Doug and the wind hits you head on, slowing my bike down to single digits. It seems like the hottest day yet, I think it's really radiating off the road, and not much shade in sight. I headed into the hotel early today, and trying to get an early sleep. Only made it about 60 miles to sayre.

I met some fellow road warriors in a broken down RV, Sam and deb are headed back to Los Angeles from Florida. They don't have money to fix their rig, so they go in 5 mile intevals until the engine gets too hot. So all day we were leapfrogging each on the frontage road and would wave and talk at each passing. I passed them some gas money to help them out and they give me water and soda thru the long stretches between towns. I'm sure I'll see more of them tomorrow.

New plan is to get earlier starts and always atop by 2pm to stay out ofthe frustrating heat. I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels once the sun is right on top of you. Worst day yet, hopefully the mornings will be better