we have all become food addicts and spend endless time watching Linda cook her magic in the trailer kitchen. Sometimes she gives out samples and tastes before dinner.Our cue sheet for today was so short and simple that Michelle didn't even bother to hand it out or discuss it at dinner last night but instead just left them under a fork on the breakfast. There were a total four cues: turn left onto route 90 and stay on 90 all day, enter Pecos County, enter Terrell County, turn left into Outback Oasis in Sanderson.
As the day started out, we rode up on the group of 4 so called "big dogs" who ride together as a team and usually make it into town at least an hour or so before everyone else. They were cruising down the road singing and doing the "hokey pokey" on their bikes. We joined in for a little bit and then, warmed up, they took off down the road in a pace line while we rode on at a more restful pace. Michelle had warned us to take our time and treat today as a rolling rest day because "there is nothing in Sanderson." She is right, here in Sanderson, "the Cactus capital of the world," there is the gas station and the motel with a few houses down the road.
Warming up on thhe road with the big dogs disappearing in the distance
The ride itself was also basically short and simple. We were riding through an area of geographic oddity in which plates of limestone were thrust vertically because of tectonic plate ruptures and then sank. At some point much later, a layer of deposit was laid down horizontally on top. The vertical upthrusts were very apparent in the highway cuts which made it apparent that the gently rounded hills around us were all basically verticall up thrusts o limestone thinly covered with top soil. The horizontal layering could be seen across the tops of some of the higher hills. 
vertical beds of limestone in the highway cuts
horizontal layering and terracing of younger stone above the beds of vertical limestone "reefs"
The ride was a gradual downhill,losing about 1,000 feet during the distance and coming down through shallow canyons and wide draws with a few gentle rollers, so it really was a recovery type day. We even had a bit of a tail wind for the first 10 miles or so before the wind began to shift and gust a bit, but we still got in early enough to avoid the heavier late afternoon winds.
It was also nice not to have to ride in a lot of extra heavy clothing. Although it was still cool when we started out, by the first sag stop at 20 miles we had all begun to shed layers and by the 40 miles I was back down to light gloves, a windbreaker, arm warmers and seriously considering taking my tights off. I would have if it were less hassle, but since it involved sitting down, a chancey proposition in the best of times, and taking off my shoes I opted not to. I only regreted the decision for the last 10 miles of the ride.
The most surprising thing was that the rooms were actually ready at the motel, and to top it all off there was a lovey shaded patio between the rows of rooms so we all spent the afternoon resting reading, checking our biikes and chatting in the sun and storing up mental energy for the ride tomorrow.
The ride from Sanderson to Del Rio ( actually Amistad, 10 miles outside of Del Rio) is 111 miles long and is the longest distance day of the ride. In Michelle's understated assesment "it will be a tough day, especially if there are head winds, but you can all do it."
That will be my mantra for tomorrow. I figure if two years ago, 50 pounds heavier, I could do 110 miles against a 15-20 mph headwind on a trek hybrid, I should surely be able to do this one in spite of the rollers, on a road bike. We will also be losing 2000 feet which should make any thing other than a 30 mile headwind more like riding level against the wind.
My roomate has just informed me that there is no light in the bathroom so I am going to go do going to bed stuff while there is still a bit of daylight.
the inside of the trailer, sans luggage but still well stocked with food, snacks and the recovery beers and cooler.
Today's stats
ride distance 53.47 miles
ride time 3:10
16.8 mph thanks to a downhill and a tail wind
total distance ridden so far, 1200 miles
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