Marathon to Somewhere East of Dryden
I am sitting outside our motel in Sanderson, TX, looking at the sky as the sun is setting. The puffy clouds are orange and purple against a blue sky. Another spectacular day in West Texas.
When we pulled out of Marathon this morning, Mark announced that he was going to entertain Brian and I today. (He entertains us every day). After passing a herd of deer and a few elk during the first 15 miles, we started seeing cattle grazing along the fence next to the road. (Point of interest, there has been a fence along both sides of the road this entire trip.) I don’t know what possessed Mark but he started yelling and whistling at this one herd of cattle as we road past. Much to our surprise, they started stampeding away from the road with more and more cattle joining in the stampede. Needless to say, Mark was scanning the fields on both sides of the road looking for more cattle to practice his stampede techniques.
At one of our stops, we were visited by a tarantula. I wondered out loud what a tarantula eats. Mark, who has an answer for every question, replied “bicyclists, preferably old ones.”
This was our longest ride this trip. We were trying to do some of tomorrow’s miles today to make to make it more manageable. We did 85 today and have another 90 to do tomorrow. Beth will drop us off where we left off and continue on to Del Rio to wait for us at our next motel. Should be a gradual drop in elevation tomorrow like it was today. I’m hoping.
Wow those cows look fast in the video Brian posted! There is a logical progression in the cowboy world, now that mark has been honing his skills causing stampedes he may be ready for the next step, …anyone got bets if mark can ride them?? I put down $10 that says he can! It may be a temporary solution to the muscle fatigue from long rides and the crapy pavement of west Texas.
Patrick , I am glad you are willing to back me. Only $10? If we get any takers, I could make you some easy buck$. But one condition. I get to pick the cow. ( I saw one standing very still in front of the WalMart and it only cost a quarter for a five minute ride.)
Those trips to the Dude Ranch may have really paid off!