Category Archives: Texas

Day 33: A long cold windy 76 mile ride to Van Horn, Texas.

Friday October 28, 2011, 76 miles (122 km) – Total so far: 1,846 miles (2,971 km)

We got a late start after 9:30 today as neither one of us wanted to be outside in the cold. It was brutal. At the start the headwinds were light but steadily grew. We left Marfa while reading a sign that read ‘No services for 74 miles’. Okay so we made the commitment and drove on. We made really good time up to the town of Valentine where we met fellow crazyguysonabike.com riders Dave and Jo Whitney riding from San Diego to Florida on a tandem. We had a nice talk with them and compared notes. When we left Dave said ‘I would wish you fair winds but we want them’! Well, they had them as the last 15 miles into Van Horn was brutal. We were headed north into hard, cold northwest wind. It was the longest ride we have ever had into town. We saw I-10 and Van Horn from 15 miles out but it was so far away. The ride was beautiful though as we had our first look at mountains. I’m sure some of you would say ‘you ain’t seen mountains yet’ and you are probably right! But being from Florida these are cool. So we made it to a motel and went to a local restaurant for an early dinner. While there three guys that used to work at Kennedy Space Center came in. Small world. When the space shuttle program ended and I left these guys hired on with the company Blue Horizon which is developing a commercial launch vehicle here in Van Horn. I wish them success. Tomorrow we will head west to make our way out of Texas by Sunday.

Nice cactus.
Nice cactus.
A cold start from Marfa or Since we are in the old west we are headed for a withdrawal at a local bank.
A cold start from Marfa or Since we are in the old west we are headed for a withdrawal at a local bank.
Scratch another one from the list!
Scratch another one from the list!
Early morning grazing.
Early morning grazing.
Fellow crazyguysonabike.com Dave and Jo Whitney on a tandem. We crossed paths with them in Valentine, Texas.
Fellow crazyguysonabike.com Dave and Jo Whitney on a tandem. We crossed paths with them in Valentine, Texas.
We spent a lot of time on the road and not shoulder.
We spent a lot of time on the road and not shoulder.

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A very inquisitive horse.
A very inquisitive horse.
Another train that whistled for us.
Another train that whistled for us.
Mountains or big hills?
Mountains or big hills?

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