Not much new in our ride today except that we just keep climbing. We are at an elevation of 1800 feet now and it's all uphill from here. The temps are unbelievablly hot! On the road today it was 114 degrees andvthen Dean had a flat tire! There is no place to get into the shade. The three guys worked on the flat and I stood there frying some more. We rode on 290 most of the day but finally hit I 10 which we took for the last 20 miles. The road is rough chip and seal for most of the way but the traffic wasn't as heavy as I expected. Speed limit on it is 80 mph so those big trucks really come roaring by.
Road kill by the hundreds, mostly deer today. There was one right in our lane with the baby fetus ripped right out of it. Another huge one in our lane that was recently struck. The heat and the carcasses and bones all over make you think that you're going to just cook out there and die along the road too. Texas normally has 6 inches of rain at this time. This year they've had .05 inches. You can't believe how dry and brown everything is. There are burn ban signs everywhere. The dryness mixed with the Texas high winds is disaster.
We are staying in a truck stop motel tonight. It is too hot even to sleep outside. We were so dehydrated that we couldn't bear to try and find a place to set up the tents. It's going to be 98 again tomorrow. That means way over 100 again on the road. We are planning an early departure again to get some of the trip in before the sun is too hot.
We are searching daily for Easter cards to send home. You can't believe the hick towns. None has cards.
I was a bit blue yesterday thinking I wouldn't be with everyone for Easter. That was making me miss everyone so much. I know Sunday will be hard.
Jack, tell dad that my meeting Maria didn't work out. We were diverted off the road because of the fires on Sunday and that put us way out of touch. I spoke to her on the phone again today. She said she feels so close to me and dad and wants this friendship to continue. We are going to exchange pictures when I get home. She is such a friendly person and so easy to talk to. You feel like you've known her all your life.
There is a high alert about going into Mexico. There is random shooting of anyone. People around here are scarred stiff. We decided we shouldn't put ourselves at such risk. We were going to have our passports sent but that won't be necessary now. No sense taking that chance.
Off to bed soon. Love and miss everyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment