We’re starting to get into the rhythm of SAG duties and alternate riding days. Zipper alarms begin around 5:30. There’s just no sleeping through 53 people each unzipping sleeping bags, screen and rain tent flies and zipping up warm clothing. Coffee at 6:30 and breakfast at 7:00. Riders begin to leave as soon as it’s light. SAG folks leave as assigned to take care of 1st SAG, lunch and 2nd SAG. Setting up the rest stop Involves lugging 2 tables and 15 chairs from the trailer to a safe wide shoulder or park, putting out water, soft drinks, snacks, fruit and sanitizing everything before the first rider arrives. A good spot for a SAG includes a surrounding area with sufficient growth of bushes to send women in one direction and men in another. This is the SAG stop near Valentine Texas.
By about day 16 the men have lost most modesty and most women just wait if natural accommodations are not adequate. Sometimes Bubba brings the RV for the women. In the evening the SAG trailers need to be restocked. There’s usually a meeting. We have strict rules for staff: no drinking until the last rider arrives. Two of us are assigned to be “designated drivers” each night. No alcohol allowed just in case some emergency occurs in the middle of the night.
John and I have each been able to ride about every 4th day. It’s much greener this year the more flowers in the New Mexico desert.
We stayed at the Painted Pony ranch in Rodeo, NM. Thank goodness we had indoor sleeping arrangements as a fierce T-storm came up in the afternoon and dumped rain for hours. After the rain there was a double rainbow. I’ve never seen both ends of a double rainbow touching the ground before. My camera would only capture half. So grateful to get to see it. Doubly appreciative since one of the riders [back saddle of tandem] is nearly blind.
West Texas on US 90 is unbelievably remote. The 6-man football team for Sanderson High sometimes must travel 275 miles to a game, play and drive 275 miles back in a single day. The trade-off for the remoteness, according to the proprietor of the hardware/plumbing supply/antique/used book store in town is the community and low cost of living. One sign offered newer 2 bedroom house on acreage for $59,000. Note the Amtrak station.
Today we’re enjoying a lay-over day at Riverbend resort near Cancon Texas. We just entered the hill country. What a change. Two days ago we were in the desert. Today it’s humid, there’s natural grass and real trees. There’s actually water in the rivers.