So ended up riding only 60 miles today or so down to Alpine to the bike shop there. Great Service by the way. If you are ever in Texas and need some work done on your bike you better go to Bikeman. I even got some cough drops outta the deal b/c I was so pitiful with my scratchy voice. YAY!

Of course we had the classic Southwest wind today. On the way out, head/cross wind from the right. On the way home, tail/cross wind from the left. SWEET when you have a tail wind home. So this is my thoughts of the ride today:

The best part of the ride, however, was the 2 mile dirt road that we have to bike on leaving the ranch and then we get the pleasure of coming home on it too. As if being in the saddle for 3+ hrs isn’t enough… you have to shake, rattle, and roll up the 2 mile climb to the ranch. I loved every minute of it. Alicia may not quite agree on how fun the dirt road is. I think it’s the essence of the ride. Here is me giving my impression of myself flying down the dirt road on the way to Alpine:

And my favorite. Here we are giving the Texas ‘hook em’ horns.

The ride wouldn’t be without eventfulness. Alicia suffered a flat on the way home. She didn’t get the pleasure of climbing the dirt road with me. DARN. I helped her change the flat (YES, I know how. It’s amazing!). But for some reason her stoneage CO2 cartrige cracker didn’t work and so a nice policeman had to take her home.

How’s that for Southern hospitality? Or dude ranch hospitality? Whichever one you like. We had not one, but TWO cops stop to help us. How you like them apples?

Here is our Rockstar SAG service man, Gary Crumpler. He followed us in the car along the way, except for he was already home when Alicia flatted. BUMMER. I had to pick up the slack, but that’s okay. I’m a cowgirl. I can handle it.

So Oregon Trail Stats from the Alpine Ride:

Date: December 27, 2006
Weather: Sunny and Warm
Health: Plagued by the Black Lung *but nice Bikeman gave me cough drops*
Food: 50 pounds, all the veggies a girl could want. *Gary went to the store, yay!*
Next Landmark: The Cabin, my Fort. *aren’t you sad you can’t come too?*
Miles Traveled: 60+

And I can’t leave without a sunset picture of the mountains where we’re staying. Love the mountains at sunset. Even better at sunrise when I’m running.