I was in Van Horn. Now I am in Fort Stockton which if my "score math" is right, is 121 miles away. That's right baby! Finally got over a hundred miles in a day.
Other than the fact I made it over a hundred, it was a pretty uneventful day. I got a nice early start and kind of warmed up at a slow pace for 15 miles or so. Two other tourers caught up to me and we rode together for a few miles. From where we split up to Kent I put it in high gear and was getting about 30 mph pretty easy. When I got to Kent, I met another guy on a bike. He was a little odd, but nice enough. We only talked for a few minutes and I continued on. I made amazing time for the first 80 miles. I was, without a doubt, 100% sure, I was going to get into FT Stockton well before the sun went down with the pace I was setting. 20-30 mph all day long. Easy peasy. I then met the longest shallow hill in the world. It was 40 miles of up. Never anything too taxing but hard to keep it at 10-to 15 mph. By the time I got to the 100 mile mark I was pretty much spent and the sun was about to go down.
In the end, I didn't get in to Ft Stockton until about 7 or 7:30 and I was really really beat. Riding on the freeway after dark is no bueno. I would have just found a place to camp but I was out of water--Like I said, I was making such good time I didn't think I would have to worry about water. From this point on I am going to have a container of water for just such situations. Back up water you can say.
Tomorrow, the next town of any size is 108 miles away. I don't know that I have the juice to do another century back to back so road side camping is probably what is going to happen. Who knows though, maybe I will be able to rock it.
I also do look forward to getting back on the bike route. Freeway riding is not as nice. Easier, yes. But not as nice.
FYI, I went off route to make up some time. By staying on the freeway I was able to skip about 200 miles off of the Adventure Cycling Association route. Here in two days I will be back on that route and I doubt I will leave it again for this trip.
With that, I am spent. I am going to bed. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
Happy Thanksgiving JJ!
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