12/25 Monday VanHorn to Sierra Blanca 33.1 mi., 11.3 avg.
I had planned a lazy Christmas day going from Van Horn to Sierra Blanca, only 33 miles away. Well, it was uphill into the wind and ended up taking longer than I thought. I didn't start 'til after noon. Since I was in cell phone range, I spent a lot of the morning on the phone sharing Christmas with family. Sierra Blanca was closed down, except for the United Methodist Church, which was putting on a Christmas dinner for anyone on the road that day. I enjoyed a lovely visit with the folks there and a yummy turkey dinner. Their pastor, Linda, was the first person I'd met on this trip who'd heard of Friedreich's Ataxia. She has two parishioners suffering from it and we had a very nice talk. At this point, I need to clarify something, mostly for family members who may think this hypocritical. Although I am not a person of faith, I still deeply appreciate the positive thoughts and prayers of those who are. I got some feedback that my 'Angels are everywhere' comments were inappropriate, given my philosophy, and I just wanted to make it clear that I didn't mean angels in the religious sense. Hikers use the term 'Trail Angels' to describe anyone who helps others selflessly. It is a secular description, even though many of the folks it describes are people of faith. To me, they're just good, kind folks who enjoy helping others in need with no thought of what might be in it for them. And they are everywhere, including Sierra Blanca, TX. One of the folks there was a pilot who owns a restored Taylorcraft airplane so of course we had a nice chat, too. This headwind thing is really starting to bug me. Flip-flopping is starting to seem more and more attractive.
12/26 Tuesday Sierra Blanca to El Paso 89.7 mi., 14.2 avg, 30.8 max
Steep uphill for the first few miles out of Siera Blanca through rugged arid mountains, but then you crest the hill and a desert plateau stretches out before you with El Paso at the base of the mountains 80 miles away. It was cold but calm at 7:00 am and I was able to coast around 30 mph for several miles on I-10 down out of the mountains. What a nice change of pace! I made the 55 miles to Tornillo by 10:45, when I was flagged down by a very excited former coast-to-coast cyclist. We compared notes for a half hour and I decided to exit the interstate there for lunch. After lunch, the daily breeze had come up and the next 33 miles to El paso were a grind once again. When I was on the eastern edge of town, I called Greyhound just out of curiosity and found that there was a bus leaving for San Diego at 4:30, arriving at 10:30 Thursday morning. The thought of spending the next 1500 miles with the wind in my face influenced my decision and I beat feet to the bus station on the west side of downtown. Got there with just enough time to box up the bike and off we went. So now...
12/27 Wednesday
After 18 hours on the bus, I'm now at the San Diego Public Library with a reassembled bike ready to head north to Sea World Drive to start the trek back to El Paso, where I'll now finish my journey. There's a reason for the prevailing wisdom, why everyone rides this route from west to east. I didn't think it would make such a big difference, but life's for learning, right? I apologize to Mariela Chevez at Scripps Institute in case she was planning anything big for my arrival. She's been very helpful and it'll be a shame to miss meeting her to thank her in person, since she's on vacation this week. I just don't think I would've made it if I'd kept heading west, or at least not in the planned time frame.
Gotta go - time's up.
I had planned a lazy Christmas day going from Van Horn to Sierra Blanca, only 33 miles away. Well, it was uphill into the wind and ended up taking longer than I thought. I didn't start 'til after noon. Since I was in cell phone range, I spent a lot of the morning on the phone sharing Christmas with family. Sierra Blanca was closed down, except for the United Methodist Church, which was putting on a Christmas dinner for anyone on the road that day. I enjoyed a lovely visit with the folks there and a yummy turkey dinner. Their pastor, Linda, was the first person I'd met on this trip who'd heard of Friedreich's Ataxia. She has two parishioners suffering from it and we had a very nice talk. At this point, I need to clarify something, mostly for family members who may think this hypocritical. Although I am not a person of faith, I still deeply appreciate the positive thoughts and prayers of those who are. I got some feedback that my 'Angels are everywhere' comments were inappropriate, given my philosophy, and I just wanted to make it clear that I didn't mean angels in the religious sense. Hikers use the term 'Trail Angels' to describe anyone who helps others selflessly. It is a secular description, even though many of the folks it describes are people of faith. To me, they're just good, kind folks who enjoy helping others in need with no thought of what might be in it for them. And they are everywhere, including Sierra Blanca, TX. One of the folks there was a pilot who owns a restored Taylorcraft airplane so of course we had a nice chat, too. This headwind thing is really starting to bug me. Flip-flopping is starting to seem more and more attractive.
12/26 Tuesday Sierra Blanca to El Paso 89.7 mi., 14.2 avg, 30.8 max
Steep uphill for the first few miles out of Siera Blanca through rugged arid mountains, but then you crest the hill and a desert plateau stretches out before you with El Paso at the base of the mountains 80 miles away. It was cold but calm at 7:00 am and I was able to coast around 30 mph for several miles on I-10 down out of the mountains. What a nice change of pace! I made the 55 miles to Tornillo by 10:45, when I was flagged down by a very excited former coast-to-coast cyclist. We compared notes for a half hour and I decided to exit the interstate there for lunch. After lunch, the daily breeze had come up and the next 33 miles to El paso were a grind once again. When I was on the eastern edge of town, I called Greyhound just out of curiosity and found that there was a bus leaving for San Diego at 4:30, arriving at 10:30 Thursday morning. The thought of spending the next 1500 miles with the wind in my face influenced my decision and I beat feet to the bus station on the west side of downtown. Got there with just enough time to box up the bike and off we went. So now...
12/27 Wednesday
After 18 hours on the bus, I'm now at the San Diego Public Library with a reassembled bike ready to head north to Sea World Drive to start the trek back to El Paso, where I'll now finish my journey. There's a reason for the prevailing wisdom, why everyone rides this route from west to east. I didn't think it would make such a big difference, but life's for learning, right? I apologize to Mariela Chevez at Scripps Institute in case she was planning anything big for my arrival. She's been very helpful and it'll be a shame to miss meeting her to thank her in person, since she's on vacation this week. I just don't think I would've made it if I'd kept heading west, or at least not in the planned time frame.
Gotta go - time's up.
posted by frankw at 12:30 PM
3 Comments:
Frank,
I love San Diego. Wish I was there, even in the winter the ocean is beautiful. Let me know your new schedule.
Love & Prayers,
-Paula
Were you talking to me??????
hey frank you;re in san diego all ready boy that seems like that was quick. how long are you going to stay before you come back. so it was better going with the wind than going against the wind.sounds like you had a full meal for xmas. well take care and be safe. steve
Frank,
Prevailing wisdom derives from prevailing winds. Your decision to flip-flop and start anew from the West Coast is understanable. I applaud your decision.
It was terrific meeting you and comparing notes on the interstate near Tornillo, Texas. (I am the "very excited former cross-country cyclist" you mentioned in your blog, and our chat awakened all manner of cycling memories.)
I really enjoyed our conversation on GPS.
That wall of a hill out of San Diego is a challenge, all right, and you are quite the superman to do is without a granny gear! Even for a short distance, a 10% grade will get your attention. But how about that 10-mile downhill rush into the Imperial Valley as a reward? If the route is the same as that of a few years ago, you have one more good hill, Devil's Eye out of the Clifton/Morenci area. The reward is a beautiful Alpine meadow once atop the plateau.
Once at my destination in Scottsdale, I asked around, and one of my niece's friends had heard of Friedreich's Ataxia, so we all educated ourselves about it. Your mission of raising awareness is working, one person at a time.
Also, about angels and spirituality, we are in sync. I get it.
The Christmas dinner in Sierra Blanca sounded scrumptious, and it's important to get some downtime and socializing time. You sounded physically and emotionally refreshed.
Del Rio! I remember the fighter jets doing touch-and-gos, with a glide path right over the highway! A pilot taking photos!
I have to restrain myself from offering all kinds of travel tips and suggestions (camping spots, restaurants, points of interest) for your West -> East ride. Each person create his/her own unique adventure.
Tailwinds and downhills,
Jan
P.S. As promised, I will send the short magazine essay I published on a vignette of my trip to your e-mail once you return to terra firma.
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