Tuesday, June 10, 2008

"So far, so good"

Not the earliest start, but I filled up at the corner station at 0730 and was on I-20 heading west with rush hour traffic. Continued past town and out to Thurber and the old Thurber Brick Factory ruins. It once was a thriving company town, complete with schools, company store, etc, but all that remains now is a tall brick chimney and the New York Hill Cafe, where I stopped for breakfast. I feel like I have too much stuff - every packing place is full, and I know I'm only going to use half of it. Need to pare down at first campsite. Bike is running fine - so far, though the left valve cover is leaking just a tad. Wonder why I was so slow out of the blocks this morning - daunted by the over all plan of Calgary Canada and back? Old? Tired? I think if it worked, leaving the night before and stopping at the first State Park (SP) along the way would be a good idea.




The wind is unbelievable. I was to find out later it blew hard enough to suspend traffic at the DFW airport for a time, and I know it was 35-45kts out here on the road. I hopped off I20 onto TX180 for a change of pace. Had lunch in Post with a former Marine named Gene who was enroute from Oregon to Bryan Tx for his 50th highschool reunion.

On to Snyder, where the blowing red earth brought back that black and white dustbowl photograph of a mother holding her child. Visibility would go down in a flash to less than 3/4 mile, allowing a semi to virtually disappear before my eyes. Bike seems to be ok, but the wind makes it really hard to be sure. It's like riding a bucking bronco in slow motion.

Stopping every 100 miles for water, and every other stop for gas. 48oz of water each stop. Copious and Clear, Sarge, Copious and Clear!





Made it to Sumner Lake SP in New Mexico by 2030. 10$ for the night, and though it's a ways out of town (10 miles out, 6 miles over) it is a treat to camp next to a lake in the middle of nowhere. Cannot get over the wind/temp/dust. If I have to pay this price to leave Tx, then this will be a heck of a trip!!

When I hit the wide open spaces west of Lubbock it was eerie at first. After the crunch of the metromess, being alone for mile after mile kinda puts you ill at ease, like setting sail into the ocean, but feeling better and better.

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