Our Longest Day

Easter Sunday and we rode 111 miles from Sanderson TX to Del Rio TX. We had an early morning start - a bit before sunrise so we were a long procession of blinking red lights strung out down the highway. We witnessed a very beautiful sunrise and then everyone found their own comfortable pace to settle in to for a long day in the saddle. The first 40 miles were largely downhill and made for easy cycling. We're definitely starting to experience some changes today. There was humidity in the air for the first time this trip, and by the time the day was out the temps were mid- to high-30s. It made it a bit of an additional challenge for some of our riders. Touch wood so far I'm managing the heat and hydration OK. Also for the first time we didn't have big mountains/hills looming on the horizon in at least one direction. Starting at about 40 miles we got into a series of long ups and downs that would be with us for the rest of the day. In total - 3200 feet climbed and 4800 feet lost. After lunch (at 60 miles) the road got noticeably rougher and I'm really beginning to hate the chip seal that we'll be enduring until we're out of the state of Texas. The land is still very arid and although there is little vegetation of note, there were some flowers by the roadside and a bit more greenery than we've seen for some time. We even saw a river with water in it today! The Pecos River is apparently our official line of departure from West Texas. Just before our arrival in our destination city of Del Rio, we crossed Amistad Lake which is a reservoir formed by a dam on the Rio Grande right on the border and is jointly owned and operated by the US and Mexico. Although there is some water in the reservoir, it is only 6 feet from its historic low level.

We probably had about 10 riders who rode the whole distance today, and a number of riders who completed their first century ride. Way to go! A no-star hotel tonight, but who cares.....