Day 36

Borger TX to Dalhart TX

6-25-14

Day 36

Again the team made the locals happy by bringing some much needed rain to the drought stricken area.  Lucky for us the rain storm was overnight and only left some wet roads in the morning. All of us were awaken during the night by thunder and flashes of lightning beaming through the window.

For the first couple miles out of town we were blessed with the smell of crude oil and the site of a large refinery. The landscape was still littered with abandoned oil pumpers, tanks and piping.

But not far from Borger the oil fields ended and we came upon a large water reservoir called Lake Meredith.  You could see it was at least 20’ below what it had been in the past.
The next 45 miles of the day was in the rolling foothills where one hill was quickly replaced by another. At the top of the climbs you would get a nice view of what you had coming next.

It sure looked like we would be riding the blacktop roller-coaster all day long. The scenery although hilly was interesting and kept your mind occupied. Having an occupied mind eases the mental and physical pain of the climbs.

But just as fast as the winding road of endless hills appeared it quickly disappeared. The next half of our day was on long straight flat roads with farming and free range cattle. Along with the nice flat road came a punishing headwind.  Most riders if given a choice of a headwind or a hill will take the hill every time.

The wind is relentless pushing at you and howling loudly in your ears. At least when you crest a hill you get a short break as you go downhill. But on the flats with the wind there is no little break. You are looking at a flat road and cannot go faster than 12mph as the wind holds you back.

Our panniers mounted to the bikes act like parachutes dragging you to a near stop in high winds. No matter how hard you push you’re cheated by the wind. Your delivering the horsepower for 20mph and only receiving 12mph. Now add the wind noise, dust and sandblasting a rider can easily get discouraged.

Of course we have had this punishment plenty of times before and are prepared for it. We just keep on truckin'.

Tomorrow we will enter Mountain Standard Time and the state of New Mexico. One of the last two remaining states that we have not ridden in.

100 Miles 

Weather 88 degrees Clouds/Sun

3590 Feet of Climbing