It took a few miles this morning to loosen up my legs after yesterday's century. My route followed route 28 which went through many small Mexican like towns named Mesilla, San Miguel, La Mesa, and Chamberino. Outside a home in Chamberino, I saw someone had put a skeleton on an old bicycle and I found that funny. I stopped to take a photo and the owner came out to say hello. His name is Ray Molina. Ray is a guide in Mexico's Copper Canyon. After talking with Ray for some time, he told me that he was the one who found Micah True (Caballo Blanco) dead in the Gila National Forest, in New Mexico. Micah was made famous after the book Born To Run came out a few years ago. Micah was the one who organized the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon with the Tarahumara people of Mexico. I read Born To Run so I knew a little of what Ray was talking about, and it was quite interesting. After leaving Ray, I was crossing into my 4th and longest State of this trip. Texas is almost a third of the mileage by itself. Texas is huge. I was instantly thrown into the city of El Paso. Cycling through large cities is not my favorite thing to do. Traffic was crazy, and you can't relax as you must always be on guard. I made it through without harm, but I could tell just how close I am to the Mexican border. Signs are in Spanish, the people are speaking Spanish, and I was asked three times for money. I didn't stick around to long, other than eating lunch at the San Jacinto Plaza. After lunch I wanted to put some miles between me and this city. It quickly turn from city to farmland within 10 miles and the traffic slowed with it. Again I had good tailwinds so I made the most of them. I heard a cold front is coming tomorrow, and that will bring headwinds and possible showers. I will deal with that tomorrow. I have notice a strong border patrol presence seeing that the road I am on is only a stones throw from the border. After I settle in to my motel, I walked across the street to a little restaurant and refueled with 3 chicken tacos. They were delicious. The gas station next to the restaurant is the only place in town to resupply. I did the best I could considering. Walking back to the motel I realized that I am the only one in the motel. Not one other customer. Fort Hancock has a population of 1,863. I just don't know where they all are.
Photo: Sunrise over the Organ Mountains - Ray Molina and his biking skeleton - Texas State Line - Downtown El Paso - San Jacinto Plaza - My Route 20 Texas - on the road outside of Tornillo, TX - Grocery store in Acala, TX (glad I didn't need anything) - Sunset from Fort Hancock
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