Day 29- Mb2Cb Tour- Final Chapter- Weyburn to Regina, Canada

I'm here folks, at the end of the line. Regina Saskatchewan Canada.  So marks the end of the epic Mb2Cb Bicycle Tour 2012. Over the past 29 days I've touched 3 countries, pedaled through 6 states, and traveled 1800 miles. I've pedaled over countless hills, fighting the wind in my face and flying with the wind at my back. I've biked through the southern heat and the northern rain, fog, and biting cold. I've run with the big trains and with the big rigs. I've slept in nameless motels, along the roadside, under a bridge, in small town parks and in spectacular pristine wilderness areas. I've raced horses along fence lines, run with deer, and flown with Canadian geese. I have crossed paths with Gus McCrea and Woodrow Call , Charles Goodnight & Oliver Loving, Meriwether Lewis & William Clark. I have seen and I have experienced a part of our great country, perhaps as those men did.

A journey like this does not lend itself well to getting to know people. The pace is too hectic and you're never in one place very long. What I did come to know is that there are very many fine folks out there, each with their own story. I will always wonder what became of Tom, a long haul trucker from Florida that I met in Colorado, who pulled his big rig over to offer assistance when he saw me parked on the side of the road.  I had just stopped for lunch, and Tom and I shared some Slimjims, Twinkies, and some laughs.  I'll think about Jeff from the bike shop in Spearfish who, after hearing my story ,and I his, tuned up my bike for free.  I'll wonder about Gordy, in South Dakota. who lead me to the beautiful and isolated campground on the mighty Missouri River and Bev, in Fortuna, North Dakota who gave me leave to camp in the community park when I was too weary to continue on. I will always remember Greg and Patresha who fed me a meal fit for a king, prayed for me, and played me a song.

People have asked why I chose to do this tour. I wish I had some lofty purpose to lay claim to, but the truth is, I did it just for fun. It was always more of a goal than a dream. I suppose I simply wanted to know if I could do it. In a few years when I settle into the rocking chair, I'll look back on the tour and to whom ever asks, I'll say, "It was a hell of a ride".

I'd like to thank my wife Liz, my dad Raul, and my children Eric, Melanie, and Lorie for their unwavering love and support. Thanks to my friend and son-in-law, Skeets, who helped kick off the tour by riding out of Mexico and through 120 miles of West Texas with me. Also, many thanks to the Board of Directors of the Medina Community Library (aka The Best Little Library in Texas) who granted me the time off to do this tour. A better bunch of folks and bosses I've never known. Special thanks to Linda, Judy, Donna, Ressa, and especially Mary Ellen, the volunteers and staff of the library, who covered for me while I was goofing off. Special mention goes out to the students and teachers of Medina ISD who have been with me through every step of the tour. Finally I'd like to thank my sisters,  friends, friends of family and friends of friends who have posted your comments and words of support on this blog. It is difficult to describe just how much of a lift your kind words gave me. The tour would not have been nearly as much fun without you.

That's it folks. All's left to do is pack up the bike and fly home. To quote Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, "Happy Trails To You, Until We Meet Again".

Days 25, 26 and 27-Mb2Cb Tour-Watford to Williston to Fortuna, North Dakota

I'm indeed fortunate this evening to find myself in Fortuna, ND. This is a delightful little town, pretty much in the middle of nowhere, just 10 miles from the Canadian border. Fortuna, is very small, but is populated by folks with very big hearts. I stopped here late in the day knowing there was neither a motel nor campground anywhere close by. Bev, who runs the Border Tavern (Fortuna has 1 church and 1 bar) listened to my tour story and told me that I was welcome to pitch my tent in the community park, across the street from the Tavern. The community park is beautifully landscaped, and looks completely out of place. Obviously these kind souls like their parks, bibles, and liquor. My kind of folks!! Just outside of Fortuna I stopped at Pearson's Cafe and had the best meal I've had since the tour started and met two of the most interesting and lovely people ever. Patresha, the cook, is a native of Jamaica, and cooks up the absolute best Jamaican Jerk Chicken & Rice. Along with Greg, her husband, they cook up wonderful dishes, and they'll even sing and dedicate spirituals hymns and prayers to you. It's meeting folks like the Pearson's that make this tour such a great experience. Patresha and Greg Pearson, fine cooks, fine Christians, and even finer human beings. If you're fortunate enough to find yourself in Fortuna, ND. you must stop by Pearson's Cafe, and tell them Randy sent you.

I cannot leave North Dakota behind without commenting one last time on the oil boom currently underway. I'm from Texas, and I worked for a time in Pasadena, right in the middle of the largest concentration of oil companies on the planet, but I've never seen anything like this. Oil related activities are infused in everything. Everywhere there are gigantic RV and trailer cities, comprised of thousands of units each. These are temporary housing for the hundreds of thousands men and women working the oil industry. This place reminds me of an ant hill, after you've poked it with a stick. But instead of ants, there's thousands of big trucks running every which way. Big trucks hauling, oil, road building materials, drilling equipment, and especially earth moving heavy equipment. There's clearly a great deal of money and jobs here. The restaurants, bars, stores, motels are all doing very well. What is less obvious, is what the state, county, and city governments are doing to mitigate the damage being done to the environment. My travels through the state have shown me the good and the

Days 22, 23, 24, 25 Mb2Cb Tour Spearfish to Buffalo, SD. To Bowman, to Belfield, to Watford City, North Dakota

My apologies for not posting these past 4 days. Much has happened in that time but unfortunately I was either too tired or did not have the internet access necessary to post.

I left Spearfish 4 days ago on a chilling cold, wet, and windy day. I had been monitoring the weather and knew I was in for a rough ride. To compound the issue I was pretty sure that I would have to camp out at the end of the day, since there was only 1 small town, Buffalo, within 80 miles of Spearfish. I could find nothing online that indicated that there was a motel in Buffalo. That day, Day 22, was the toughest day of the tour so far. I pedaled for 12 hours, 6am to 6pm, all the while looking for someplace I could make camp. Pitching a tent on the cold, soggy ground, while a steady cold rain is falling, didn't much appeal to me, but what choice did I have? It was actually preferable to continue pedaling than to stop. As I continued on, I knew that I had to stop soon because the cloud cover would bring on darkness long before sunset. As much as I disliked the idea, I decided that my best bet was to try and make camp under a bridge. Not an appealing thought, but at least it would be out of the rain. By that time I had just passed 80 miles for the day and was ready to just fall over and sleep in the middle of the highway. What happened next is something that I will always look back on fondly. Just past the town of Buffalo, there was a sign that said MOTEL with an arrow. The sign was faded, and had fallen loose on one end causing the arrow to point straight down. I thought great, a motel in hell! I'll take it!! But there was a motel, the Tipperery, and it was open, and it had a green neon YES in the window. I walked into the office/lobby and stood there half frozen, like a big block of ice, dripping all over carpet. I not sure what the clerk thought when she saw me, I must have been a sight, but she gave me a room. I took a hot shower, hit the bed, and didn't stir again until 5am the next morning. Believe it or not, I was ready and looking forward to hitting the road again. If you feel that way after the nightmare of the previous day, chances are you really enjoy bicycle touring.

The weather did improve the next 3 days, though it was still quite windy and cool. I crossed into North Dakota on Day 23. South Dakota and North Dakota are called the Twin States, for reasons that escape me. SD is all hills, steams, waterfalls, quaint little towns, and lots of tourists. ND is relatively flat, with dusty lttle towns, and no tourist. What ND does have is BIG OIL, and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. The signs of big oil are everywhere. Thousands of big trucks on the road hauling composite materials to built roads into the oil patch. Every motel between Belfield and Williston, ND is booked solid, contracted out to Hailburton and other large oil companies.
Frankly it's not very attractive here. I suppose that's the price that we pay for our dependence on fossil fuels. I understand that oil means jobs, and that's the good aspect of big oil. I'm just happy all these oil companies are not in the Texas Hill Country.

I'm wrinting this post laying in my tent camped out in a C.C.C built campground just outside of Watford, ND. I will not be able to post photos because I don't think I have enough connectivity. Also I should sign off soon as my battery is running low and I don't have any way to recharge. My next post could very well come to you from Canada. I'm getting close. Bye for now.

Day 21- Mb2Cb Tour- Rest Day in Spearfish, South Dakota

After 20 straight days on the road it was time to take a break. In this instance the weather, not weariness, played the largest part in my decision to stay in Spearfish the extra day. A cold front came storming through last night bring strong north winds and a cold rain. The rain has intensified during the day and will likely stay wet for the next 24-48 hours. I took advantage of the break by doing laundry, visiting the local library, and taking the bike to the local shop for a quick adjustment of the brakes, derailleurs, headset, and spoke tension. Jeff, the owner of the shop, was a bike mechanic for the U.S. Olympic Bicycling Team back in the day and had some good stories. He was mightily impressed by my Co-Motion Pangea.

Tomorrow morning I'll head out, rain or no rain. I'm very likely entering the toughest leg of the tour. The next 130 miles, the distance between Spearfish and Bowman, North Dakota, are pretty desolate. Normally I would cover that distance in 2 days, however with the wind and rain I think I'm looking at 3 days. My technological crystal balls are telling me that I will be camping out and  probably be off the grid for that entire period. If you don't hear from me for a few days, don't be concerned, I'll probably be out of cell phone and internet range.

This doesn't have anything to do with this tour but I didn't want to leave civilization without mentioning an event so big that billions of folks around the world will stop what they're doing to tune in. Nomadic Asian tribes will be tuning-in inside their yurts. Eskimos will be adjusting the rabbit ears on their igloos. Native Americans in the Black Hills will rush to their tepees, astronauts will align their dish on the space station, and, well I think you catch my drift. This is BIG!! Monday, April 30, 2PM, CST the game of the century (or at least this season)!! The Wankers of Manchester United vs. The Blues of Manchester City!!! Live from the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England. The winner of this game will probably wear the English Premier League crown this year. I'm sure all of you already knew about this game and have already prepared your bangers and mash, black pudding, and meat pies to munch on during the match. If not you can head out to Fado's on 4th Street, Austin, or The Lion and the Rose, Broadway, San Antonio, or Bar Munich, Louisiana St., Houston and enjoy the game with hundreds of like minded fanatics. I know all of you will join me in cheering on the Blues of Man City in their attempt to dethrone the evil and vile Man U.  For lovers of the Beautiful Game I leave you with this tribute to Man City, the best team money can buy!! Enjoy!! Oh, here's a football chant heard around the Etihad that I really like. It's sung to the tune of "If the Moon Hits Your Eye, That's Amore":

When the ball hits your eye
and you sat in row Z
That's Aguero.
When the ball hits the goal
it ain't Rooney or Cole
That's Balotelli .

and so forth.....

Days 19 and 20-Mb2Cb Tour-Hot Springs to Crazy Horse to Hill City to Deadwood to Spearfish, SD.

I'm not nearly gifted or skilled enough to describe, so you can really understand, the excitement I've experienced the past 2 days. That said, I'll try anyways.

I'm in Spearfish, SD. this Thursday evening .The songs of Paddy Moloney and The Clancy Brothers are playing in Flanagan's Pub,  A cold front has blown in plunging the temperature from the 80's to the low 40's. A hard, cold, rain is expected for tonight and all day tomorrow. I've settled in to an old stuffed chair by the fire. Robert, the barman, tells me the keg is full and the jukebox stuffed with quarters. Later on, if I can stay awake, live Irish singers will take the stage. Because of the expected hard rains and because the bike needs maintenance and the body some rest, I will take the first rest day of this tour tomorrow.

I left Hot Springs two days ago in the face of a stiff 20-25 mph wind blowing in my face. About ten miles out of town I entered Wind Cave National Park. As soon as I entered the park there was a sign "Buffalo Are Dangerous. Do Not Approach!!!!" Since I was busy fighting the wind, I didn't think much of it. I struggled up a hill, took a sharp curve, when all of a sudden, not 10 feet in front of me, in the middle of the road, stood the biggest, meanest, nastiest, buffalo in all creation. I slammed on my brakes. Now I don't know much about buffalo, but I do know that when they're snorting and kicking up their heels, they aren't very happy to see you. I'm not ashamed to say that I was scared. I was stopped on the upward side of a steep hill, and there was no way I could turn the bike and out run that beast if he decided to charge. Just when I thought it was lights out for me, a car came around that same sharp curve, and honked his horn at me and/or the buffalo. I wish I had thought to photograph the beast but there was no time, and anyways my hands were shaking too much to snap the shutter. The buffalo must of thought better of tangling with the car, and ran off up the hill to join the herd. It all happened in a flash and served to remind me that passing through wilderness at 10mph on a bicycle is different than zooming through in a two ton vehicle at 70mph. Needless to say, I was much more aware of my surroundings from that point forward.

I thought all day how I could describe the ride through Wind Cave and onward to Crazy Horse, and finally to Spearfish. If you are a serious road racer I think this is the place for you. For me, the casual tourist, this place was heaven and hell. The road, highway 385, from Hot Springs to Spearfish is one of the most beautiful and scenic roads anywhere. This is a land of soaring vistas, shimmering lakes, big trees, log cabins, and hills. Many, many hills. Sitting here, comfortably in my stuffed chair, my legs still cramp up when I think of scaling those hills. The distance from Hot Springs to Spearfish is about 100 miles. About 50 of those miles are uphill and I'm talking real hills, with 10-12 percent grades, at a max altitude of over 5000 feet above sea level. The agony of those hill climbs was exceeded only by the ecstasy of the descents. Coming out of Deadwood this morning, I encountered the most fearsome hill ever, at least 2 miles long with a sustained 10 percent grade. My knuckles were white from gripping the handlebars so tight.  I was certain that my lungs would burst or my heart come shooting out from my chest. When I finally reached the top, I found heaven. For the next 10 miles I rocketed downhill at speeds that would have exceeded 50mph had I not braked down. Hard to describe that sensation, almost like free fall, and it went on and on and on. Just me and the bike. If you can find a better way to spend a Thursday morning, do it.

The climbs and descents, on these Black Hills, are the story of this tour, for me. The sheer physically and intimate interactions with the environment tend to over shadow everything else. I would however be remiss in my responsibilities as blogger if I did not at least mention the other powerful force at work here. The Black Hills are sacred to the Sioux and other indigenous peoples. Those folks believe that the valleys, trees, man, and woman sprang from a font deep in these hills. They believe that the spirits of their ancestors live in these hills and stand watch, waiting for the day that the land will be restored to the rightful creatures. The Crazy Horse monument, being blasted and carved from the mountainside, is a testament to the beliefs of these native people. As mentioned before, I'm a skeptic, but as I rocketed down these hills, with those incredible vistas unfolding before me, I could almost believe.

So as the rain starts to fall and Robert pours another, I sign off. You will forgive me if I fade off into my cups. I've earned it.

Day 18_Mb2CbTour_Chadron, NE to Hot Springs, South Dakota

I had thought to take a day off from posting but just could not let this day pass without telling you all about today. I left Chadron this morning, at first light, looking forward to passing into yet another state. There isn't much guess work involved here. With Google Maps, Ride With GPS, and the Weather Channel App, I pretty much know what I am riding into. However, what all that connectivity and technology can not do is prepare you for the natural splendor you are about to encounter. I rode for hours through steep passes lined with giant boulders and tall pine trees until I found myself smack dab in the middle of one of the prettiest little towns I have ever seen. I could live here and would really like to see this little town in snow. Picture a meandering river running through a historic downtown. Waterfalls, ducks, blooming flowers, and ice cold Blue Moon on tap. The natural hot springs that run through this area have been known, for hundreds of years, to have magical healing properties. Native Americans migrated here to hunt and to bathe in the hot springs. As late as the early 1900's old cowboys came here to bathe in the waters and be healed from injuries sustained on cattle drives. Many healing centers were established and folks from New York and Chicago came to bathe and be healed. I've always been a skeptic, but I did dip my feet in the font, and damn if I don't feel great!!! I've taken more than a few pics hoping that you will get a feel for this beautiful place.  I'm on the road again bright and early in the AM. If the rest of the South Dakota Black Hills are anything like Hot Springs, I'm in for a great ride!!

Days 16 & 17 Mb2CB Tour - Sidney to Alliance to Chadron, NE.

Of the many things I experienced during the first 17 days of this tour, I was most affected by the trains. My route ran parallel to a BNSF train line for many hundreds of miles through Colorado and Nebraska. Living in the Hill Country, it had been awhile since I had experienced big trains up close and personal. I had a great moment when a train conductor acknowledged me one morning by blowing his whistle when he passed me. A simple thing like that can give a guy on a bicycle a big lift.  On my bicycle I not only can see trains up close, but I can feel and hear and even smell them. I've seen trains hauling coal, lumber, grain, livestock, automobiles, oil and people. Out here, where every little town has silos or stockyard, it is common to see trains loading or unloading and you see and meet train people in the dinners and taverns. I think I may have enjoyed being a train man, up front in the engine, or even back in the caboose. I wonder if it's too late.

Leaving Alliance, NE. this morning I did my first touristy thing on this tour. I took a short 5 mile detour and stopped to visit Carhenge. My friend Susan told me about this place and I'm glad I went and saw it. Carhenge is a takeoff on Stonehenge, only instead of stone structures, it's built with old cars. As a piece of folk art, it's definitely interesting and I felt it was saying something to me. I'm not sure what though, maybe that I should change the oil in my truck more often. Also, a few miles from Carhenge, I passed by the most unusual rest stop I've ever seen. There are most definitely some quirky folks around these parts.

By the end of today's ride I had left behind the now familiar scenes that define the High Plains. All of those endless and spectacular green pastures, long straight roads, farmhouses, and tiny rural towns built around giant grain silos have given way to big hills and tall pine trees. The transition from plains to forest was not subtle. The Nebraska National Forest and the Pine Ridge Area burst upon me like a sudden thunderstorm. The images from my handlebar cam cannot do justice to the scenes I witnessed from behind my bicycle today, and this is just the beginning, because Chadron, NE. is just the gateway. Tomorrow morning, at first light, I cross the White River, leave Nebraska, and enter the Badlands & Black Hills of South Dakota. Exciting stuff and I wish you could all be here with me.

Day 15-Mb2Cb Tour- Sterling, CO. to Sidney, Nebraska

Today was a scheduled day off but I biked anyway in order to put a few miles in the bank. I'm thinking I may need them if the weather and/or terrain get tougher. Having banked miles allow me do shorter runs (like today) if winds or terrain get too difficult and still stay on schedule. On this, the 15th day of the tour, I crossed from Colorado into Nebraska and stopped for the night in Sidney. Total tour mileage is 934 which puts me over the half way point. To date the tour has gone remarkably problem free. I've had no injuries, accidents, or equipment issues to deal with. With some luck the remainder of the tour will proceed just as problem free. I want to thank you all for staying with me. Your comments, which I read after biking all day, give me a tremendous lift and help me to carry on.

Day 14- Mb2Cb Tour- Anton, Co. to Sterling, Co.

As bad as yesterday was, today was great. Bright skies, wind still in my face but just 8-12mph which is not so bad, good roads, a bean and cheese burrito in Akron, and an excellent stopping point. I'm sitting in the Crest Motel in beautiful Sterling, Co. If you are ever in Sterling, be sure to to stop at the Crest. Denny, the owner, is a good carpenter and an even better host. He and his partner are remodeling this motel which was built in the 50's, and doing a great job. I feel like I'm staying at the Four Seasons, and the room is only 50 bucks. Is this a great country or what? One other thing about Sterling. There's a Mexican restaurant, Delgado's, that has been located in the basement of an old church for the past 38 years. The thing is, for those 38 years there has been no sign, no advertisement, no way of knowing that Delgado's even exists, unless you are a local or you know someone.  I know Denny, and you know me. So if you're ever in Sterling Co., after checking into the Crest, stop by Delgado's for dinner. The enchiladas are to die for.

I am in great spirits tonight as tomorrow I cross into Nebraska and go over 900 miles. Sadly, the 900 mile mark also means that the tour is half over. What am I going to do with myself when I don't have to wake up at dawn and pedal 60+ miles? Will my life ever be the same? When I used to have a real job, working as a semiconductor process engineer, the first day after returning from a vacation, I would start planning the next vacation. Maybe I should start planning the next tour. I'm curious how many of you would ever consider doing a long distance bicycle tour. Let me know.

Oh, for all of you riding the MS 150 from Houston to Austin this weekend, GOOD LUCK!!!

Day 13 Mb2Cb Tour Seibert, Co. to Somewhere on Hwy 63 Between Anton and Akron, Co.

For those of you who think cross country bicycle touring is all glitz and glamor, you should see me now. I'm hunkered down in my tent somewhere along side Colorado hwy 63. I smell like a goat, have only a half pack of skittles to eat for dinner, and it looks like rain. Today I  pedaled like mad just to make 55 miles. I don't know what I did to upset the wind god, but must have been something serious as he/she/it launched a steady 20-25mph wind at my face all day long. Tomorrow will be a better day.
On the bright side, I do have 1 bar on my Verizon tab so I should be able to publish this post. Also, thanks to the wonders of modern science and the wonderful folks at The Best Little Library in Texas (the MCL), I have just checked out 2 eBooks from our Lone Star Digital Library. That means I'll be able to read and eat skittles at least until the battery or the skittles run dry. If you haven't done so already, I really recommend you look into checking out eBooks from our digital library. Who knows, you could be stuck out on Colorado Hwy 63 one day with nothing to read.

P.S. 1 bar didn't provide enough internet connectivity so I had to publish this post 24 hours later.

Days 11 and 12- Mb2Cb Tour Springfield to Eads to Seibert, Colorado

Days 11 and 12 have come and gone and I am about 150 miles closer to Canada. I'm sitting here, beside my tent, at the Shady Grove Campground in Seibert Colorado writing this post, listening to Texas Rangers baseball and getting ready to witness a spectacular Colorado sunset. I shouldn't have to come all this way on a bicycle to enjoy a sunset. Unfortunately, life gets in the way, and unimportant little things like sunsets are pushed aside. Well at least for today, this sunset is the most important thing happening. Colorado has been good. The countryside is beautiful with endless green pastures, rolling hills, and interesting rock formations. Generally speaking the weather has cooperated, with cool mornings, warm afternoons, and clear skies. The wind, which is the most important factor in how much progress I make and how much energy I have to expend, is completely unpredictable. This morning the wind was blowing 10-15mph in my face, making life difficult. By noon the wind had shifted and was blowing me down the highway. Tomorrow promises to be tough day as the forecast is for NW winds and I'm heading NW. Nothing to do but put your head down and pedal. Have to sign off now, sun's about to set.

Mb2Cb Tour Day 10- Boise City, Ok. to Springfield, Co.

Day 10 of the Mb2Cb Tour was excellent. I left Oklahoma, entered Colorado, enjoyed great weather, a wind at my back, and a great road surface. The highlight of my day was meeting a fellow lone bicycle traveler. Sergio Aguilar passed me on the road shortly after entering Colorado. Sergio was riding a beautifully restored , circa 1950's, Peugeot bicycle, with 28" wheels!!! I think the bicycle must have been hand painted. It had a red frame with yellow and orange wheels. This was more of an art cycle than a true touring bicycle but Sergio had it loaded down and was obviously distance touring. I was zoning when he blew by me. I was so intrigued that I put the hammer down and finally was able to catch up with him and introduce myself. We road together for 5-6 miles and I was able to capture part of our conversation on my handlebar cam. Sergio and his bicycle escaped from Camaguey, Cuba on a fishing boat a few years ago. He and his bicycle came ashore in Nantucket and he's been on the road every since. His mission is to visit all 48 contiguous states on his bicycle. To date he has visited 26 states and he said he averages 125 miles a day!!  He is on his way to Missoula, Montana where he hopes to hook up with the Adventure Cycling Association folks and land a job as a bicycle tour guide, bicycle mechanic, or cook. He says he's good at all three, and I think he's probably telling me the truth. I asked him why he was doing this and he said, " because I couldn't in Cuba but I can here".  Is this a great country or what??!!!

Starlite Motel Springfield,  Colorado

Blogging at the Starlite

Mb2Cb Tour Days 8 & 9- Vega, Tx. to Boise City, Ok.

Day 8 of the tour brought me from Vega to Dalhart, Tx. Everything about this day's ride was good. The roads, temperature, the winds, the terrain were all working in my favor. I reached Dalhart early and was able to check into a motel and Skype call my dad during his 92nd birthday party. It was great seeing and speaking with my dad and family. Bicycle touring is great fun but it can get lonely.

Day 9 took me out of Texas and into Oklahoma. Everything about today's ride was difficult. The roads, temperature, winds, and terrain were all working against me. There was a steady 20-25mph wind in my face, a cold rain, tons of hills, and (as Mark Glover warned) the Oklahoma roads are terrible (potholes and no shoulders). I was pretty whipped when I finally reached Boise City. The good news is that this part of the Oklahoma Panhandle is only about 35 miles wide and I've already biked over 20 of those miles. Things are looking up. The Weather Channel informs me that the winds will shift back to southwesterly tomorrow and that it will be warmer and sunny. I will enter into Colorado tomorrow and have great expectations take road conditions will improve. Also, today I reached the 600 mile mark which means that one third of the tour is completed. Seems like I just started. See the video for pictures of Days 8 & 9.

Mb2Cb Tour Days 6 & 7 - Levelland to Dimmitt to Vega, Texas

Hello Mr. and Mrs. America and all the ships at sea. I'm here at the Boot Hill Bar and Grill in beautiful Vega, Texas where Bob Wills is Still The King. I'm kicking back with a Blue Moon listening to the soulful sounds of San Antonio Rose and Steel Guitar Rag. Danielle, the barrista, a native of Vega, loads the jukebox with quarters and the magic just keeps pouring out. The past two days have taken me through Levelland, Littlefield, Dimmitt, and now Vega. Littlefield is the home of the great and legendary Waylon Jennings and (the equally great and legendary) Medina Community Library's own,  Dr. Don Wilson. It is not possible for me to bike through this part of Texas without thinking of the great singer/song writers who hale from this fertile land including Wills, Waylon, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Ponty Bone, Joe Ely, James McMurty, and of course the original Texas rocker Buddy Holly.  The past two days I've pedaled keeping cadence with Holly's Maybe Baby and Ely's Down on the Drag. For a Texas music fanatic this was pure heaven. I'm interested to know who your favorite Texas singer/song writers and songs are. Comment and let's talk about it.

Day - 5 Lamesa to Levelland, TX

I am writing this post on my tablet since the charger to my netbook mistakenly went back with Skeets to San Antonio. The charger is being shipped back to me and if all goes right, it and I should re-unite in Boise City, OK. this coming Sunday. In the meantime I will continue to post but probably not with pics or video since the tablet has limited capabilities to transfer photos from the handlebar cam or to compose video.
Day 5 ride was great. The weather has been perfect, clear, 75deg, and with a strong wind at my back.  The people I've met have been friendly and every single one of the thousands of motorists that have passed me, considerate.  It's easy to be jaded when we hear about all the bad in this country. However I chose to remain positive. For every mean, cruel, stupid, racist, there's 100 or even 1000 wonderful and caring folks out there. I know, because I meet them on the road and on this blog every day.
I am a native Houstonian and long time Hill Country resident and I'm here to tell you that this part of North West Texas is nothing like those places. This place is not so cosmopolitan as Houston or so beautiful as the Hill Country, but it's BIG. I'm not a drill baby drill kind of guy, but being here in the middle of the West Texas oil patch, it's easy to see why so many are. People are working hard. They are dirty and dusty and busy. This is BIG country, that spawn an American president, and that, for better or worse, still defines what people think of when they think of Texas. I would never live here, but understand why hard working men and women might chose to.
It's 2:29am here at the Levelland Motel in Levelland, Texas. I was awaken by a text from my old friend Al in Houston and haven't been able to get back to sleep. Life is simple on the road. All your cares and responsibilities are left behind. There's time to think about stuff. I'm thinking of my buddy Al and the crazy things we did as kids. I'm thinking of my family, my friends, and all of you. Most of all I'm thinking of the fun I'm gonna have on my bike in just a few hours. Good night.

Day 3 & 4 Ozona to Lamesa w/Century Ride

I left Ozona this AM thinking I would take it easy today and catch up later. However, a couple of miles out of town the terrain flattened out and I picked up a 10mph wind at my back. Looks like I reached the top of the Edwards Plateau. The on board gps tells me the terrain flattened out at 2300 ft. The highway was straight, flat, and fast so I just kept going. 114 miles later I reached Stanton only to find that the inns were all full. Joseph and Mary must have felt something akin to what I felt. Except of course I haven't conceived, immaculate or otherwise. But I digress. It was about 7pm and I was losing light so I made a decision to pedal out of town and find the first stealth campsite available. I found an old abandoned gas station and have made camp behind a 1 foot high brick wall and a big Evergreen feed sign. I am quite comfortable and as soon as it gets really dark I will pitch my tent because my friend from the library, Mark, tells me the snakes are out and that they are hungry.




I survived the night and was up at sunrise just in time to see the sunrise catch the windmills on the wind farm. That's really something to see!!  Also, the land is changing before my eyes.  From rocky hills and river canyons to flat, red, farming fields. The 50 mile ride to Lamesa was easy and peaceful. I even managed to get a motel room and was able to put together this video. Enjoy.

 P.S. I've lost the charger to my netbook which may impact this blog. I'm working on getting a replacement soon.

Mb2Cb Day 1 & 2

Days 1 and 2 took Skeets and me 120 miles from Acuna to Ozona, Texas. The day 1 ride was spectacular with panoramic West Texas vistas spread out over our handlebars. There is absolutely nothing like viewing the vastness and splendor of Texas from a bicycle. We headed west for the first 30 miles out of Del Rio with Lake Amistad to our port and starboard sides. I was surprised that we did not see many RVs or boats on or near the lake, especially since this is Easter weekend. At Comstock we turned north toward Ozona and Canada. Hwy 163 to Ozona is probably one of the most scenic and isolated roads in Texas. There are no gas stations, towns, stores or even very many people for about 100 miles. About 40 miles from Comstock, you'll cross the Devil's River at Baker's Crossing. Years ago some friends and I canoed the Devil's River. You better be ready to paddle hard if you expect to survive that river. The Devil is probably the most isolated and pristine river in Texas. It's famous for its small mouth bass and was the standard for river water purity in Texas. Sadly the old Bakers Crossing put-in and campground is no longer open. For years West Texas ranchers did everything in their power to limit public access to the Devil. I fear the demise of Bakers Crossing is a consequence of those efforts. I had originally planned to camp at Baker's Crossing but had to make other plans. About 65 miles into the day 1 ride, with an elevation rise of over 1200 feet, we were both very tired and looked for the first, best, stealth campground we could find. Safety and security are foremost concerns (not so much comfort) in stealth camping. You want to get in and out without anyone, good or bad, knowing you are there. I thought we picked a pretty good site but we were too close to a creek bed, and because we were tired, didn't keep looking. Around midnight, out of nowhere (or maybe somewhere but we had no way of knowing), a powerful West Texas gully washer blew in. Lots of wind and heavy rain. I didn't feel secure fearing a flash flood. Skeets had already moved to high ground. I had to move my bicycle, tent, etc in the dark with a driving rain and strong wind. I'm telling you, bicycle touring isn't for wussies. We both got soaking wet and almost froze. Morning  finally broke, we packed up our wet gear, and hit the road. Within  few minutes, the misery of the night before was forgotten, and the adventure started all over again. The ride to Ozona was fairly difficult with a significant elevation increase and a couple of very steep and long hills. Skeets broke a spoke on his rear wheel and also experienced a problem with his rear cassette. Even so, he smoked me for the entire track and was able to complete his ride to Ozona. Sadly Skeets goes back to his job and real world tomorrow. It was a great pleasure riding with Skeets. He is a strong cyclist, a real trooper who finds something positive even in a bad situation, and, as I found out in Del Rio, my future son-in-law. That was a complete surprise to me, and I couldn't be happier!! Tomorrow morning I strike out solo toward Big Lake, Tx and points north. Stay tuned!!

Day 0- Mb2Cb Cuidad Acuna, Mexico & Del Rio, Texas

The Mb2Cb 2012 Tour has officially started.  Liz & Lorie dropped Skeets and me off in Del Rio this afternoon. We checked into the Best Western, Del Rio and dropped all of our gear off in the room. We've taken the bikes a whopping 5 miles across the International Bridge and are now in MEXICO.  Day 0 is a scheduled acclimation day and not much riding was planned .Amazing, as soon as you step across the river you're in another world. Acuna is not an attractive town these days. I remember a few years back when the shops were loaded with people. Very few American tourists these days and even the natives seem somewhat reserved. We're told by a tavern owner, Maria, that the violence perpetrated by the drug cartels has everyone on edge.  We stayed in Acuna just a few hours, road around the town, had some refreshments, took some pictures, and headed back to Del Rio. Security crossing back into Texas was very tight. Every car was being searched. Tomorrow morning we're up and running at least 60 miles where we'll camp out somewhere close to Juno, Texas. Photos of our Mexico visit can be viewed at the following video link;

Final Prep_T minus 1 Day_ Mb2Cb 2012 Tour Start

After two years of training and six months of planning the Mb2Cb 2012 Tour begins tomorrow. As you can imagine, taking 5 weeks off from your life to go and goof off, isn't a trivial thing. In order to pull off that type of epic irresponsible behavior, a guy needs enablers. To that end I'd like to thank my wife Liz, who knew better than to try and talk any sense into me and who will have to jump through hoops with her job schedule and at home to make up for my absence. I'm pretty sure most spouses wouldn't be so understanding and I'll do my best to make it up when she leaves on her own adventure later this year. I want to thank my 92 year old dad, who cannot understand why anyone would want to ride a bicycle when there's a perfectly good car sitting on the driveway. He had real trouble with me making this ride, but is finally warming up to the idea. To my son Eric, his Christmas and b-day gift cards went a long way toward outfitting me for this ride. To my daughter Mel, who encouraged me to embrace social media as a way of sharing this adventure with family and friends and who is cheering for me from the Big Apple. To my other daughter Lorie, who's shares my sense of adventure and who lent me her friend Skeets for part of this tour. I want to thank the Board of Directors of the Medina Community Library, who didn't even bat an eye when I asked for the 5 weeks off. Many, many, thanks to the paid staff and volunteers of the Library who will step in and take over my responsibilities. I hate to admit it, but it will likely be weeks before they figure out I'm gone. Finally thanks to all of you who have offered well wishes and encouragement. I very much appreciate all of you.

If you're curious what a librarian takes along on a five week bicycle tour and how much it all weighs you can view a detailed list at this link;

Randy's Mb2Cb Gear List

Tomorrow morning Liz will transport Skeets, me, our bicycles and gear from our home in Bandera to Del Rio, Texas. Skeets and I will cross over into Cuidad Acuna, Mexico on our bikes and then point our wheels north, back across El Rio Grande del Norte, and begin the Mb2Cb 2012 Bicycle Tour. I'm excited!! Here's a few photos of final prep and packing. Next posting... from the road!!

Medina ISD Students and Teachers Cheer On Mb2Cb 2012 Bicycle Tour!!

Kim Richardson's 5th grade and DJ Dabney's 6th grade classes visited the The Best Little Library in Texas (aka The Medina Community Library) today to learn about bicycle touring, bicycle safety, and the Mb2Cb 2012 Bicycle Tour. In order to give the kids a good feel for long distance, endurance, cycling  I brought in my fully loaded touring bicycle and explained the working of the gear shifts, drive train, disc brakes, derailleurs, racks, panniers, lights, reflectors, GPS devices, handlebar cam, etc. A large part of the conversation dealt with safety issues and specifically how to mitigate dangers on the road. I was mightily impressed by the questions and comments and it was especially gratifying to see that many of the kids were as excited about the tour as me! The kids plan to follow and track the tour daily on a large wall map in their classroom and we all agreed to communicate with each other throughout the tour via this blog, e-mail, and telephone. Many of the kids know me from the library or have seen me biking over the past couple of years during my morning and/or afternoon commutes to and from work.  Many of them (and their parents) just call me "that crazy bicycle guy". Though I cannot claim that I bike for altruistic reasons, I have often thought to myself that it would be nice if even one of those kids someday discovers the joys of cycling because they saw me biking when they were growing up. To view a photo montage of my meeting with Medina's Best & Brightest see the video link below. Oh, and one last thing. Many thanks to Judy Moore, ex-teacher "par excellence", an original founder of this library, and a long time library volunteer, who helped organize this visit by MISD and who has supported & encouraged me on my quest to undertake and complete the Mb2Cb 2012 tour.

 

Bryan Schmidt Joins Mb2Cb 2012 Tour!!

My old friend Bryan Schmidt has joined the Mb2Cb 2012 Tour!! Bryan and I go back almost 25 years working and playing together. He currently lives in Minneapolis, MN. with his wife Darlene (also a good friend).  Bryan is employed as a semiconductor process engineer, is an Aggie,  a dedicated bicycle commuter and back in the day was known far and wide for his willingness to "moon" at the drop of a hat. Bryan & his bicycle will hitch a ride from his home in Minnesota to Rapid City, SD. He will ride his bike from Rapid City and meet the tour at Crazy Horse, SD.  From Crazy Horse, we will ride over 600 miles together until we reach our destination, Regina, SK, Canada. You can view Bryan's track at:

Bryan's Full Moon Track

Great to have you along Bryan!!

Skeets Rapier Joins Mb2Cb 2012 Tour

My  friend, Skeets Rapier, has joined the Mb2Cb tour and will ride with me out of Mexico and through 200 miles of West Texas. Skeets owns and operates a  renewable energy company out of San Antonio and is an experienced long distance bicycle tourist. Open the attached link to view Skeets route;

Skeets' West Texas Fun Run

The excitement is building!! The train leaves the station in Cuidad Acuna, Mexico on April 6th.There's still time to join all or part of the tour (Che, Bryan, I'm talking to you!!).

Call for Cyclists!!

The Mb2Cb_2012 Bicycle Tour will leave Cuidad Acuna, Mexico (Del Rio, Tx) on April 7, 2012 and head north, arriving Regina, SAS., Canada on or about May 11th. Tour distance is about 1800 miles. The tour will average 60 miles per day with a scheduled rest day every 7th day. Total cycling days will be about 30. We will stop at motels or camp out, whichever situation presents itself at the end of each day.  There is no SAG wagon support, so cyclists should be prepared to carry all the necessary gear. The detailed route and schedule can be viewed at; 

Mb2Cb_2012 Maps_Waypoints_Schedule

Please contact me if you're interested in joining The Mb2Cb_2012 Bicycle Tour!!