A drizzable day. The weather service predicted 90% chance of weather and that been an underestimate so far. Late last night we made the decision to “lay over” because of rain and low temps. High today was to be near 64 degrees, so wet and cold, not to mention hazards of dodging puddles and tire splashes, put us in rest mode.

We did take time to service the bikes, especially the chains and cables. Ivan even installed his bomb-proof thorn resistant tube on the rear wheel.

A portentous blog title yesterday. Today was indeed also long, over a hundred miles long, but still longer by the “elements”. We no sooner rolled the bikes out the motel door than Ivan announced his rear tire was flat. This element was iron in the form of a steel wire fragment which had to be removed from the tire casing with tweezers. Next was the elements of H 2 and O because it started raining within 10 miles and pretty much lasted all day. Another element was the recently chip and sealed highway, where they use the smallest version of river rock, something akin to that small stone look you get in aquariums. Combine those two water on the highway and rough surface with less than sleek rain gears and you’ll lose about 3 miles an hour.

Fortunately there was a full service bicycle shop in our destination town of Alpine where Ivan was able to replenish tubes and patches.  He’s also now going to try a thorn resistant tube.

We did roll thru the famous town of Marfa however missed it’s old town streets and sights which Jean tells us was well worth viewing.  Just outside of town is the Marfa Mystery Light viewing post where the atmospherics show still unknown sources of light on the horizon. Here’s a photo of the bronze plaque explaining the site.

Details of the day’s ride were just over 100 miles, 5,460 calories, plenty of rain and 8 flats in 6 plus hours riding time.