Three States Down

Tucumcari to Dalhart NM 96 miles. Wind SW 20 to 30 mph gusting higher. The navigation today is very simple Rt 54E 95 miles later a few turns and into the motel. As we start to ride it's James, Daryll, Frank, Andrew and I are going to ride as a group today. At the first hill Andrew is in trouble and drops from the group. We arrive at the first SAG and others come in. Andrew comes in signs the check in sheet and leaves. When our little group sets out again we are passing those who have started out before us. As we are getting close to the Texas state line we are comming up behind Will and Sandra they are pushing very hard. We finally catch them and I thought they dropped off behind us. James is at the front and from the back Sandra winds up a monster sprint to the line. James reacts to this but there is no chance for him. When Sandra turns around to go back to the Texas marker but with the headwind her bike is hardly moving. Just as we are ready to take our photos Jim drives up in the mechanic's van and we all give him our cameras and each gets a great group shot. Now we are only 11 miles from lunch. Lunch is difficult because the wind is trying to blow everything away. After lunch Tom and Greg are out first with Sandra and Will close behind then me. T and G are off like a shot not to be seen till Dairy Queen. I ride with S and W for a while. Just before we get to a huge cattle feed lot I ride off and the stench is just awful. At what looks like the end of the lot there is a huge plume of dust blowing across the road. I try to get by without getting sand in my eyes. There is a gathering of riders at DQ. Though in not sure which was the most interesting group there. The motor cyclists from Denver going to Austin, the first graders or the people in the funny looking spandex outfits. Dalhart has one real grocery store which I hiked to. A near by bar b que place seemed to be the cyclist's place to be. Pat and Andrew both went to the ER after their arrival. Pat for gastric distress and came back after getting some IV fluids. Andrew was diagnosed as having had a heart attack. Since Dalhart has no cardiologist he was transferred to Amarillo. Everybody will miss him and his very dry good humor.