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Day 12
Another Day In Paradise...the TX Panhandle

YESTERDAY                  TOMORROW

ROUTE: Dalhart to Pampa TX DISTANCE: 112 Miles WINDS: NW 15-20
WEATHER: Sunny and mild.  Cold at start.  33 degrees at departure, 67 at destination. TERRAIN: Pancake flat for 60 miles then rolling to finish TOTAL CLIMBING: 3800 feet

DAILY REPORT: We've been living in a dream the last couple days.  The winds have been blowing hard and they keep shifting behind us as we change directions...life has been good.  Yesterday we were heading NE and the winds were out of the SW.  Today we changed course to SE and the winds swung around from the NW.  Of course I wasn't riding today to enjoy the brisk push into Pampa, but I'll get to ride tomorrow...oh, what's that?  I just heard the winds were going to keep shifting to the NE tomorrow...ouch.  It doesn't matter.  We'll ride anyway.

Our first challenge this morning was the cold.  It was a freezing 33 degrees when we rolled out to breakfast.  We had scheduled breakfast at 6:15 and load at 7:00 but as we changed time zones yesterday I forgot sunrise wasn't until around 7:00...we could have slept in another half hour or so...but we were awake and raring to go...albeit a bit brisk, the morning chill made everyone yearn for the moderate morning temperatures of the deep south.  It will be a few days before we can count on that.

Nothing much happened today other than a few flats on the road.  Scott K. and Sandra heard me mention this as a "flat day" so both of them thought I meant for them to have their first flat of the ride.  I was talking about the terrain folks!

The terrain in the panhandle is interesting to say the least, but if you like variety, it isn't going to happen.  I'm sure if you looked up the word flat in the dictionary, there'd be a picture of the terrain between Dalhart and Pampa.  We didn't see any elevation gain for almost 50 miles...the highest elevation would have to have been a curb they put up in a rest area...I mean absolutely flat.  At one point I could see the horizon in all directions...no hills at all and if you didn't count the telephone poles, there wasn't much to keep you interested.  I haven't seen anything like it since crossing Lake Michigan when we were on a boat and out of sight of land.   At 68 miles, the road finally started to roll as we got close to Borger (left).  This area is one of the largest natural gas regions in the country and you can see refineries on the hillside just outside of town.  Besides the large rangeland, there are some crops grown in this area too...corn, sorghum, sunflowers, and winter wheat, but mostly we only saw vast rangeland and petroleum rigs.

Pampa is a small town of about 18,000 whose economy was developed by the petroleum and agriculture industries.  Land in this area went for about $10-$15 an acre which made this area a full fledged farming community shortly after the turn of the century...of course land costs much more now.  The next big growth spurt came when the oil industry came to the area in 1925.  There was also an Army Airfield training base here during WWII.  It only existed for 3 years but during that time it had one of the best safety records in the Army Air Corps and trained over 6000 air cadets and 3500 mechanics.  The base also served as an important factor in the growth of Pampa in the mid 1900s.  A few years ago when we laid out this route, I was concerned as the town seemed to be on the decline.  The large shopping mall near the motel was boarded up and the only thing out north of town seemed to be the motel.  But in the past couple years, things seem to be stabilized and the motel is doing OK...it'd better...it's the only one for miles in any direction.

Yep, it was another eaaaasy day in the saddle.  Everyone got in my 3:00 and they were all feeling like a pro after cruising above 20 most of the day.  I'm afraid that will change tomorrow, but tonight we'll bask in our accomplishment.  I think it's time for a steak and an early bedtime.  Tomorrow we can sleep in since now we know it don't get daylight until 7:00!  We also leave Texas and the great, smooth roads and enter Oklahoma where the roads are narrow but low in traffic volume.  Hopefully the winds won't be too much of a factor tomorrow (but it would have to be different than the forecast).  Tune in and see if we decide to get a horse instead of finishing on our bikes...maybe Will will be able to pick out a fast one.  See you then.

PS:  This morning I had to announce to the group that Andrew had abandoned the ride with medical issues.  We wish him the best and will keep him in our thoughts as we continue eastward.  Also, Jack and Karen are both home, in good spirits, and recuperating from their injuries.  Both are on the mend...we miss you all. 

HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:

"This town is small and there's not much to do, but what you hear more than makes up for it."  Waitress at breakfast.

"Boy, it didn't take long for us to get spoiled.  Just two days of tailwinds and now every time we go up a little grade, my legs say, "What's this?"

"One, two, three, four, five, zzzzzzzzzzz."  Falling asleep counting the telephone poles.

"Is it really flat out here?"
"Yeah, if you stand on top of the motel you can see our next motel in Pampa."

 BICYCLE BRAIN BOO BOOS:

Never do anything out here different.   In orientation I told the riders to always put everything in the same place every night at each motel...if you don't, you'll leave stuff all over the country.  Well, today Perry proved my point.  Last night he changed his habits and put stuff in drawers in the room...oops. 

Honorable mention should go to Scott A also today.  Last night he announced that he'd stopped by a post office and mailed his winter stuff home.  This morning we woke up to 33 degrees.  I think it's too soon for a "Return to sender" to be effective.

DAILY PHOTOS OF OUR ACTIVITY

If you ever wonder which way the wind usually blows around here, just look at the trees by the roadside.  They all list to the NE.

Who was responsible for dressing James this morning?  His wardrobe consisted of Green, red, and white jersey; blue and white arm warmers, black and red knee warmers; teal, orange, and white shorts.  At least the important things his helmet, bike, saddle and tires all matched.  Plus the red beverage he carried pulled it all together...I guess.

I think I need that sign!

I wonder if "A Dead Skunk In The Middle Of The Road" would make a good song title?

Eric and Frank take the time to admire a rare Texas Prickless Cactus.  "I'm in awe," said Eric, "You just don't see one of these every day"  It was definitely the highlight of an otherwise uneventful day.

Darryl was counting the telephone poles, but Greg keep making him lose count when he announced the herd of cows to their right.

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