Day One Done - Saturday, Oct 27

We had much to do before riding this morning from Brownsville. We had breakfast to do - which we did at McDo's. We had the trailer to unload - which we did at the International Bridge. We had gearing up for the first time - which we did at the bridge. We had the Team Picture to take - which we did, also, at the bridge. But we got it all done without a hitch. Beth got the trailer turned in easily and then did some initial shopping - ice, bananas, gas, etc. We got started pedaling at 8:50a. We had set a couple of goals for start times. I think they were all earlier than that, but we weren't very excited about an exact time. We knew we had a relatively short ride - just 50 miles.

The morning was very urban. Lots of traffic and lots intersections to negotiate. We had an unexpected blessing in finding a great bike trail that took us through the part of town about which Hector was most comcerned. Then we got back to the access road of Hwy 77.

We contended with many, many stop lights until we got past Harlingen. But we found no relief after we got past the lights. When we got into the open country, we begin dealing the wind. It was mostly a function of time of day than location. All afternoon the wind was relentless - directly out of the north. I finished the last two hours without ever getting over 12 mph. Mostly my computer read 9 or 10 mph.

We arrived at the motel in Raymondville at 2:05p. Actually, that's when I arrived. Hector was already here and the others were still 30 minutes out. Darrell Plemons had had a flat and struggled to get going again.

We have found Raymondville to be a friendly town. We ate at Pizza Hut with dessert at Dairy Queen. Everyone is sleeping in rooms at the motel and we are watching the World Series - Boston vs Colorada.

Hector did the devo centered around the thief on the cross.

75 miles tomorrow. We're praying for the wind to turn around - literally.

Ron
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