Getting hot so even these TX gals got an early start - 4:30.  Sun up was lovely and we rode pavement all day through canyons and open desert very much reminding me of West Texas. 

Out in the middle of no where was a porta potty with a hand sanitizing station.  Girls we are - of course we stopped.  I opened the door and there was a note on the toilet, "Good morning Sheila".  We just fell apart!  Gave us great entertainment all day as we tried to figure out who had put it there.  Turns out the South Africans had gotten out before us this morning and were up to some mischief.  Loved it!

Rolled into Grants on Route 66. Reminded me of Pac Tour Southern Route.

Tomorrow - Pie Town baby!!!

sr

Expecting a short day on pavement on our reroute but got some really pretty dirt road. Caught our friends Luke and Marion a few miles outside of town and rode together most of the day. Have planned out the rest of our overnight stops and decided it made sense to spend the night here and call it a "rest" day.

Epic day on the Tour Divide: 4 am start, 4 mt. passes, 7500 ft. of climbing. Rolled into the Skyline Lodge (only food stop for miles) and were handed another reroute by the staff. Forests are closed due to more fires. Really fun descent on the detour Chama. 

Exciting day today.  A climb of 4000 ft to the top of Greyback Mountain.  Our girls were passed by two groups yesterday and they are working to close the gap.  They left early this morning at 5am, before the groups ahead of them got up and riding so they already have closed the gap by a couple of hours.  They are now (as of 8:30am mtn time) just behind one of the groups which has reached the top of the mountain and on their way down.  The gap will open back up as the girls still need to climb 1500 ft.  The Sheilas don't know they are so close to catching the group ahead of them.  I'm excited to see if they can catch up today.

Got a call from Sheila T. tonight.  They are staying in Del Norte tonight at a crappy hotel.  They will be doing some major travel days tomorrow and the next to get back on time.  They are really trying to finish under 30 days.  Only 9 days left!  They are ready to ride and still have competitive spirit to race forward.

Going to be early tonight. Tomorrow we tackle Boreas Pass, one of the highest we will ride at 11,492 ft.

We are meeting Texans everywhere!

Not a big fan of Wyoming but I did find at least one thing to love there: Medicine Bow National Forest.