Day 190: Amistad National Recreation Area, TX

Today was largely a big pit stop for us.  We had ordered new trailer tires from Walmart before we got to Austin, TX and we picked them up and had them installed this afternoon in Del Rio, TX.  And since there are limited services between here and El Paso, we also restocked our food supplies as best we could at Walmart and H-E-B.

We had also hoped to have my chain replaced in Del Rio, only to find that the bike mechanic in the lone bicycle shop in town wouldn't be back at work until Tuesday.  So I'm hoping my chain won't wear too much between here and El Paso, which will be a little more than another 200 miles of riding for me.  The chain is already about 85% worn, which is about as far as I would normally ride on it.

My 37 miles today was mainly on flat roads with a brisk tailwind, and about half of those miles were on the Texas white asphalt that we love riding on.  So it was a short, easy day in the saddle.

We saw lots of cyclists heading east today.  About 15 or 20 were part of a group riding across country to raise money for MS.  I also briefly met a couple who were cycling self-supported.  They were riding custom built Rodriguez touring bikes, so I'm thinking that may have something to do with them appearing to be somewhat snobbish toward me.  But I did manage to pry from them the fact that they only saw one other cyclist going west between here and San Diego.

We also saw a smaller group of cyclists heading east a few days ago.  They were raising money for leukemia and were planning on making the crossing in nine days.  They were billing it as BAAM - Bike Across AMerica.

We are camped at San Pedro Campground ($4, primitive, vault toilets, no water) on Amistad Reservoir.  The reservoir is fed by the Rio Grande, and it straddles the border between the U.S. and Mexico.  Seeing the size of the reservoir, it puzzles me how The Donald will build his fence here, or more precisely I'm perplexed at how the Mexican people can afford to build such a fence for us, at least one that The Donald will like.  Maybe The Donald figures they can sell advertising space on the fence?  The rich people with big houses overlooking the lake might not like that, but I bet The Donald will turn out to be the world's best diplomat, like all the other benevolent billionaires on the planet.  I'm sure he'll make it work, and we will all be happy (we had better be, because The Donald doesn't look his best when he is upset or annoyed).