OFFICIAL WORLD WANDER STATIONARY

April 9, 1995

Joshua Tree National Park CA to San Angelo TX

......And here's this months report. (approx. 1800 total mileage)

I'm staying at a nice camping area on the shores of Lake Nasworthy near San Angelo, Texas. It's an arranged stay. We met a fellow a couple weeks ago who said his father could arrange a real nice camp for us in San Angelo. He was right. This place has green grass. Covered picnic tables, running water, and nice showers. It's an R and R place for the good boys at Good Fellow Air Force Base. Mr. Nelson, (our host) is retired military and runs a newspaper in Christovel, TX. Later he's going to interview us for a story. We've made the cover of the two newspapers that I know of. Wowee!!

Our group has split in several subgroups based mainly on ability to endure pain in the saddle. Some of the faster stronger riders are growing impatient with the slower. So far I've been middle of the pack, not strong enough to keep up with the testosterone group but ahead of the grand parents.

The route has taken us through Joshua Tree National Park. Twenty Nine Palms to Parker. Up to Lake Havasu City then down through Phoenix, and Tucson, AZ. I got to visit cousins in Phoenix. They run a business out of their home. Have eight phone lines coming in but no personal phone number. The UPS truck comes once a day for pickup and deliveries, and their neighbors come over to use the full size Xerox machine they have in their living room.

From Tucson we have visited Colossal Caves, Cochise strong hold, Chricahua National Park.

Cochise Strong hold was a nice oasis in a sea of dessert, a remote mountain canyon with trees, water, and lots of big round rocks to hide behind. Next up to Chricahua National Park. Home of balancing rocks, where erosion has erected some amazing forms of huge rocks balanced on pointed spires.

Through So. California, AZ, and New Mexico found lots of dry country, cactus and other plants that require little water. We camped often in the dessert, we carry our own water out from the last town we go through in the late afternoon.

Visited Gila Cliff dwellings outside of Silver City New Mexico. Interesting place but a tough place to ride too. Most of the group stayed in Silver City and rested. Five of us rode over the two passes to the caves, a 4000 foot climb in 35 miles.

Sally and Helen found a ride to the dwellings from folks staying at the youth Hostel in Silver City NM. John and Cynthia, Regina, Louise and Jim rented a car to get there. They felt a little meek as they thought it was too cold and windy to eat outside. We caught them eating lunch in their car. Gene, Ric, Spy, Ole, and myself had bicycled the whole day and arrived just before the gate to see the dwellings closed. Camped at a near by camping area and awoke to frozen water bottles. Waited till 8:30 to get out of the tent to let things warm up a bit. We've had half a dozen freezing nights on the trip but night before last I remember sweating in my sleep sheet.

Mom and Dad flew into Silver City to visit. Their rented car was a big hit. Got sent out for groceries. I was treated to real restaurant meals instead of the bike grub I'd been surviving on ......Well, what shall we have for dinner? Burritos?, Spaghetti?, or Rice and Beans?

Mom, Dad and I stopped in a second hand store to pick out a new shirt for me. I'd lost one hanging out on the back rack to dry. Found just what I was looking for, a light colored long sleeve 60/40 button up shirt with collar. It was marked at $2.00 but I negotiated down to $1.50 ....gotta think cheap to make the money last.

We had a "map meeting" at the Silver City Hostel and mapped out a route to Austin Texas where we'll plan two layover days.

By the next morning several different people had formed their own little groups and decided they'd just meet everybody in Austin. There were two eight thousand foot passes that some people would rather avoid so they planned their own flatter route. I've just hung out in the middle ground not being a super fast person, I didn't get invited to the fast group. Not being a super slow person I didn't go for the flatter route.

Went over Emery Pass out of Silver City NM, then down to Las Cruses through White Sands National Monument to the strip mall town of Alamogordo where Ole displayed his technique of getting the most for you money at the Wendy's. All you can eat one pass salad bar for $1.99. The trick apparently is having a clean tray so when the food over flows the plate it doesn't fall on the floor.

Out of Alamogordo up the second 8000 foot pass to Cloud Croft. Hit my new max speed for the trip on the back side, 45 mph.

Out of Silver City the 'A' team powered away. Ric, Spy, Gene, Brad, and Christine. The fast five. We won't see them again till Austin. Michael had been solo touring to visit friends in Taos. He discovered it's still winter in northern NM and hitchhiked back to Silver City in 3 Semi Truck rides.

Michael, Tim, and Kevin made a team so they could stop at a city with a TV to watch some sporting events. Jodi has flown back to Portland, Maine to quit her job. Expect to see her again in Austin. Sally, is not as tough as she talks. She's always the one who wants the most direct flat route. She's logged more miles than any one in rental cars, taxes and hitching to keep up with the group. Liz had some teeth problems, rented a car to get to El Paso, had a root canal and a crown put on and joined back up with the folks taking the flat route avoiding the passes.

That left the 'B' Team, myself, Ole, Regina, Kevin, Cynthia and John, Helen, Jim and Louise.

Half way up the first pass Helen declared she couldn't go a mile further. Louise was feeling ill and dragging behind her normal slow pace and wanted to stop too. Jim who seems to be developing a sweet spot for Helen stopped. John and Cynthia had enough for the day too. Kevin, Ole, Regina, and myself continued over the top and ten miles down the other side. Which developed a 'B' team and 'C' team. Kevin stayed in the 'B' team until he could make a break for El Paso to visit friends and join up with Tim and Michael.

West Texas was full of oil derricks and dying towns, now we're close to the "Hill country" seeing lots of Blue Bonnets. Hoping we'll be out of the hot and dry for a while. Ole keeps saying we'll see plenty of rain ahead. My Gortex look alike jacket is well worn, and not water proof. I found a vinyl Poncho which I think I'll fashion into a raincoat with scissors and duct tape.

I've had three flats so far all from the wires on blown out steel belted radial car and truck tires. I avoid running over debris but I still seem to find the little wires. Some people have had two or three broken spokes already, I've shown people how to replace them and re-trued their wheels. I've developed a Nick Name -- "Bike Boy", "There's nothing he can't fix."

We are traveling heavy (except for the 'A' team guys). I'd guess my bike one of the lighter ones at 90-120 lbs. depending on how much food and water is on board. Ole weighs in at 140-170 lbs. He figures the upper limit a full out tour bike is 200 lbs. His bike is a Trek 950 which he has modified to be a truck. He keeps cutting the side wall of his rear tire at the contact point of the wheel bead. The flex in the tire as it rolls abrades the side wall and soon the tire fails. He got 800 miles on his Continental top tour, then 200 miles on a cheap $10.00 department store tire, then 600 miles on a $7.00 Wal-Mart "Bike Extra" tire after lining the inside of the wheel bead with duct tape. A few days ago I helped him sew the Continental tire at the worn spots, he's running that one again to see "how far it will go." I've finally got him to start inflating the tire hard enough the side wall flex is minimal thus minimizing the abrasion on the wheel bead.

Well that's it for now.

Hanging in there,

John Purdy

P.S. Jim has a friend that's going to "put us on the Internet". Unfortunately, Jim has no idea of what that means. He's got a little tape recorder he's been interviewing everybody with. I'll be curious if any body sees anything posted to rec.bicycles.rides.