Day 22: 1,063 miles down, 2000 to go

Today we passed the 1,000 mile  point on our journey.  This entire route is supposed to be 3,052 miles (it will probably be slightyly longer due to detours), so that means we're about 1/3 the way through in our 3 weeks +1 day on the road.

Today was a pretty good day.  At one point on highway 192 we had to get off the bike and cross several sand/dirt-covered areas on the road.  (See photo).

 All was okay up until the last 25 miles.  We started out about 7:30 a.m. this morning and made it to Sierra Blanca by noon.  Not much there so we ate at good ole standby, Subway, and forged on to Van Horn, just 32 miles down the road.  Unfortunately we had to travel on the freeway for awhile (next to fresh chip seal, I hate freeways, mainly because of the noise and lack of scenery .  The "highlight" of my day was when we had to navigate through a border patrol station (what a big waste of our money), shoulder to shoulder with numerous thundering big rigs jerking and bouncing around, one which had a large german shepherd dog growling and barking at us out the window.  At this point, "Spot" went crazy into a vice grip.  I've decided maybe "Spot" is a muscle which knots up when I'm under stress.

Anyway, down the road we go and get off on a service road paralleling the freeway -- much better. Put the Ipod on and we were cruising for awhile.  Then at about 15 miles outside of Van Horn, FLAT TIRE (wish it had been FAT TIRE, the beer).  So we stop and fix it with a new tube.  Get going again and then about 2 miles later, FLAT AGAIN!!!!  Egads, it is now about 4:45 p.m. because we have passed into the Central Time zone.  Fix THAT flat, and continue on.  The last 9 miles of the trip today were back on the freeway.  The trucks were actually helpful because we had a headwind, and when the big guys come by, their wind pushes us along.

Finally we roll into Van Horn around 6 pm.  Forget camping out tonight.  There's a cold front coming in and it's getting chilly, tomorrow's high in the area is only predicted to be 52 degrees.  Motel 6 here is very welcoming.  Kevin, the manager, was most helpful.  We were so tired tonight that it was all we could do to go next door to the store and get beer/wine and chips & salsa.  Thought about going to dinner but too exhausted.

I think tomorrow is going to be a REST DAY.