Marathon, TX to Sanderson, TX
Really good ride today, mostly downhill at 1%, sometimes less, and a tailwind! We have dropped down in altitude from about 4,800 feet in Marfa, to 2,758 feet in Sanderson,so the sun was much more intense this afternoon. There will be no need for jackets when we leave tomorrow morning!
My new tires did well, gripping the road on those fast descents, and traversing well through pockets of road gravel. Road conditions today were excellent, with wide, clean shoulders, and very little traffic. Saw a lone coyote near the road, and finally some livestock on the sprawling Texas ranches. Yes, I mooed at the cattle, and howled at the coyote! Boys will be boys!
On the ride into Sanderson, most of us stopped at the Stripes convenience store for a second lunch, as dinner wasn't for another four or five hours. Then, on to the Budget Hotel, a poorly maintained hotel on the east end of town. Beats sleeping on the ground, though!
My turn to shop and cook today, but I lucked out, as we ate dinner at the local cafe, across the street from the hotel. I did have to shop for tomorrow's breakfast and lunch, for 11 people, back at the Stripes convenience store. It is the only place in town!
At dinner, the waitress was packing (see photo). Open carry in Texas! Then, a customer came in, right off the ranch, also packing. He was surprised none of us were, especially for protection against wildcats, coyotes, and snakes. We told him we were good, and thanked him for the advice. He also allowed a photo. This is the real Americana, right here!
The Target store must be a play on the Prada Marfa store, this one east of Marfa. I thought it was rather amusing. Later, Eileen got me back by taking a photo of me on a short break in a chair outside my hotel room. I could swear I wasn't sleeping, but a picture tells all! (I had taken a similar photo of her, back in Arizona.)
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