Lines across my face...

Hey all, I am finally glad to have a moment here to say hi and catch you up on what is going on. I rode for 64 miles the other day with a re-occuring song in my mind --Brandi Carlisle's , The Story. "All of these lines across my face--tell you the story of who I am....." I am getting many lines across my face....sun lines, salt lines, tear lines, lines that make me feel humble, lines from hours of each day that I am smiling--feeling so full of what I am doing--rich beyond expression.

Our entire group is very happy today--for one, we are being rejoined by one of our dear riders named Dave, who was hospitalized with flu and dehydration for 2 days. We have all been worrying about him, and hoping he could rejoin us soon. Once you throw up on this trip it is nearly impossible to get re-hydrated on your own. This is also one of our days off from riding. We are camped at Fort Davis, a beautiful state park in Texas. It was built during the days of Franklin Roosevelts era of the WPA and CCC and it is a stunning example of that kind of building! I was so excited I could not sleep last night much--so I got up early -showered and by then their was a group ready to hunt down real coffee at the lodge. The lodge is so cool, set in to the mountains, beautifully done, and the waitress that served us coffee has a baby due in May she is naming her Ylsa.

One of our riders named jeff who had re-joined us at the Black Range Lodge continues to suffer from some health issues and has had to leave our group! It was a sad morning leaving that church in Fort Davis --and Frank took a sweet poignant picture of Jeff looking at us all as we rode off that morning. Jeff will be missed by us all, but especially by his 2 riding partners Herb and Tom. We called the three of them "the wedge" --and they were an awesome team! Two days ago I rode BRIEFLY in Jeffs position with them -- thats all I could do --but it was for Jeff! As I said before, there is not alot of room for illness on this adventure since we ride so much each day. I have had a cold , but seem to be fine today and otherwise I feel great. Today we are riding without our paniers (since they are at camp)and what a different feeling that is. I am so used to all the weight --it actually felt like my front tire was loose! Last night a skunk was in our camp and all our food itams had to be in trees since this park has a Javelina problem!

It is sunny today and the sky is so blue --all of us riding in to town today--again- just reminds me of a group of wild kids with a day in a small town to fill with adventure! Some folks are going horseback riding, some of us are going for a milkshake (celebrating our first 1000 miles) some of us going to the local thrift shop to look for a birthday gift for Eileen! I have now gone 4 days without a flat ,so we are hoping the tire liners have sloved my problem!

So, despite the lines that leave my face looking like a elderly American Indian woman -- I am proud beyond belief of where I am -- and each and every line! Riding on-- with love -- Dee