Day 21, - March 7, 2010 - Coast to Coast

Impressions from the Captain: After the third hard day, we have landed in El Paso Texas and a much needed break. Today was the highest mileage yet, 67 miles (I won't even mention the winds). It's hard to imagine that three days ago we were anticipating the climb over Emory Pass and now we are in El Paso.

We've put in 900 miles to date and the mountains are behind us. We do have a 6,000 ft. climb around Fort Davis, TX but we think we should be able to click off some good fast miles.

We left Mesilla, NM, one of the earliest settled cities in the US. The weather was partly cloudy but warm enough to ride in shorts and short sleeves. The Mesilla Valley is mostly farming cotton and pecans.

The climb over Anthony Gap was tiring but noticeably easier than when we tackled it during our training in January.

Carol and Mom Sadie waiting for us was a welcome sight and it meant we had El Paso behind us and we are ready to start the next leg of our trip.

From the Stoker: We took Hwy 28 out of Mesilla, NM then Hwy 186 over Anthony Gap switching to Hwy 404 as we entered Texas. Hwy 375 took us to the east side of El Paso.

Carol and Mom Sadie picked us up and served us cheese and crackers in the truck as we drove to Sadie's house on the west side of El Paso where we will stay. She served us champagne and took pictures to celebrate our arrival and our accomplishment.

It's been a difficult but exciting and rewarding 900 miles and we are proud and feel blessed to have traveled so far so safely.

From the Support Staff: Besides the opportunity to see the snow , the scenery and cheer my Olympians on for all that they accomplished, I did get to see another unexpected sight: A camel standing in the back of a pick-up truck being transported down the highway. Who knew?