Hi again, Kelly. I try to respond to everybody who takes the time to write me a note and I wanted to let you know I did reply to your comment as well. I just realized you might not have seen it because I forgot to click the "reply to this comment" button. So I guess you'll have to go back to my journal to read it. Sorry about that.

Thank you, Bob. Ever the optimist, I feel pretty good about my chances for getting the "Ersatz Cowboy" tour started next spring. I feel even better about about my chances of fitting a 7-14 day tour into our visit to Spokane. I don't know where I would ride yet, but I've got a couple of weeks to think about it.

That is a nasty looking crash. Your father is a lucky man to walk away from that.
Really sorry to hear about your multiply-delayed tour. Hopefully you can still make it happen in 2022. It sounds awesome. And I'll keep my fingers crossed for a shorter tour in Washington next month.

Suzanne,

As you noted, I have an excellent sense of fashion. Gray and white, offset by a couple shades of green, goes perfectly with a smoke-filled sky.

Color coordinated!

Hi Kelly,
I generally don't care for donuts or any other pastries, (except for U.P. pasties) but I really liked going to Mike's Donuts with my father-in-law just for the coffee, the atmosphere and interacting with his many friends. He got me up every morning at the un-godly hour of 5:30 a.m. and, as an every day regular, he had special privileges to go inside before the shop officially opened. I enjoyed watching Mike and his crew make the donuts in the open-air kitchen.

When we were in Spokane last year, it was because of my father-in-law's death. I didn't get a chance to get down to Mike's. Since then, Mike retired and sold the shop to a young gal who was a long-time employee. She still calls it Mike's Donuts. She was awesome, and I look forward to visiting her shop this year. I also hope to see some of my father-in-law's old friends. I'll report back.

Your Tucson offer is tempting. I'll be in touch.

If you go to Spokane, you can eat donuts! I was of a weaker mindset in 2019 and thoroughly enjoyed Mike's Donuts. Perhaps my strong will concerning pasties means I will have to make a return trip and try them!

Or, if you don't have family obligations for Thanksgiving - you could fly out and join us for six days touring in the Tucson area. We might gather up a couple more, for a small, motel/restaurant tour.

Kelly

Thanks for the comments, Wayne. Regarding Big Bend, I think my only reason for choosing Santa Elena Canyon over the Chisos was that on my two previous visits to the park I spent most of the time backpacking up in the mountains. (I see you climbed Emory Peak. Me too, twice.) It's possible I could change my mind when I get there. It's even possible that I could be short on time when I get there which would mean just skirting the west side of the park. I'll be on a strict 4-week time limit and I just can't crank out the miles like I used to. Plus, I enjoy hiking on my tours too. If that were to happen, I would start planning a more thorough bike tour of the Big Bend area (as you did) sometime in the future.

Looks like a good route to me. The last couple days from Van Horn to El Paso is rather bleak and depressing. But it's necessary to complete the loop. Most of the route is quite scenic and rewarding.
Interesting that you chose to go to Castolon and Santa Elena Canyon instead of to the Chisos mountains. It's all good at Big Bend.
I've never done the route through Ruidoso. It should be great. Bravo for finding back roads from Roswell to Carlsbad to stay off of US 285.

Hi Paul, good to hear from you again. Have fun on your Florida trip. I see you have a journal started, so I'll be sure to check it out.

Glad to hear you're going on another longer tour. I look forward to the journals and your "most naive cowboy" experiences.
Last year, I also had a grand plan to cycle the Empire trail from Manhattan to Albany to Buffalo, and then make my way to Pittsburgh. That was Sep 2020 but yes, COVID hit and I decided it was not prudent to travel at that time, especially with the quarantine restrictions at that time. I ended up doing a 4-day "backyard" tour instead around my local Georgia. Now with both my wife and I vaccinated and travel restrictions being lifted, we have a 7-day tour in FL next week and planning a tour in New England this fall. So things are looking up. :-)

Hi Suzanne,
Yes indeed, I do hope to squeeze in a couple of shorter tours during the summer. Perhaps I'm a little overly-optimistic, but I'm feeling good about all the shots being given out these days. And I'm feeling even better about all the people who have gotten their vaccines and continue to honor mask-wearing protocols. It gives a sense of solidarity. I'll have no problem at all wearing one inside buildings or at public gatherings for as long as it takes.

Glad to hear you got your first shot. It looks like your October tour is within reach now. Looking forward to your journal. And can't you take off for the little four-day wild camping tour in the meantime?

Glad to hear it!

Thanks Bob. So far, so good on the side effects--nothing yet. And yeah, to me October seems like four years away.