Only by the grace of God and His leading in my life ... that is what has made yet another "Bike for the Cure" ride possible again in 2013.

Here we are, Charlotte, Sherri and me, in Vega TX after a long 577 mile drive from Grand Junction. Sherri and Charlotte arrived about 5:45 a.m. We had pre-loaded the van last night. Heather, Hope, Sherri and Charlotte had brought their bikes and gear over to our house last night. All I could do was hold my head and say "Oh no" with all that needed to be packed, but my dear husband is so good at visualizing and organizing and he managed to get 5 women's gear and bikes all loaded up so professionally. Sherri's bike is on top of the van, mine is inside, and Charlotte's, Hope's, and Heather's bikes are on the bike-rack which is mounted to the trailer hitch.

After a group prayer, we pulled out of the driveway at 6:15 a.m. Followed U.S. Hwy 50 through Whitewater, Delta, Olathe, Montrose, Salida, Cotopaxi, and through Bighorn Sheep Canyon to Texas Creek. Turned SE onto Hwy 69 through Westcliff, Gardner, and into Walsenberg. During that stretch, there was a light drizzle and low clouds, since we were at about 7800 ft.elevation.. Beautiful country, with junipers and pinyon pine. Lunch in Walsenberg, then headed South on the I-25, the North/South backbone of Colorado. Bought gas in Trinidad ($3.89/gallon) then drove over Raton Pass, reminiscing about riding over Raton Pass South to North in 1999 during the inaugural "Bike for the Cure" ride across America.

The challenge began after we turned at Raton MN onto Hwy. 64/87. There was snow or hail on the road between Raton and Capulin. Saw one car which skidded into the depressed median between the two lanes of traffic. It was kind of scarry. My eyes were really bothering me, getting tired, and Sherri volunteered to take over driving. Normally, I don't like to ride "shotgun" but I thought it would be safer. She did a real good job.

There was rain and dark clouds; it seemed like it was about 7:30 - 8:00 p.m. instead of just 3:30 p.m. It was also very windy, and there was lightning in the distance. The snowy road finally disappeared, which was a relief.

Saw lots of pivots here on the High Plains, farming country. Crossed into Texas at Texline (where Charlotteand I started our "Trek Across Texas" in 2003.) Central time started at the state line, so we lost an hour. Got to Dalhart (so named for being on the county line between Dallam and Hartley counties). Passed the "Happy State Bank." How's that for the name of a bank? Kind of ranks up there with the "First Third " banks we saw back East on other rides. In Channing, we passed the seemingly abandoned "Cowgirl Cafe" (see stories archived on our website: www.bikeforthecure.org) in "Bike for the Cure 2000" and "Trek Across Texas."

Something that is new since we were in Oldham County last is the Spinning Spur Wind Farms North of Vega. There must have been a hundred of these units on both sides of Hwy 385.

Arrived in Vega, which looked to still be thriving. We are staying in the Bonanza Motel couresy of our friends Judge Donnie and Melanie Allred, who have hosted us numerous times on other rides, but they were not in town. Proprietors of the motel are from India.

For you trivia buffs, you might want to know that Oldham County is larger than the state of Rhode Island, measuring 50 by 30 miles. It was once part of the famous XIT Ranch, the 3 million acre ranch granted in 1879 by the state of Texas to the Capital Land Syndicate in exchange for building the capitol in Austin. Oldham County is home to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, where boys and girls now live and are educated in a Christ-centered community. Country Music's Television reality TV show "Popularity Contest" was set in Vega back in 2005. Oldham County is dubbed the "Midpoint of Historic Route 66." Vega is a great town, which is a must-visit if you're tourning Route 66.

With love from the Mother Road,
Marie (Chralotte, and Sherri)