A couple days in El Paso and on to the homestead - This is gonna be great!

I spent the one full day I had in El Paso wandering a bit, but not a lot. I took a "test run" of the public transit system to get to the airport the next morning. It was rather interesting cultural trip traversing El Paso. After a quick stop at the airport, making sure I knew the proper bus routes to get there because of my very early AM flight on Wednesday, I headed back to my temporary home with the grad students. I found it necessary to  divert my path and made a circuitous route through commercial areas of the city. Compared to many downtown districts I've seen from small towns to large cities, El Paso was rather vibrant with abundant shops, primarily catering to Hispanic customers (not surprisingly).

Dry run to the airport.

I found a number of curiosities along the way, including the $14,995 real mummy found at a pawn shop on El Paso Street,

a concrete contractor with a familiar name,

 an interesting way to spend a lunch time (rest could occur at the "siesta" or perhaps other activities?),

and a sobering reminder of a terrible era in human history.

Bright and early on Thursday, I headed to the airport awaking first at 2:30 AM because my iTouch clock was set to east coast time. But after hearing Stewie from Family Guy yelling at me to wake up, packing my sleeping bag and clothing away, I figured out I screwed up! Tossing and twisting, for the next two hours trying to assure I wouldn't oversleep after resetting my clock, I proceeded to the airport, without incident at 4:30.

Safe passage was had aboard two United flights. While at a layover in Chicago, I attempted to meet with a college friend who constantly travels to ORD. Unfortunately, his flight was much later going back to Newark, NJ. Boogers.

I ultimately arrived home, after taking the light rail from the airport to the nearest station to my home and receiving a ride to my abode from the dear, Hannah. I decided to watch a movie I received from Netflix while I was away. But for the life of me, I could not remember how to get the DVD player to work with my TV. I think my absence from typical home technology really messed with me. I went to bed. As a put my noggin' on my pillow, I forgot how much I was in LOVE with my pillow that my sister Kim bought me! I giggled and talked to it! I swear, I talked to my pillow!

Sleep happened but not before I had a grand idea for Friday AM. Most will consider it ridiculous, however, I have always wanted to do it and have the materials to make it happen.

My next posting should have some interesting photos for you to see my dear reader. Probably on Saturday.

I wish you well and assure you, I will return to riding on 12/16! Until then, I will share my adventures from the east coast. Don't forget to make a contribution to http://www.firstgiving.com/paladinpedaling! It's tax deductible and you know you want to support me on my journey!

Much love to you all.

Tim