First real day riding with Karma - Who needs to nap? Didn't we sleep all night?

Waking up in our tent that was positioned behind a church at approximately 7:00 AM, Karma emerged slowly but surely from our humble nylon home. A few times during the night, I heard her rustle in the far side of the tent. I think she was bummed that she was at my feet rather than cuddled next to me as she normally is. I decided that the next tent event will have her next to me to put her at a bit more ease. It's hard for her to share the covers with a mummy style sleeping bag.

As we were getting ready to ride, Karma basked in some early morning sunshine in between intermittent visits to my side. On one of her visits to my hip, a car pulled around the back side of the church. The driver looked confused and startled at the scene of the homesteaders in the parking lot. I discussed that I received permission to be there. He expressed concern that the normally locked gate was not locked. The pastor's wife and others I met last night must have not locked it so I could exit at any time I wanted to leave. He wished me well and went on his way.

When nearly completed the preparation for the ride, another gentleman approached us on foot. I walked to meet him. I explained the permission arrangement for my tent. He advised me he didn't speak English. With a bit of humanistic sign language and the word OK, we came to an understanding that it was cool! He returned to the church. A few minutes later, the same man returned and said, "Cold? Coffee?" I told him I was OK, but he proceeded to walk closer to me and extended his hand to shake mine. I extended my hand to shake his. Upon my hand meeting his, I felt something between our palms that he pushed into my hand as our hands parted. I looked at the $5 bill in my hand and fervently said, "No!" but he insisted I take the money. One thing I have learned from my experience with the Hispanic population I have contacted over the past few years is that if offered something from them, TAKE IT. It is insulting to not accept a gift of any sort, a drink or a meal. (My friend suggested that the gentleman may have thought I was a homeless tramp.)

I loaded Karma in the trailer and we set off after we both had our respective breakfasts.

A few miles down the road in Clint, the traffic subsided tremendously. I decided to give Karma a chance to run, using her natural running talents with a lineage of Whippet in her. The new booties that I purchased for her were accepted on her feet reluctantly. Upon wearing them on all feet, she walked like a baby with a poop in her diaper. That quickly subsided when we started running. But the running was abruptly interrupted as Karma ran in front of my bike in a panic. I immediately stopped, F.G. Superman and the trailer. Like most women I know, she had a problem with a shoe and freaked out! Two shoes came off, we left the bike and walked back and put the shoes on more snugly. No more freaking out thankfully.

But just 3 miles down the road, Karma told me she wanted a break. Not just any break - she wanted a full fledged nap! Well, I figured, when in Rome (or in this case, Clint, TX) I might as well make use of my time by napping in the warm sun as well.

The doggie princess pose, right before the nap!

Complete naparama!

As I mentioned, I figured I would take a siesta with Karma. I plunked myself next to Karma at the base of an earthen irrigation canal wall that was elevated above the roadway. While laying there with my bicycle on it's side beside the road, at least a half dozen people stopped to check on us, thinking perhaps that we were injured. We both would sit up and I would explain that we were simply resting. Most people were very happy to see that we were fine. One individual seem perturbed that he checked on us.

Approximately, 20 minutes elapsed (I can only surmise this is the amount to time that transpired) when I was arisen by the sound of tires on the roadside gravel. The car was occupied by an El Paso County Sheriff. He advised several people had dialed 911 concerned that there may be an injured dog on the side of the road, and some guy too. We both had a very good laugh!

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After a nap. A bit more perky, but needed to be carried to the trailer!

Outside a store near Clint.

Sign in Tornillo TX

While not a good video, here is video of Karma running by the canal. Crummy quality, but I'm not Martin Scorsese. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AogB89Y_3C4

After a bit of a run, Karma indicated she needed a break. In an effort to get away from the bicycle and its lure to run, Karma walked quickly to the edge of the canal and flopped to the ground. Unfortunately, she flopped on the sloped wall of the canal. Gravity did what gravity does best. Karma ended up in the drink! She too the opportunity afforded her and lapped the water. I was hysterical at her misfortune, laughing aloud and of course I had to snap a photo of her in her irrigation glory. As she tried to ascend the walls of the canal, it was obvious the walls were too sheer for her capacities. I ended up in the canal assisting her out of the moat.

Many times on the day, I stopped when Karma seemed fidgety in the trailer and gave her a chance to run. She is remarkable that when she is tired, she just stops running and plops on the ground. When I stop and get off my bike, she immediately rolls on her back and wants her stomach rubbed! It is one of the most adorable things I have ever seen!

At this point, I must thank Cesar Milan (The Dog Whisperer). From his guidance, every time a dog starts chasing the bicycle, I learned to get my chest up and go directly at the dogs. I thwarted multiple pursuits by all sizes of dogs by stopping and using that technique! Sooooo, cool! I had a man-crush on Cesar before, now perhaps even more so! :-)

With the multiple stops along the way, I decided it was wise to call it a day and find some lodging for the night, to give Karma a break from the tent until I got a blanket for her to be comfortable in the tent. We found our way to the Ft. Hancock Motel just off of I-10. 

I anticipated Hotel Smelly, but was pleased there was not a cat stench like a motel in California somewhere. 'Twasn't the Four Seasons but it had a bed with warm blankets for my girl.