Alpine @ 12 degrees to Marathon at a funky hostel

On New Year's Day, Karma and I awoke in our tent at the Pecan Grove RV Park after an unconscionably cold night. Weather.com told us that it was going to be a low of 26 degrees F. Chilly certainly, but not awful. However, the actual lows according to Jim and Pat (my park neighbors) was 12 degrees. Once again, my water bottles froze and so did my oranges. Pat arose in the middle of the night to cover the various organic produce they have in pots around their RV - and successfully salvaged their produce. Karma was once again in my sleeping bag because I arose to the vibration of her shivering beside me.

After feeding Karma her breakfast, we took a stroll west on our route to get into some warming sunshine and to get our blood flowing. We strolled along Rt. 90 West for about a mile then headed back East past the RV park and to a nearby gas station and convenience store. Inside the store I grabbed a large coffee to warm my hands and also apropos coffee cake. When paying for my goods, I caught a glimpse of something at the cash register's scrolling digital sign. Normally, this is where you would see an advertisement of a special touting, "All sized fountain sodas, $0.99" or "Budweiser 12 pack cans, $10.95."

Well, I will tell you this my dear reader. I almost passed out with hysterics when I noted the following "goat killer" on the scrolling sign. I couldn't imagine first, that I read it correctly, but second, if it were "goat killer," what else did it say. I questioned the cashier if I read it correctly. She assured me that I did read it correctly. The explanation was as effectively as follows: The owner of the convenience store lent his pygmy goats to a friend who wanted them to chew down his tall grass in his yard. The borrower used the goats for his intended purpose but failed to return the goats when the "mowing" was completed. After several attempts to get his goats returned the owner of the goats finally had an admission that the borrower ATE THE GOATS! Folks, as Curly from the Three Stooges said in court to the judge, "Truth is stranger than fiction, judgey wudgey!"

We came back to the campsite, where many of the water bottles were defrosting in the sun. My tent poles were also defrosting so we could break down our tent. I made breakfast of leftover shrimp (still frozen of course) and oatmeal. I did not combine them just in case you were wondering. Around this time, I was introduced by Jim to a man named Herb who was quite interested in cycling. At 82 years old, he told me, and Jim confirmed that he cannot find folks to ride with him. Herb likes to average 20 mph or more on his bike rides around Alpine. Now for those who don't know cycling well, that's a pretty good clip at which people will travel on a bicycle. Herb, I found out, was a former Olympic cyclist who attended Stanford University, and was just an incredible gentleman. He wished me well and a safe journey as I departed the RV park as did  Pat and Jim.

Mural on the way out of town. Very cool! Even has Sul Ross State University banner on it.

A sole tiny bunch of flowers caught my eye along Texas Rt. 90 on my way to Marathon.

Yet another gorgeous sky and amazing piece of geologic history.

I slowly rode out of town on my way toward Marathon. Noting on an elevation map that after approximately 15 miles of climbing and flats, the last 17 miles were primarily downhill, I could take my time and arrive in Marathon before dark. I had emailed ahead, through Couchsurfing.org, to a woman named Chloe in Marathon who called me to tell me she was unable to host me because she was ill, but provided me the name of someone with whom I could stay. The place to stay was at hostel in Marathon. I'd heard about the hostel from my friend Jake, whom I met in Silver City, NM. It was all he said and more!!! (But more about that later.)

On the ride / run (for Karma) she just wasn't into the ride all that much after the first 6 miles. I saw a spot on the road ahead about 1/4 mile where there was an obvious descent where I would put her in the trailer. Just as we crested the upgrade, Karma caught wind of something unusual and darted immediately into the brush after a mule deer! Regardless of my pleas, she continued running, nay, bounding after the deer through the tall grass so she could continue to track the deer visually. I dropped my bike and began bounding as well after the  cloven hoofed one and my canine companion. With tail tucked firmly against her rear end, Karma returned to my stern slow and deepest  voice. A few stern taps on her the bridge of her nose, I admonished her for dashing off as she did. We pedaled on into Marathon with no other incidents. I also noticed she lost two shoes in the frolic into the thigh-high brush...I put two of the remaining three spare shoes on her barren paws and traded out the one she dragged on the ground while in the trailer. So now there is one spare shoe with a hole in the top. I need to order extra sets for the remainder of the run and keep her out of the bush!

I found my way to the hostel, unheated except for a small space heater. I was shown my bed in a common area, unpacked my sleeping bag and made my temporary home. I received a call from Chloe, apologizing for not being able to take me in the night, but offered to meet me for breakfast in town on Sunday. I gratefully accepted. We met, had breakfast and had a doggie play date with her two dogs at a park called The Post where there was a natural spring, a rarity in this area. At the park, I saw a small dam that had a placard that interested me. The dam was built as part of the Works Progress Administration from 1935 to 1937, during the Great Depression. The dogs chased balls, jumped in the small pond created by the dam and otherwise had a brilliant hour.

Chloe, I learned, is a sort of Renaissance woman. Artist, former business owner (a restaurant in town), bartender, cook, and budding herbalist (no pun intended). We headed back to town where she dropped off Karma and me...and so I wrote...but for your enjoyment, here are some  photos of the place where I'm staying.

Bathroom, shower (with no hot water - water heater died), and laundry.

Pseudo sweat lodge perhaps

Never know when you can use parts from a 1970's Mercedes to build something

Piano innards may be helpful at some point.

Art

I have no idea what this is all about.

On the way into town. Entrance to a shed - The Red Chicken Shack

One of the Marathon Volunteer Fire Dept trucks. I don't know if it's fully service ready.

Karma met a goat in town.

Just love the name.

Karma with her doggie play date friends.

After the playdate, I found a woman that lives in the "community" here in the community who is a massage therapist!!! Ahhhhhhhh, I got a massage and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I can now roll my shoulders backwards without pain!!! Yeah, Jodi!

Finally, before I head to dinner to see one of my hostel-mates play guitar at the Famous Burro, I need to order more shoes for my girl and a double wide sleeping bag for the two of us. The will be sent to the post office here, general delivery, and hopefully I'll be back on the road soon. Tomorrow will likely be a reading and library day with high speed internet access!!!!

Until then, all my best.

I miss you all. To my children, I miss you, love you and forever will.