According to Katherine: Day 18 Recap (Part Two!)

Today was a wonderful day. Last night, the two fastest riders proposed we all ride as a group at the pace of the slowest cyclist, Alice, who rides a recumbent with small tires, and cycles in Florida.

After a breakfast of oatmeal and coffee, we took off. Ten of us stayed together for the entire 46.6 miles. We were told by our guide not to hurry to Ft. Hancock, because there would be nothing but a dilapidated old motel and blowing dust when we arrived

Leaving El Paso, we passed an Indian village where they have ceremonial dancing on Sundays -- we just missed it!

We stopped at mile 14 in San Elizario at a splendid old mission, dating back to the late 1700s. In the same little village, we spent time and money in a fabulous art gallery.

Inside the beautiful Mission San Elizario.

We pedaled down the road, and began to fight some hefty cross winds. Lots of dirt came with them.

At mile 28, a local gentleman led us to Wenchos, a small Mexican restaurant. We called the day's SAG, and she was able to join our happy band for lunch. The food and service were outstanding! Two of us with modest Spanish vocabularies had fun translating. We only had 19 miles remaining after we ate, but the winds were fierce, and it was hot.

We rode two abreast on the highway, and moved to single file only when a car approached from the rear. We made it into town and stopped to put Alice in the lead. We all chanted "AL-IS, AL-IS!" as we rode triumphantly into the seedy motel parking lot. This was the first day she had been able to complete the entire distance. We were all tired, dirty and hot, but delighted with the group support and camaraderie.

We started as a group, and we finished as a group. Alice called us her posse.

Dinner was Pad Thai and slaw. I didn't eat the dessert of small Greek pastries (from Costco in El Paso). 895.6 miles behind us. 2,204.4 to pedal. And 40 days to go.

Dr. Jeter Day 18 Part 2 on Polyvore.com