The last four days have flown by. It was strange leaving the tower and telling the Sierra Team we'd see them in Alaska. The first day was four miles further than I'd ever ridden, and the second day was ten miles further than that; so needless to say I have some getting used to do. Luckily, we had an amazing welcome waiting for us after Day One in Temple thanks to the Loughlins, complete with swimming pool and gully. And thanks to the Newtons (Cindy, Maxwell, and Celeste) for putting Meg and I up for the night, and letting me play with your puppy. Everyone was so friendly and helpful.

The second night we were pretty much on our own. We rode into Italy, TX and camped out in the community center and, desperate for some means of showering, we went about asking locals about their hoses... until we ran into Brad, a local firefighter, who let us borrow a hose (yes, a normal one) and we had a field day outside the station. Last night we arrived outside of Dallas several hours early and Joyce helped us set up camp, that night we barbequed and lounged around under their oaks until David built us a giant bonfire to roast smores on. The Hennas also, so generously, made me a 22 candle cake (today is my birthday)-it was so awesome that they remebered me.

Today, the 4th, I drove the van (with a few complications) into Forth Worth to stay in one of the apartments Thomas arranged for us to stay in, and we just had a great dinner and more birthday cake_ two birthday cakes! That's three in two days, birthdays are awesome! Thanks to all the families, individuals, and teammates keeping me sane when I think we're lost, I've ruined something, or I can't go any further. Tomorrow we've got a double metric, which, as I understand, means something like 120 miles. So far so so good.