Update #8 - March 17th, 2005
Albany, TX - 2747.9 miles (4396.6 kms.)

The ride has been going okay. The only real problem has been the rough highways. Each county line brings surprises (whether I'll have to a rough shoulder to try and ride along with loose stones or smooth pavement). I've found out that it is so much easier to get off the recumbent and walk up each long grade instead of trying to ride them. It saves my body from all of the bumps and reduces the wear on the tires' treads. Also, it gives me the chance to stretch out my leg muscles since I do not fully extend my legs while I pedal the recumbent. I'm also glad to have the spare front tire that I picked up at the bike shop in Waco.

I've ridden through McGregor, Gatesville, Hamilton, Comanche, Stephenville, Mineral Wells, and Breckenridge like I said that I would. My stops for the nights were in Gatesville, Hamilton, Comanche, Stephenville, Mineral Wells, and Breckenridge. I actually spent two nights in Comanche. Last Sunday (March 13th), one of the ladies in the choir of the Methodist church offered me the use of their guest house for the rest of the day. This was my first real day off the road since Ferriday, LA (February, 13th). I had ridden a month without a break and had covered 1209.7 miles.

I've had good effort in finding places to stay through either individual churches or connections to ministerial alliances through the police or sheriff's departmant. Last night, the police in Breckenridge were able to connect me with a good room at a local motel and a hot meal at one of the local restaurants through the ministeral alliance. I would have just been happy to stretch out my sleeping bag on the floor of a church Sunday school classroom or in a fellowship hall because the night temperature was close to freezing last night.

Today, the sun was out again but there was a stiff crosswind coming out of the south. The way that the flags were flying the wind speed had to be close to fifteen miles per hour. I've chosen to just make it a short ride today from Breckenridge to Albany. The next town of Anson would be thirty-nine miles away tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll be able to connect with a minister here in Albany because the night temperature will be in the 40's.

I'm still looking at not crossing into Oklahoma until April 1st. From Albany, I'll be riding through Stamford, Rotan, Roby, Snyder, Post, Tahoka, Brownfield, Levelland, Littlefield, Springlake, Dimmitt, Hereford, Canyon, Amarillo, Panhandle, Stinnett, Dumas, Stratford, and Texhoma, Texas.

I'll try and post and update as often as I can if my plans change.