A tough start and a tough finish

Today was full of contrasts. Early in my morning ride the smell of toxic fumes from the nearby oil wells gave me a bit of a headache and I was soon dreaming of fresh air. The shoulder of US-84 was not suitable for bikes which meant that the semis passed me at full speed just inches to my left. And without a full night's sleep, I was already tired.

Then arriving in Post my spirits lifted. A local retired firefighter gave me the rundown of this Texas historical town and a free cup of coffee from the local cafe didn't hurt.

Continuing southeast the shoulder became better and entering Snyder early in the afternoon for lunch was an unexpected treat. The owner of Big Apple Deli prepared me a special lunch and his mother and I chatted for over an hour. She even tried to convince me to stay but I insisted I had to press on. My afternoon ride was delayed a bit which didn't really bother me because of the great conversations we all shared.

Arriving in Nolan County the road became as smooth as glass and the wind farm that began to surround me was much better smelling than the morning's oil.

Unable to make it to Sweetwater, I landed about five miles out in the most depressing town thusfar. If it would have been a ghost town then it might have been quaint. But the main drag looked as if it had been vacated rather recently. "For sale" signs in every window implied their was still hope for a turnaround. I asked the police chief, who was parked nearby, where I could camp and he instructed me the playground was alright but to beware of the skunks. Great.