Today was a quintessential West Texas cycling experience, taking us 74 miles from Van Horn to Marfa. We gained a total of 1,467 feet of elevation, with a steady, significant climb that defined the day's effort.
The Climb to High Altitude
We kicked off the morning on US 90, aptly nicknamed the Wild West Highway right out of Van Horn. For much of the day, it was a slow and steady grind. We climbed a total of about 1,200 feet, bringing us to an overall altitude of around 4,900 feet—the highest we've been since Bisbee, Arizona!
While the scenery was vast and incredible, the last 40-plus miles brought some seriously stiff headwinds. This definitely forced us to slow our pace and really dig deep, but there's a certain satisfaction in battling the elements and pushing through to your destination.
Art, Icons, and The Perfect Finish
Despite the effort, the ride was anything but boring. The weather was fantastic—low humidity and comfortably warm, which made the difficult sections more bearable. We had a blast stopping to take photos of all the quirky roadside finds today: strange metal artwork, classic West Texas billboards, and other iconic American sights.
The highlight for a quick break (and a great photo op!) had to be our stop at the famous, remote art installation, Marfa Prada.
We rolled into Marfa, triumphant and did what any seasoned cyclist knows is the perfect reward: we headed straight for the local Dairy Queen for a requisite soft serve cone dipped in chocolate. It was the perfect, sweet end to a tough day in the saddle.
Rest Day Ahead!
This marks the end of an impressive streak: eight days in a row of riding and nearly 600 miles covered! We've earned it—tomorrow is a much-needed rest day. Time to put our feet up, explore the art town of Marfa, and recharge the legs for the next leg of Project 2950!
Now that’s a fantastic finish. Ice Cream!
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