So . . . so much to do in Marathon  the story will continue on into today!

We stayed at the Marathon Motel built in 1940 . . . still includes TV!

REALLY a nice adobe structure with lots of amenities.

The girls were resting up for big night on the town!

Our courtyard . . .

The owner was a very gregarious astro enthusiast who also lived next door and had his own telescope. Too cloudy for viewing but he gave a 9:00pm “Guide to the Stars’ presentation.

GREAT colors on the mountains as the sun was setting.

A lot of things are sort of ‘funky’ about this town.

We  tried to eat at the local steakhouse but there was a two hour wait . . .

. . . nice display of critters who gave their lives so other could eat!!!

We went down the street to Burro Billy’s . . .

where someone was SOOOO excited about her new bolo tie they wanted a photo taken!!!!

Here was the local bed and breakfast that was having a free concert in their solarium. So, of course ,we went over to check it out . . .

one entered through the hot house . . .

and here was the entertainment. FUN!!!!!   In bed by about 10:30pm. Late for us!!!!

This morning there was still more to explore . . . the hostel and the Gage Gardens.

Looking for the hostel, we came across this unusual monument . . .

I think the artist may have something against chickens!!!!!

We finally found the hostel. Stephan, the Belgian, had stayed there two nights ago and last night Julie and Mark, the Brits stayed overnight.

Structures all over the place . . .

one of the multi-room units . . .

. . . communal kitchen

bath and shower house, 20 minute limit!!!. . .

Kitchen and main house . . .

beehive  private room with a smaller version, right next door!

Funny . . .

an outdoor seating area made of bottles . . .

. . .  and a room made of meringue!

From the hostel we headed to the Gage Gardens owned by the hotel owner. Word has it he is a billionaire!

Reminded me of Madison!

Even a putting green. The grounds keepers said, “Come back in a month when everything is blooming!”.

As we were about to leave, Jim, Dwayne and Paul rolled in from Alpine where they had had a rest day.

9:00am on Sunday morning and Banjo Billy was set up outside the Meadow Café, picking and grinnin’!

This place, on our ride of of town, looked fun!

Today it was 58 miles to Sanderson, our home for the night. Flat and deserted desert, but with a really nice tailwind. It would be a great day of riding AND fast! Lot of 25mph miles!

Interesting roadside geology. Have not seen these types of vertical ‘ribbon’ rock formations before.

This deer leg on the road shoulder got me wondering where the rest of the deer was.

Here is an example of a de-laminated tire like the one I had a close encounter with the other day. A primary source of wire pieces that  cause flats for cyclists.

Texas has GREAT rest stops and picnic areas in the middle of nowhere. Even refuse cans, which WI abandoned a long time ago.

Bruce’s hot tub . . . bring your own towel.

We met Ralph and Jackie from Canada, who were heading west. They have been on the road for 14 months and  are heading to the west coast and then up to Seattle.

Here were Janet and Steve, from Seattle, heading west too . . .

. . . here they meet  Julie and Mark, for the first time. They have all been corresponding by email through their blogs and finally get to meet. East meets West! Lots of Southern Tier activity today!

Things are BIG in Texas, Big country, Big sky and long driveways. 18 miles of gravel driveway to get to this ranch!

As we rolled into Sanderson I saw this ad for the Budget Inn. Not sure who Marlene is  . . . but I guess sex sells!!!

Yes o’ ree Bob!

Sanderson . . . our home for the night!!!

Carving out this mountain for future town expansion . . . probably not. Sanderson has many For Sale and closed businesses just like many of the little towns we have been through.

Tonight we are staying at the Sanderson Motel which until very recently had been owned by Roy and Ruth, who also own the Outback Motel in Town.

Their daughter, Selena, is still doing some of the maintenance at the Sanderson Motel and here she is’mowing the grass’ in the old swimming pool!

We all had a nice chat with Selena, who moved here from Kansas City a year ago. Known locally as, ‘the hardest working woman in Sanderson’ we felt it only right to compare our muscles with her’s. Ahhhh . . . . . nobody stepped up to arm wrestle her!