Day 23 - Monday, March 31

 Well, this has been an interesting day off.

The observatory tour was not what we expected. Instead of having the opportunity to view the celestial heavens through a telescope, we very given an hour-long lecture on the sun, followed by a look at the innards of two domes and large telescopes that are under reconfiguration for future research. 

Following that, a group of us went to visit the small town of Marfa, which has become something of an artist colony. Unfortunately, today being Monday, all the galleries and exhibits were closed. I did get a refreshing iced Mocha, at a laundromat/coffeehouse,which nearly balanced things out. 

Most of all, it was nice to be able to enjoy some time not worrying about the heat ( yesterday hit 91), the wind (25-30 mph), or the distance. 

Tomorrow promises to be an easier day; 55 mostly-downhill miles to Marathon, with a tailwind, broken up by brief stop in Alpine to greet Larry who is rejoining us. And, we'll be into a new month! How time flies when we're having fun, and I'm having a ball, hard riding and all. 

The view from our motel. 

View from the observatory, some 6000+ ft above sea level. 

The innards of a large telescope. 

Believe it or not, there are 91 1-metre hexagonal mirrors above that grid, configured to act as one. 

The court house at Marfa; the only thing that wasn't closed, aside from where I got my mocha