Hector Sanchez writes on April 7, 2004:     First all, you don't know me. I just completed reading your journal yesterday. I truly enjoyed it by the minutes! By reading it and viewing pictures, it relaxed me. It made me feel as if I was also part of your journey! I admit that I took Texas for granted, but ever since I've lived in Phoenix (PHX), AZ since late 2000, I learned to appreciate TX as never before!! I miss Texas so much and I'm working on a possible job transfer or getting back to work for the great State of TX. I'm native Texan. Born, raised and educated in TX. I graduated from one of UT branches-UTEP in '96. I resided in Austin for a while back in '99. I aim to return to my home land when a job transfer is feasible or maybe getting back to work for the State of TX. Like most Texans, I have no shame and a great pride of being one. Above my desk at work, proudly displayed a beautiful Texas flag, a pair of well worn spurs on its side and a beat up "Texas Truck" license plate. I'm an accountant and work for one of the "Big 4" accounting firm. I'm avid outdoorsman and own 20 acres of "virgin" land near Guadalupe National Park. Although I love trucks (mostly big trucks such as 4x4 extended, crew-cab or diesel dually), I also enjoy cycling on my spare time here in PHX. Let me tell you something: You and Bessie have inspired me to consider a long-distance cycling trip in Texas. The longest cycling I ever did was 32 miles round-trip through a main artery of Arlington, TX. Then I was about 185 lbs and 24 years old. Of course, I'm 32 now and scaling around 200 lbs (have heavy skeletal frame and broad shoulders). My only concern is whether I can do a long-distance by carrying too much weight (excluding my bike plus working to defy gravity). I'm a cowboy and obviously I'm not exactly a vegeterian. Nothing against the states, but Arizonans are the worse kind of drivers I've ever seen! They should be banned and forced to cycle everywhere in sprawling PHX!!! New Mexicans are just too slow and too lazy with turn signals. My wife's family is from NM. :) I can't really enjoy cycling in PHX. I keep my eyes keen for fiery eyed drivers hurling in their 3,000 lbs wheeled projectiles. haha After years of being "cycle-less", I bought a nice looking cycle-nothing like yours. It's just a $100 Mongoose 26" rims with dual (front/back) shock absorbers and of course a $20 LED rear light. You maintained to keep me interested in your journal that I went ahead and clicked on your website. Was I impressed! I thought I knew enough about cycle safety, but was I wrong! If it wasn't for your journal, I would've never bothered to check it out! Thanks!! By the way, I was quite entertained by your incident in the mall (arrested for "playing the piano"). If you haven't been to PHX before, this city has cyclists virtually at every intersections and miles of bike paths. Well, I'd better conclude this for now and get back to work. By the way, your friend Bessie was very cute.