Green Doors and other Portals

Warning: Subject may not be suitable to all readers. Blink, blink.

One of the greatest aids riders do for themselves is drink. It is said, "Water is life." 
Well, so is V-8 juice, Gatorade, chocolate milk, coffee, juice, and any other liquid you can consume to help with hydration and elecrolyte stabilization. This was especially key in the deserts, but it is a habit we've adopted and maintained. (All it takes is one bout of dehydration, and much like a hangover, you swear you'll never do that again.)

This has been all well and good for our bodies, but not for our bladders...that's a different matter. Very rarely in my life have I ever wished to be of the other gender, until now. Our cue sheets have notations of locations and mileage to the next restroom (I love toilets), but that doesn't quite work when you've hit another road heave that sets your eyes to water.

What is a girl to do? Find a green door. A green door is any bush, shrub, or tree you can discretely go behind, and "deal". Now, one would not think of this as dangerous sport, but please undertand - it can be. As a woman, when looking for your ideal spot, you must watch out for snakes, tarantulas, scorpions, bees, animals, and cacti.

Those spots aren't as full coverage as you might like, so...you must then - look both ways, and hurry. Sometimes, while getting back in the saddle, you realize that, in your haste, you have collected a variety of dried grass and weeds in your shorts. If you're lucky - a moth is prisoner as well. (Sadly, I speak from experience.)

But even with due diligence, success is not always an option. This week, while at a SAG stop, without restrooms, one of the volunteers kindly postioned the SAG vehicle to act as a private spot for the ladies. So, van at an angle, door open, I look both ways, and see that the close is indeed clear. There you have it - peace and quiet.
Except.
No one noticed that the railroad line was directly above us - 20 feet.
No one realized that work was being done on the rails...by men in a pick up truck.
With a clear view...of a midday moon. Sigh.

Clearly, I can't show you pics of that...so here are some desert flowers. (Stop chuckling.)

Watch out for these too...