I went down to the truck stop for breakfast at 7:30am, the only place open in town  . . . still dark! On the way back I passed this house in Sanderson . . . work of art?

We all left town early, as you can see before the sun was actually all the way up, to beat the heat. Going to be 85 degrees today!

Ouch . . . this one hurt somebody!!!

Where the original saying came from . . . ?

Got to look over your shoulder once in a while instead of just into the rising sun. The sun is harsh in this area. This is where we came from . . .

Down the road I came to this air field . . . in the middle of nowhere!

Ends up it was a military base, built in 1919, to provide air support to protect the border. Today it belongs to Terrell County!

Soon three of us were in Dryden where we tied up with Mark and Julie. They had left before sunrise as had the Michigander’s. After a short refreshing break we were all back out on the road.

Here was someone’s dream coming to fruition . . . in the middle of Nowhere, USA . . .

Snaren, Every room will have a ‘million dollar view’!!!

The Dagger Yuccas are just starting to flower. . . nice!

It must get hot out here. This telecommunications building needs 6 cooling plants to keep it at operating temps!

One of thee first critters that hasn’t run when I stopped to take a photo. Cows, little doggies, vultures, ducks all leave as soon as I get the camera out. I wish I had had an apple for this beauty.

Friendly people in Cedar Creek!

This memorial seemed pretty elaborate. The latest thing in memorials seems to be solar powered lights.

Soon we met a bunch of folks traveling west, after staying in Langtry, which will be our home for the night. Here was Adam from Pennsylvania . . .

followed by Pete and Karen from New Hampshire. They went from NH down to Key West and up to Austin last year. They just picked up the Southern Tier in Austin, for 2015, and are heading  to San Diego and then up to Alaska. They are both retired foreign service workers. The bike, their gear and they all weigh in at 430 pounds rolling down the road!!!

. . . and soon I met Ricky and Amy, from Australia, who had also started in Key West. Nice young couple having the time of their life!

The Osman Canyon was VERY nice to bike through and very scenic .

. . . but as most places along the roads out here, don’t look down. Lots of JUNK!

. . . I guess everyone is not following this advice. Too bad.

The Border Patrol are busy patrolling these dirt roads along the highway. Looking for footprints from last night.

This memorial even had a special compartment for the individual’s belongings. The glass was broke but nothing looked like it was stolen (of course how would I know?)

Great geology along the way. Wish I had a ‘Roadside Geology’ book for TX!

There has to be water in these creeks, rivers, streams some time! A Border patrol agent I talked to in Langtry said he has seen water rushing under this bridge . . . but it never lasts for more than a few days.

Speaking of dry . . . I was down almost two water bottles and need H20. Thought I was hallucinating from the heat when I looked ahead and saw this truck  . . .  a desert mirage? . . . The dark-haired Bo Derek look alike from Bolero, with not only ‘The Hat’, but a new outfit too!!!!

We knew we were getting close to hour home for the night, Langtry, when we saw a billboard for it’s most famous citizen, Judge Roy Bean.

Our home for the the the Langtry Motel . . .

. . . six rooms.

Hey . . . wait a minute. I know that truck! It’s Selena’s, ‘The Hardest Working Woman in Sanderson’!

. . . ends up she is also the ‘Hardest Working Woman in Langtry’, too . . .  here cleaning our Room, Number 3!

Word had got out about the ‘Desert Mirage’ and people were coming from far and wide to meet her!

We toured the Judge Bean Exhibit in Langrty . . .

. . . here was the bar he ‘conducted’ business at . . .

both court proceedings and liquor business. Evidently he was known to interrupt one business to, tend to another, at the same time!!

Not sure what this mini guillotine was used to ‘cut off’!!!!

Here is the Opera House he constructed trying to lure his fantasy woman, the English Singer, Lillie to move to Langtry. She never appeared, before he died.

Nice cactus garden too . . .

. . . with some of the plants just blooming.

The Weather Channel on in the movie room at the Roy Bean Museum. Sorry to hear MSN got 6 inches of snow last night. Going to be in the high 80’s tomorrow  . . . as we head for Del Rio, TX!!!

It was a quiet might in Langrty even though the train track was close by AND Hwy 90 is the main drag for semi traffic on the way to El Paso. I think everyone was tired enough we slept through it all.

Here is the oasis of Langtry. 60 miles west to Sanderson, and 60 east to Del Rio.

As the sun set in the west last night we sat out on these stone benches for several hours watching the world of train, cars and semis roll by. Very relaxing, almost mesmerizing.

We had the AC running during the early evening hour but things cooled off enough I think someone started the  . . .

. . . furnace. Not sure the last time it was serviced!

Juanita was busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast burritos, so I helped out making coffee. Love the little vice grips for a faucet handle. I could use one of those for the trip!

Breakfast burritos all around for all-day energy!!

Look who got a new toy last night in Del Rio!!!! Less than $1,000. Selena was one happy girl. We’ll miss seeing her, she has almost become family!!!

Her landscaping touches helping bring some color to Langtry!

Soon we were down the road for a cloudy, misty 64 mile ride to Del Rio. The Border Patrol were already busy driving their ‘sweeps’ looking for footprints. Langtry is probably our closest point on this trip to the boarder . . .

. . . just over the sweep, was the highway fence, followed by the bluffs of the Rio Grande followed by Mexico!

This was a great scene that could have only been  made better by a steam locomotive going across the bridge!

We reached the Pecos River where one lane was closed because the crews were painting the bridge . . .

. . . no stopping on the bridge but WHAT A VIEW from the other side!! This is the most water we have seen in one place since the Pacific in San Diego!!!

Did I mention everything in TX is BIG!! Including the winds that blew this gas station overhead down. Hope no one was filling up at the time!!

We reached our half way point of Pecos, where Julie and Mark had stopped in for a burger. Mark had eaten a can of stew last night at their Warm Showers accommodations and was REALLY hungry!!

This may explain some the many roadside memorials we have seen!

Before we left, it was time for a tried and true cyclist recovery ‘pick me up’. Chocolate milk all around . . .

. . . but watch where you sit to enjoy it!!!

Seems like every little burg we have crossed through the last couple of days has a Border Patrol outpost and Pecos was no exception.

. . . as we were leaving a swarm of BP agents on ATV’s came swarming into town like a batch of bees!

On the way out was this mother and young one talking so loudly back and forth, you could hear theem from the roadway.

Soon . . . more water as we neared Del Rio . . . .

the Amstead Recreational  Area. LOTS of water and boating.

Really nice to see something  other than cactus and sage.

The clouds had cleared by noon and it was now HOT. High 80’s with a headwind. There is a difference between men and women cyclists. After a hot, windy day men want to hit the showers, change clothes and maybe have a cold one or too . . . maybe even a nap. But women . . . how about getting your nails done and haircut BEFORE you get to the motel. No time like the present when the mood hits! Gina called to say her and Margie were at Pro Nails getting their nails done. I thought she was kidding when I drove by because I didn’t see their bikes outside. Of course not . . . because they were inside with the girls!!!!

Samples . . .I guess??

Here’s Margie getting her fingernails done . . .

. . . and Gina getting her toenails done. Gina was in such a hurry she could even take her helmet off!!!!

We are staying at a GREAT family owned motel called named Whispering Palms. They have a GREAT art collection too.

Here the owner Bob , and his son  Sam , pose with our newly manicured and coifed ‘biking babes’.  What fun! Del Rio is about 30,000 in population, so we have some exploring to do!!!

The owner Bob , is a biker too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

. . but before we out on the town we met Retha, who is a patient coordinator for an Alternative Cancer Cure clinic in Mexico. She stays at the Whispering Palms three days a week. Most of her patients do to.

We woke to our second morning of cloudy skies  . . . really cloudy, but no rain predicted the way we were going. Yesterday, the same thing happened and by noon it was crystal clear blue sky. We’ll see what today brings. We said good by to Bob & Sam at the Whispering Palms and to the other 30,000 Del Rioan’s as we headed out of town. Here was an interesting shop just down the block from our motel.

Right out of town was Laughlin Air Force base. Built in 1942 it became a training ground for the B-26, ‘Marauder’ bomber crews. Today . . . top secret!!!

The front entrance didn’t look to inviting to guest . . .

. . . and of course there is a LOT more to it than you can see from the road (red X is where i took the photo).

We are starting to see more splashes of colors along the road as we head east . . . spring is springing!

Rural subdivision . . . TX style!

Saw this memorial on the side of the road for soldiers committing suicide during, or after their tours. Not sure what the gorilla is all about?

Trying to figure out what this is . . . looks like a rolling shooting platform. Let’s safari!!!!

For Gina . . . .

The BP are still busy checking for illegal activity from last night . . .

. . . finally saw the device they use to ‘drag’ the trail to set it up for footprint detection.

More color along the way . . .

Soon we had 32 miles under our belts and we were at Brackettville for an early lunch. The only town along our route today . . .

. . . so much to B’ville they needed an annex!!!!

We FINALLY turned off Hwy 90 that we have been following for four days. There was an almost instant change to the topography and the flora and fauna . . . beautiful riding, well it would have been if the road surface wasn’t made out of ‘boulders’!!!!

It felt like riding on rumble strips for the next 32 miles . . . everybody was sore by the time we left Kinney County . . .

Here were some turkey vulture’s . . . maybe waiting for a bike with a tummy full of broasted chicken. They didn’t fly away!!!! We no more left Brackettville and the sky started breaking up, right on cue. Within 1 hour the sky was clear and the temps were climbing!!!

Spring is coming . . . waiting for the birds to return!!!

More local color . . .

Every ranch we went by seems to have an 8 foot fence around it and are members of the Texas Wildlife Association.

Here was an interesting river crossing . . . no culverts, I guess the river, when it does flow, goes right over the road!!!

We FINALLY see our first dead armadillo!!!

This is too funny! Are they serious? With the advent of social media, I think some cattle rustler’s would get a kick out of being posted online!!!!

Lambing time . . . every mom had two. VERY cute!!!! And they were curious and didn’t run away!!!

We FINALLY hit the Kinney County line and there was a definite change in the road texture. You can see the change in the pavement. 50% better for the next 20 miles . . . not that important when you are in a car . . . but on a bike at 15 mph. VERY important!

The Kinney County on the left, Uvalde County on the right!

Charlie, this one is for you. We see this kind of stuff all along the ride. I always wonder what happened that someone parked a rig like this years ago and never came back. Did they die? go out of business? what happened . . . .

More color . . . nice to bike by . . .

Linda was along the way with water and painting with water colors. Watch out which container you take water from!!! A retired art teacher she is VERY talented!!!!

Here she is painting a water color postcard she already has addressed to her man, Tim.

We were soon on State Hwy 55 where they were getting ready to DESTROY the road . . .

. . . we were all glad we weren’t coming through here a month from now when they will be spreading all this rock!!!

Nice scene as we rolled into Camp Wood, (funny name for a town?!)

A great little country church . . .

Yippee . . . more water right outside of Camp Wood!!!

Was this our place . . . no, we are at the Woodbine Inn!!

Gina went out for a smoke house brisket, Dan went for pizza and Tom, Linda and Margie and I went to the local burger place. When I saw the ‘JuJu (one of my favorite words) Burger’ I had to have one. So did Linda and Margie . . .

Yum! We needed it after today’s ride. Tomorrow, it’s another 80+ mile day with big two climbs, too!

I woke up early and was at the diner by 6:40am. It had rained during the night but as I stepped out of the motel room, I could see stars . . . a good sign. There is a fast moving cold front moving through that will keep the temps below 70 today . . .

. . . but is brining with it a STRONGGG 20-25mph north wind with gusts to 30mph!!! Guess which way we are riding. NORTH!! This could be our toughest day.

I was done with breakfast and on the road by 8:00am, just as the sun came over the mountains. Everyone else left within a half hour.

This is what greeted us right out of town. Two relatively good climbs, 80 miles and the wind . . . it ended up being a big day.

This was one good thing that happened early on . . . large aggregate to medium size aggregate. Much smoother riding conditions!

I looked back on the first climb  . . . big! You can see dome of the guard rail below.

Soon we were in Leakey, where I stopped for some water . . .

. . . and met Keith who was cuttin’ up some good vittles!!!!

Across the street was the The Hog Pen . . . TX barbeque!

. . . already smokin’ at 9:00am!

They are ready for the lunch crowd . . .

Just out of town, heading for the next climb ahead was this sign. A good reminder to the Harley crowd that frequents the Hog Pen and might spend a little too much time at the ‘water tap’!!

Got to find out what this is that grows on telephone lines and all over some trees!!!

The first cut of the next climb . . . long!!!

At the top was a memorial to  Pop’s . . born in 1941. Someone had left a beer!!!!  Nice view.

BIGGGG . . downhill, yippee! The headwind was so strong, and variable in the pass, one had to hold on for dear dear life, both hands!!!

TX voodoo . . .

I think they are wild pigs that farmer’s hang out as ‘trophies’ ???!!!

In the last day, we have really noticed the trees and shrubs starting to ‘pop’. Spring has sprung!!!!

After 55 miles of EXTREME headwinds, and many hours in the saddle, we came to a 90 degree turn, east onto Hwy 39. What had been a less than 10mph/average  ride soon became much quicker. YES!!!!

Afternoon coffee clache  at one of the old watering holes  . . .

. . . I stopped to say hi to these guys. The little one was very apprehensive and backed up. The one with the horns held it’s ground . . . never moved. The rest . . .couldn’t have cared less!!!!

TX rural humor . . .

After 15 miles we came to an impoundment and some very interesting bluffs. LOTS of summer homes along the river/lake as we headed to Hunt, TX.

From Hunt, we had a nice ride along the river to Ingram, our home for tonight. The trees are BIG in TX, too!!!

To bad we are not here this weekend. Would have been fun to go to this rodeo. First rodeo grounds we have seen!

This morning, I went to pull my camera out of my bike bag and when I pulled it out, had a cockroach like this one on the back of my hand. It jumped down on the floor and went under the bed. Tom and Dan track it down and wacked it. Tonight, as I stepped out of the shower and pulled the curtain back this big boy jumped onto the wall. It may have come out of my kit  bag. Probably a few of the critters we brought with us after our stay at Langtry. We saw ‘several’ of their relatives there.

 

It was a big riding day today. Most of it spent with your head down and just grinding into the wind. 80 miles, 5200ft of climbing, headwinds for 55 miles and 8 hours in the saddle. Had peach cobbler WITH ice cream tonight for dessert!!!

What a difference a day can make. The cold front pushed through, it was gong to be a beautiful day with highs in the upper 70’s a WEST tailwind and some beautiful TX Hill Country riding. Here was our morning . . .’How are we going to get everything in the truck’ discussion, prolonged by the fact it was only 39 degrees!!! Nobody really wanted to get started riding.

As we exited Ingram, we saw what is billed as the ‘World’s Largest Wind Vane’!!

Hard to believe this foreign car dealer couldn’t make it in Ingram, population 3,500!!!

Along the way I met Chelsea, from Colorado. She just finished her Peace Corp tour of duty in Senegal and started biking from San Diego, January 1. She will probably end her tour in Austin because she needs to find a summer job. She is a forester too, graduating from an upstate New York college.

Lots of sheep in this area, as we rode across some of the most beautiful ridges in the area. GREAT riding on paved roads that looked like someone’s driveway. No Traffic!!!

… but lots of cattle guards and open grazing.

Lot’s of great little cabins in this area . .

…looked like some might be weekend places . . .

. . . maybe for folks from the Austin area.

Never thought about whether your pumps gallon’s/minute could be a selling point, but in this part of the country it is!!!

I wish I knew the history of this place at a crossroad’s outside Fredericksburg.

Might be easier to scratch yourself with this ‘One Up and One Down’ set of back scratchers!

Things are REALLY starting to bloom the further east we pedal . . . in the trees

. . . and on the ground.

We had to make a 90 degree turn at Sandy, TX. From what I could tell . . . this was the whole town!!!

We have passed hundreds of these flash flood gauges on the side of the road, all the way from CA. This is the FIRST one I have seen with water involved. I think we will be able to get across this one!

As I came around the corner outside of Johnson City, I saw this cat/puppy container lying in the road. Looks like it had fallen off someone’s vehicle. I checked inside, no critter, checked the ditch, no critter . . .

. . . but there may have been one somewhere because these three turkey vultures were sitting out in the field looking hungry. I threw the container in the ditch and pedaled on. Soon a cream colored Escalade drove past me, did a U turn came back, did another U turn and left. They had an aluminum, trailer hitch mounted, mini trailer on the back of their vehicle. I tried to flag them down but they wouldn’t stop. Wonder if they lost Fluffy of the back end!!!???

Tonight we are staying in Johnson City, home of LBJ. It was another 7 hour day in the saddle, 77 miles,  but nobody was complaining. It was a beautiful day of riding!