GoGeezGo : Easy Ride II, Day 26, April 11, 2022

Saturday, June 4, 2022

Easy Ride II, Day 26, April 11, 2022

I knew I had a long, hot day ahead. So I started riding at sunrise this morning, when it was still cool.

When it started warming up a couple of hours later, I pulled over and propped my bike up against a guardrail along the lightly trafficked Hwy 90. I needed to pee.

But when a truck appeared on the horizon, I leaned back against the guardrail and took off my sandals to put on my leg coolers instead.

Only after I stood up and turned around did I notice that a large diamondback rattlesnake had been coiled asleep inches from my feet!

Thank goodness it had been chilly that morning, and that I had not roused the cold-blooded serpent from its slumber.

Also thanks for the truck.

If I had peed on the snake, that might have really pissed it off, so to speak, and this tale could have had a very different ending.

My second lucky break today was finding Jesse’s Wagon Wheel at mile 62 just outside Langtry TX, the former home of Judge Roy Bean.

At least at the time of the printing of the Adventure Cycling Association’s map, there were no stores, restaurants or similar services in Langtry.

But Jesse (real name Jesus) has started a store/restaurant/B&B just outside town and is reaching out to touring cyclists.

I had a tamale, beans, salsa, banana, pack of Pop Tarts and a soda at Jesse’s for $4. Great deal.

Among my other discoveries today was what appeared to be a rendevouz spot for illegal aliens. It was by a culvert that ran underneath Hwy 90. I noticed a lot of discarded water bottles, clothes and sleeping gear in the area.

Definitely worth a visit is the Langtry museum about the Jersey Lilly, the tavern and billiards hall where Judge Bean dispensed frontier justice.

The Pecos River, which I crossed this afternoon, is the first river I’ve seen in Texas that actually had a significant amount of water in it.

DM: 84.4; TM: 1,401.2; 8:18 rdg time; 9.9 mph avg; 2,361 ft climbing