Day 25- Seminole Canyon State Park

 Texas took her meds today. It was a beautiful cloudless day for an 81 mile ride. Even the chip seal and a flat on my front tire couldn’t dim my enthusiasm.

We left the church “early, “on the road by 7:45 AM. Both my back lights failed so I stayed in the shoulder for the first hour and a half. The sun on the mountains made for a great start to the day.

I am loathe to miss a historical marker and today Texas delivered in a big way. Right outside of Sanderson, a marker told the story of a train robber who was a former accomplice of Butch Cassidy. This man decided to rob a train with a buddy. They uncoupled the baggage cars and were in the process of looting the luggage when the Wells Fargo manager bludgeoned one with an ice pick and shot the other with the first one’s rifle. What a plot twist!

After that excitement it was just lovely riding, chip seal notwithstanding. We stopped at an unexpected grocery for a snack and not long after I noticed my front tire was wobbly. A quick check turned up a tiny sliver of metal sticking out which had definitely punctured the tube. I was pleased to have it changed within 15 minutes, but it didn’t see quite right. Ankur rolled up and we determined the tube and the other three I have are too small for my wheel. Luckily Jack stopped and had a better sized one. I’m not happy with Gorham bike and ski in Brunswick who sold me the tubes. Lesson learned.

We pressed onward and it was a landscape of washes and rocks. We split off at mile 60 to take a loop that brought us to the Judge Roy Bean Museum, a truly fascinating place! Judge Roy Bean was the law west of the Pecos and held court in his saloon. He routinely tied drunks up outside until they were sober enough to stand trial. His word was law.

From the museum in Langtry it was a ride with the butterflies. We are close to the Mexican border and the monarchs are almost home. They flutter around us with regularity, and improve our day.

We rode across the bridge not a mile outside of Langtry that must have raging water at some times of the year. The way the water has sculpted the rock is amazing. 

It was hard to break away and continue to ride. I also saw some gorgeous but the historical markers near them only reference the railroad bridges on the other side of the road I am very curious about them.

5 miles outside the state park is a bridge over the Pecos river. Another stunning geological example of the power of water.

We had dinner at J & P’s bar and grill, where the portions were hefty and the burgers delicious. I am a fan of jalapeño mayonnaise. It was a night full of shenanigans and much laughter again.I may have misbehaved.

An added note I forgot to make. We rode route 90 most of the way, and there was a dirt access road that parallel to us. We saw a border patrol truck dragging it with tires and wondered if it was done so they could see foot prints or tire tracks. I’m not sure how you discriminate that from ranchers who probably use that road as well. Another thing to find out.

Things I learned today:

• I need to ask more questions before I make decisions.