Border Patrol

September 22/09 - Del Rio, Texas
Lonesome Dove Campground
Mileage: 100 km
Total mileage: 3,551 km

The same storm that we got last night provided us with an awesome tailwind today. Temperature also dropped to 68 degrees. Perfect cycling. Almost a little chilly.

Rolled through the desert and crossed some very picturesque canyons. Crossed the Pecos River just above where it meets the Rio Grande. The Pecos River canyon is something to behold. Huge rock walls on both sides, 100 feet plus. The river itself is enormous.

Talked with a Border Patrol officer, Rubin. Rubin told me that the work here has changed somewhat over the years. Rubin said that it used to be mostly aliens, but now it was mostly drugs. He stated that a few of the "good old boys" still come over to try and find work, but most of the illegals now come over carrying drugs.

I got the impression that he and probably the other Border Patrol officers have some empathy for the aliens coming over to work. They come over, Border Patrol catches them, all part of the game, ho hard feelings. The drug smugglers, or mules as they are called, are the big problem.

Rubin said that in this area it was difficult to come across because the banks of the Rio Grande are much like the banks of the Pecos. He said that there was only a few canyons, washes, etc. joining the Rio Grande where it was possible. He stated that these areas are monitored with seismic sensors tuned to detect footsteps. When there is a hit they swoop into the area. Still, aliens/mules do manage to penetrate these barriers sometimes.

All along Hwy 90 where we travelled, there was a dirt road adjacent t the ditch. This dirt road runs for miles and miles and miles. I noticed the Border Patrol grooming the road by dragging tractor tires along it with their trucks. Rubin told me that they groom this road and check it three times a day for foot prints. If there is a foot print on it, the hunt starts. Rubin said that the illegals will try to make it north to I-10, which gives the Border Patrol officers up to five days to track them through the desert. He said that he used to be in K-9. It made my mouth water to think of tracking through the pristine, uncontaminated desert.

They have no shortage of work and there doesn't appear to be any shortage of them. Border Patrol is everywhere. We pass them constantly while they sit on approaches and watch traffic and they pass us constantly at high speeds heading to the next call.

Today we went through a road block. Border Patrol was stopping each and every vehicle and the K-9 officer was checking the vehicles which his dog.

Ruben told me that they have horse patrols, that officers are out in the desert on quads and that they have an air unit with flur night vision. Very multifaceted.

Anyway, we ended our day peddling along Amistad Lake and to the Lonesome Dove Campground just on the outskirts of Del Rio. The nice lady camp host gave us way to many cookies.

My Polish Princess was a hot shot today with the tailwind and her little tiny high gear. The vulchers never looked at her twice.