The Oasis

September 24/09 - Eagle Pass, Texas
Wagon Wheel Bar/Restaurant
Mileage: 100 km
Total mileage: 3,651 km

We are camped this evening at the rear of the Wagon Wheel Bar/Restaurant. It looked like a nice place so we asked the owner, Hugo if we could stay. Hugo said yes, and wouldn't take any money which I had offered him. Hugo, went even further and offered us the use of an older mobile home out back, but we politely declined.

Deby and I have been sleeping in our tent for so long now that we are used to the cool breezes and the lullaby of the crickets. We knew the mobile home would make for a restless sleep as have the odd nights that we have spent in hotels.

Just before dark, three Border Patrol Officers swooped by our tent and dived into the shallow valley that we overlook. Two of them were on quads and the third followed in a 4X4. As Bart Simpson would say, "Cooool!" I watched them for a while. The two on quads would periodically get off and look for tracks and then continue on. I don't think they had any call to this location. They just seemed to be making a rapid and hasty patrol in the hopes of surprising illegals or mules.

Leaving Del Rio this morning we talked with 76 year old Roger. Roger was very impressed with our trip and wanted every detail. I was very impressed with Roger. Roger runs 5 km distance 3-4 times a week and competes in 5 km races finishing at the top of his class. Way to go Roger.

Roger is also a pilot and flies a wealthy rancher to and from Mexico regularly. I asked him if Customs and Border Patrol were all over him for those flights to which he replied, "Yup!"

South from Del Rio on Hwy 277 we started to encounter desert trees which we had not seen for a while. Also, since Amistad Lake we were now seeing a beautiful flowering pink bush throughout the desert. The bush was very plentiful and from different vistas you could see it all across the desert.

We dropped into a valley which included the town of Quemado. The valley, which is more like a basin, is an oasis. Beautiful crops and grass pastures. Huge trees, and trees and brush that are overgrown in the lushness.

One has to wonder how a place like this exists here. There is irrigation, but more than that I think you could put a spade in the ground and hit the water table.

The Town of Quemado is quaint. Very Spanish in residents and architecture. It could be 'any town in Mexico'.

Leaving Quemado the country became a little dryer, but not like the country further to the west. Toward Eagle Pass was still much greener.

We rode through about 2 miles of road construction just before Quemado. There was no road left, just mud. Deby's new mudders ate it up. My tires left a little to be desired. The mud was slow going. The mud in Texas is sticky, like riding on a giant fly strip. By the time we were through the construction we looked as though we were riding adobe bikes.

Pulling into Eagle Pass, 3,651 km without incident, my Polish Princess hit a garbage can. (I didn't drive into it, I just miscalculated how far my bags stuck out on the side and caught the garbage can with the bag. The garbage can won, and down the bike and I went). The bike was fine, and oh ya, so was Deby.

We had a good cycling day. Overcast sky's and mild temperatures. Some real pavement for a change, not just chip coat. Real pavement is much faster and more comfortable to ride. In fact it was such an easy day that we both figured a person could get fat doing this.