The Punisher

September 25/09 - Encinal, Texas
Loves Truck Stop
Mileage: 156.8 km (98 miles)
Total mileage: 3,807 km

Camped tonight at Loves Truck Stop. Camped on a little tiny patch of grass that the manager permitted us to use. Strange birds chattering away in the hibiscus tress and the noise of 50 + tractor trailer units make for an interesting combination of sounds.

Cycled 156.8 km today. That's 98 miles. When Deby had the choice of camping in the desert or semi-civilization, she really put out (Funny what the fear of snakes and illegals will help you accomplish). Not to many choices in southwest Texas. Rather desolate and unpopulated country.

It was dusk and threatening darkness for the last 20 kms of our day. Deby cycled strong all day, but really punished the road over that last stretch. I think she's been holding back on me. I can honestly say that I could name 100 guys that couldn't have cycled that stretch that fast, especially after cycling 136 km already. After this kick, I renamed her bike. No longer is it V-Dub, now and forever after, it will be known as the 'Punisher.' (Appropriate since it punishes him on my slow days, and also works when fear makes me go faster).

This morning before leaving Eagle Pass we met a fella by the name of Alphonse. Alphonse was from Louisiana, but relocating in Eagle Pass. Alphonse said that he was renovating an old place and pointed in the direction of his new property. We had come into Eagle Pass from that direction so I knew the place he was working on probably didn't amount to much.

Anyway, we conversed for quite some time. Alphonse seemed to be a cross between Malcolm X and Preston Manning...strange eh! Alphonse gave us a long lesson on injustice and the problems with the United States. He also told us of the cycle of welfare etc. etc.

Alphonse was very interested in our trip and actually very worldly in his knowledge. He wished us the best and as we were preparing to leave he reached into his wallet and said, "Let me give you something for the road." I chose to leave this to Deby and I walked a short distance away to throw some trash in the garbage, smiling all the while. I looked back and Alphonse was forcing a 20 dollar bill on Deby. Deby was politely trying to decline the offer, but Alphonse kept getting louder, and louder in a Louisiana kind of way. Finally, Deby accepted the bill not wanting to insult him. Alphonse then bid us farewell and drove away in his rusty old 80's something Cutlass.

Alphonse is proof that less can be more. I think that we have to be careful not to loose the kind of attitude that he has. Alphonse is in touch with the finer things in life, that being relationships and generosity. He has it all together.

Down the road 70 kms, in Carrizo Springs, we gave Alphonse's $20 to a fella that was collecting money for his church that runs drug rehab homes around the world. The $20 that Alphonse so unselfishly gave us will go on working. Thank-you Alphonse.

Good cycling today. Highs were in the 90's which we are quite used to at this point. Gentle grades made it easy, although this Texas chip coat is rough and slows the bike somewhat.

Leaving Eagle Pass we cycled through desert of course, but it did vary as the moisture varied in the different areas. This is the land of showers and not all areas of the desert by any means get the same amount of precipitation.

From Carrizo Springs and eastward through Asherton, Catarina, and finally Encinal the desert became increasingly greener. The trees got bigger and instead of dirt, or struggling grass between them, we began to see lush high grass. So much so, that I began to wonder why they don't cut the ditches for hay. Then it dawned on me that they don't need hay in this country because they pasture their cattle all year. At the truck stop I asked one of the employees if this area was still considered desert. He stated it wasn't desert any longer.

Deby is getting hardier. Neither of us have had a shower in 3 days now. This is not some sort of strange strike or anything, southwest Texas is just hard country for a cyclist. We have taken to using a lilac scented sunscreen. Our aroma is rather special, sort of bitter/sweet, like a lilac bush growing beside a dumpster.

We saw half a dozen javelinas in the ditch today. A sort of wild pig. I thought they were supposed to be small, but these were a good size.

That's all folks. Have to go check the tent. The maintenance man here figures we put it on top of a fire ant hill.