Today's ride took me from Del Reo south on 277 to Eagle Pass where I thought I might stay last night if I made it but luck held and I over-nighted in Del Reo instead. Big difference between those two towns and luck was on my side, Eagle Pass is a rough looking place.
From Eagle Pass I ran south to Laredo, then northeast up 59 to Freer where I stopped for lunch (Gatorade & Snickers). I'd noticed the sky had sort of a murky brown cast to it, about as far as you could see, kind of like pollution. There was also a fairly strong petroleum smell that was enhanced by the hot temps and I finally realized I was in oil well country. Stinky but livable if you can get used to it. After riding fairly fast for a long, long time I escaped from that environment but I won't forget it and I don't envy the men who work in the oil fields.
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| Looking ahead out of Laredo a few miles |
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| Same place looking back. The heat was intense. |
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| This is what all the fuss is about - Oil is king in this part of Texas |
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| You have to admit it's kinda cool. If only it were open |
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| A long porch like this just begs for folks to sit on |
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| It even has its own windmill water pump |
Eventually I made enough correct turns so that I arrived in Corpus Christi late afternoon. I checked into the first place I came to that looked decent, another Super 8 motel. The price I was quoted was thirty bucks higher than normal "Because eet eez a weekend and our rates go up during that time." "Phoee to you guys" I said, "I'll take the room for your normal rate or I'm outta here." This was the first time I dickered over room rates but it ticked me off and I said so. Motel 6 isn't that bad and they're always available if you can get there before 5:30 pm or so. The clerk caved in and I took the room, still expensive for what it is but I'd ridden 320 miles today and that was enough
After I finished haggling over the room rates and got checked in I decided it was time for more laundry work. I'd been wearing the same pair of jeans for a solid week now so into the tub they went for a good scrubbing. Jeans aren't going to dry overnight in an air-conditioned room so I cabled and locked them to the Bonnie. While I was at it I gave my socks and unmentionables another wash too so tomorrow I'll be fresh as a daisy. I wish there was some way to clean the jacket liner but I guess it will take a dry cleaner to figure that one out when I get home. Phew....
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| My socks look like ears on the Bonnie |
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| Bikes make great places to hang laundry out to dry on. |
With all the domestic chores finished I scurried over to the nearby WhatABurger joint and ordered their full meal deal which came in a sack about the size of a human head. It also included a "medium size" drink that looked like a quart to me. I had them add fried onions and chili peppers for an extra fifty cents. Sometimes I'm totally fearless.
Back in my room, ready to scarf down the meal and multi-task writing the blog I soon discovered the lack of WIFI signal. "Of course we have a good strong seegnal, the best I am sure." Some things just can't be lied away nor can they be fixed so I moved my project up to the dining room where the seegnal really ees very good.
See ya tamale`
LL
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