Ride #43, 485 miles.
Phew. I'm tired. This was the farthest north and west I've ridden since I've lived in the Hill Country, though I have ridden up in the northwest panhandle several times. First time in this particular part of Texas.
I left at 7:30 this morning. I got up early and made sure I had everything ready to go just after sunup. I've been wanting to check out San Angelo, TX so that was pretty much the goal. But I wanted to rack up some miles too, so I planned to continue on to Garden City, TX.
First stop was in Eden, TX for a fill up and some snacks for later on. Had a few swigs of coffee from my thermos and kept heading for San Angelo. Lots of wind farms started popping up just past Eden. Rode past a solar farm too, but that was the only one saw. Started see a lot more farm, farms...the kind that grow stuff. Cotton seemed to be the preferred crop in this part of Texas. Lots of wool buyers in this part of the state too.
I got to San Angelo and thought I was going to be taking a freeway through the city, but it was just the main drag through town with a lot of traffic lights. San Angelo is the biggest town in this part of the state. I guess you could say it's a small city. Lots of fast-food joints, Walmarts, car dealers, etc. on the main drag. There's an Airforce base there so I guess, besides all the oil, natural gas, wind stuff and the agriculture around it keeps the town active.
The terrain around this area was not entirely flat like I thought was going to be. There were a few hill ranges here and there. Some parts were dead flat, and that's where the farms were. Not a lot of big hills and twisties.
I made another gas/coffee stop in Sterling City. The abandoned church was right next to the gas station, so I got a quick pic. Not a lot of pics on this trip. I had to keep rolling.
Next stop was in Garden City where I started heading south again. I passed the courthouse riding through the town, so I got a pic and one of the old jail. As a turned south I hit a moderately strong headwind. The wind was to my back on the way up. I had to tuck in a little bit every now and then if I wanted to keep my speed up. That first stretch was 47 miles due south right into it. Lots of windfarms and oil pumps along this route. Lots of high voltage towers with lines going in every direction, no doubt dispersing the electricity from the windmills.
I started heading east at Big Lake, TX. Interesting name for a town, even though there's not even a small lake around there. Big Lake seemed to be one of the hubs for all the energy production in the area. Lots of energy support facilities on the edges of the town, with what looked like prison camps. Rows and rows of small cabins, which are for the oil field workers and contractors to stay in. I've heard you can make a ton of money as an oil field worker, but it's hot and cold depending on price and demand.
I stopped in Barnhart for more gas and carried on to Eldorado. I rode through Eldorado for the first time back on 6/24 for ride #24. Today I caught a glimpse of the courthouse and the old jail, so I stopped. I was getting hungry and had been thinking about finding a place to stop. There was a picnic table under a big pecan tree next to the old jail and nobody around. Perfect!
After I ate my snacks I headed for Menard, where I made yet another stop for some gas. I hit two gas stations. The first one only sold 87 octane. The Scout no likey 87. It demands the good stuff, so I found another place.
I meandered through London, TX again, then to Harper and onto Fredericksburg for my last fill up, and then hit the last stretch for home. I got home exhausted at about 4:15.
I only averaged about 40 mpg today. 80-85 mph most of the day and the headwinds weren't helping.
I think I'm ready for a 500 miler.
Nice Stu! Congratulations.
I've had fried gator a few times in Texas and Louisiana. I've never seen it barbequed. It's usually served like fried popcorn nuggets. Tastes like fishy chicken, but it's tougher and chewier. I think it's all pretty much the lean tail meat. I don't think there's much good meat on a gator past the tail. I'm pretty sure the hide, the tail meat and the heads are the only parts worth anything on a gator. They probably grind up the other stuff for animal food.
