Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
The River Road
The river road (highway 170) between Lajitas and Presidio is
considered one of the 10 best motorcycle roads in the nation, and we
take no exception with that. My bike thermometer read 100, but a
little ice water squirted down the collar of the riding jacket works
wonders.
considered one of the 10 best motorcycle roads in the nation, and we
take no exception with that. My bike thermometer read 100, but a
little ice water squirted down the collar of the riding jacket works
wonders.
Leigh Anderson
Sent from my iPhone
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Honor System
painted sticks and simple animal figures. We wondered if we had
stumbled onto some secret Tarahumara ritual offering. It was rather an
offering of souvenirs to benefit the small school on the Mexican side.
Presumably the vendors sneak across the river (illegally of course),
place the wares, and depend on the honesty of park visitors to put
payment in a can. The rangers surely know about this and turn a
charitably blind eye. No need to trouble the Border Patrol about it.
Monday, April 25, 2011
What was that, officer? My wife/husband was talking
To communicate between bikes as we ride, we use a fancy Bluetooth
radio intercom. Bettie and I can speak and hear each other up to a
mile apart. But technology always has side effects. Stopped at a
Border Patrol check point, we were each interrogated by an officer.
But all of Bettie's replies were loud in my ear and all of mine in
hers so that neither of us could intelligibly respond to the officers.
(We didn't think to turn off the units.) I began to have images of
sniffer dogs and SWAT teams surrounding us when Bettie said in my ear
"stop talking and let me speak.". I of course complied as I have
always found it prudent to so yield in the past. She then quickly
established our bona fides and we were allowed to proceed.
radio intercom. Bettie and I can speak and hear each other up to a
mile apart. But technology always has side effects. Stopped at a
Border Patrol check point, we were each interrogated by an officer.
But all of Bettie's replies were loud in my ear and all of mine in
hers so that neither of us could intelligibly respond to the officers.
(We didn't think to turn off the units.) I began to have images of
sniffer dogs and SWAT teams surrounding us when Bettie said in my ear
"stop talking and let me speak.". I of course complied as I have
always found it prudent to so yield in the past. She then quickly
established our bona fides and we were allowed to proceed.
I suppose we were in little real jeopardy, as BMW motorcycles are not
popular with illegal immigrants.
The greening of the border
It's been many years since we traveled US90 from Del Rio to Marathon.
Green and white Border Patrol vehicles are everywhere, at the many
highway check points, skulking on side roads, and slowly trolling down
the dirt trace roads for footprints. This last was new to us, sand
roads that paralleled the highway for miles, like freeway frontage
roads. We surmised that the Border Patrol fashioned them as barriers
to indicate where illegals have crossed, then to mount a search. We
even saw one truck slowly pulling a large tire behind, to smooth the
sand surface.
Green and white Border Patrol vehicles are everywhere, at the many
highway check points, skulking on side roads, and slowly trolling down
the dirt trace roads for footprints. This last was new to us, sand
roads that paralleled the highway for miles, like freeway frontage
roads. We surmised that the Border Patrol fashioned them as barriers
to indicate where illegals have crossed, then to mount a search. We
even saw one truck slowly pulling a large tire behind, to smooth the
sand surface.
It's not working of course, but it's nice to see them making an effort.
Leigh Anderson
Sent from my iPhone
Bee advised
Bee advised: motorcyclists should zip closed the sleeves of their
riding jackets when riding through bee country. Otherwise a bee may be
swept inside, distracting the rider. I have this advice on the best
authority.
riding jackets when riding through bee country. Otherwise a bee may be
swept inside, distracting the rider. I have this advice on the best
authority.
Leigh Anderson
Sent from my iPhone
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Nobody expects the Pecos
surprised when the land falls away and you are flying across the
brilliantly blue Pecos below.
The Alsace Hotel, Castroville
Beginning an 11 day bike trip to Big Bend. Started late saturday
morning due to Bettie's concert previous night so stopped in
Castroville E of san Antonio. By chance found The Alsace, a very
German hotel & restaurant. Nice place.
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