Day 24: Brackettville, Texas

 Verizon service has returned, but likely only briefly.  We likely will lose it for our layover day near Concan, Texas.   We will find out when we get there, but will probably have to rely on the very limited WiFi at the resort.  If memory serves correctly, the service is limited to the office which is closed, so we are relegated to huddling outside searching for signal.  Actually our room on the last tour was adjacent to the office and if we moved close to the adjoining wall, we could get access.

Our route was 73 miles from Comstock to Brackettville.  For most of the day, it was overcast and cool, even spitting a misty rain.  A slow day due to the headwind.  Even though today was shorter, we spent about the same amount of time riding. With 9 miles for us to go, the head winds and rough road remain, but the sun came out-- turning those last 9 miles into a sauna.  We also had the infamous chip and seal road surfaces that Texas loves so much-- more proof they really dislike cyclists.  Maybe only cobblestone would be rougher, and I have the feeling they would use it if they could.

Example:  Semi-truck passes us in the right most lane with two available, practically blowing us off the road.  We were on the shoulder close to the white line where the smoothest surface existed.  Another semi pulled onto the shoulder ahead of us and the passing truck moves all the way over to the left traffic lane.  Texas drivers not happy with bicyclist, I am not happy with Texas drivers.

That being said, we arrived at the 1st SAG (Jeff and Lisa first of all riders), to find two local police vehicles ready to escort riders over a bridge with no shoulder.  Very kind of them.  We waited a few minutes for about 15 more riders to arrive and proceeded over the narrow bridge, taking up the right hand lane followed by our personal police cruiser with their blue and red lights.  Very cool!

Jeff and Lisa had the privilege of being in the right place at the right time as we biked out of Del Rio past Laughlin Air Force Base, two Air Force jets buzzed right over the highway in front of us as they practiced "touch and go"s --amazing!

We are in Brackettville at Fort Clark Springs for the evening.