What a crossroads here at the Van Horn KOA – the guys on my right are on their way from Houston to Phoenix. One guy just built a skate park in Houston and since it was time to go, he flew his buddy out from Phoenix and they are headed back together – hitting all the best skate parks along the way. The guy on my left is a geological scientist from Denver and is out on his two week vacation he takes every year, riding his bicycle. I may actually see him again because he is driving down to Big Bend today to ride around that park. I was telling him about my little adventure and come to find out – he has ridden Hwy 152 in New Mexico on his bicycle BOTH directions. Gotta have some strong legs for that for sure!!
Van Horn KOA, April 22, 2014
One of the reasons I like this KOA is because they have a Kafe (KOA starts everything they can with a K) that serves pretty good food. I was hoping that when I rode in that they would still be open and they were – tonight’s special, brisket (smoked by the owner), mashed potatoes, and corn. The food was excellent and the company was even better. You can see the tent sites from the dining room and a few people had been watching me make camp. One of them, name of Fred, invited me to sit with him and we were joined later by the owner’s wife, Gee. Great to meet new people and share stories across the dinner table.
My neighbors – they are on the “blue tour”
First notable thing I saw this morning on the way to Terlingua was this Department of Homeland Security radar balloon. The Aerostat System has been in use since the 1980s. It uses giant tethered balloons at locations in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to scan the border area with radar to detect low-flowing aircraft carrying drugs or other contraband.
RADAR balloon in the down position – too windy I’m guessing…..
As I was leaving Marfa, I saw this old adobe house and thought I’d take a picture. The ground around this structure is deceptively SOFT. I had to put a large rock under my kick stand and getting out required quite a bit of spinning the rear tire and gnashing of teeth…..
Dilapidated adobe building just outside Marfa, Texas.
The road from Presidio to Terlingua one of the Scenic Byways listed in the book I have. The locals call it River Road – as you can see it goes right next to the Rio Grande. I was so close to Mexico that my phone thought I’d crossed the border.
The Rio Grande. No border fence necessary here.
Hey man! Hope all your travels are going well. Check out the link to see the rest of our trip home http://instagram.com/jmod anything that has the #bluetarptour is from the trip.
Keep livin life!
Justin