Finally, I'm back out on the trail for the long runs. It has been hot this summer in Tejas and now that September has arrived, the temps are back down below the 100 degree mark. That's a good deal considering daytime highs have been hovering around 113 degrees during July and August. What a run this was! The wife and I made the trip to Round Rock, TX near Austin a day earlier to visit our daughter and son-in-law for the weekend. While the wife and daughter were shopping, I went riding :) Somewhere along the trip, the thought entered my mind, "this will cost me!" The shopping that is....
Got an early start about 0530hrs and headed south along I-35 to San Antonio, TX. Next stop was the Alamo Cenotaph. While heading south, near the north side of Austin, I picked up an escort who was riding a Harley Davidson Road Glide. I trailed in behind and followed the Harley for the next 40 miles or so. There's strength in numbers at zero-dark-thirty on an interstate highway through large metro areas. The big twin exited I-35 in San Marcos, TX and disappeared down the exit ramp. And, I continued south to the Alamo.
Soon, the downtown area of San Antonio was in sight and I took the Commerce Street exit. The Alamo was just a few blocks off of I-35. The morning sunlight was just beginning to appear. The streets were starting to stir after the nightlife from the previous evening had waned. I turned onto Alamo Plaza Street and was pleasantly surprised to see the area virtually quiet. The morning sun was perfect and beginning to diffuse off of the buildings nearby. As the sun continued to rise, I had to operate quickly and get the snapshots taken before full sunrise. There's absolutely no parking on the streets at the Alamo and the Cenotaph. This was somewhat of a challenge but not a deal breaker. So far, my plan was working. Get there early, take the pics, and enjoy an early morning moment of solitude at the historic site. I rode in front of the Cenotaph and the Alamo to assess how and where to take the snapshots. At this time of morning, about 7:30am on a Saturday, there was very little traffic and few pedestrians in front of the Alamo. I decided to park the OldWing on the walkway just across from the Cenotaph and the Alamo. Hoping I would not draw to much attention. I set up the tripod and mounted the camera. As the camera and tripod were getting set up, there was an occasional jogger and cyclist (pedal type) that passed by. The opportune moment had arrived and a few pics of the Cenotaph, OldWing, and I were taken. After the Cenotaph pics were taken, I moved the OldWing just a few yards along the walkway to the front and center of the Alamo. I took a couple of pics there too. So far, my plan was working :) That is until I broke down my make shift photo equipment and hopped onto the OldWing to find a real parking spot. While riding just a few yards from the Alamo to the corner of Commerce and Alamo Plaza Street, I noticed a police car sitting at the red light in the oncoming lane. The light turned green and the patrol car came straight at me, with the window down, and the cop looking directly at me. Obviously, he wanted to say something to me. So, I waited...
Needless to say, I received my share of attention from the San Antonio Police Department on a Saturday morning in front of the Alamo! The police officer stated, "you're in a 'bus lane',,,,, its ok this time, but, just don't ever do that again". I looked down at the street to see the double yellow lines and I thought to myself, "I'm in my lane". Then, I quickly processed and realized what the officer was telling me. Oooops! I looked at the cop and acknowledged what he said with some surprise and humility. The cop waved and said, "Have a good day" as he sped off. Today was my lucky day!! No ticket :)
So, I rode around the corner and found a parking lot. The kind you need to pay a few bucks to park. Then, I walked back to the Alamo to visit the Cenotaph and the old mission. The morning sun was full up by now and the activity around the center of downtown San Antonio was picking up a bit. It looks much different now than it did 175 years ago. When Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, and William Travis arrived with a rag tag team of soldiers to defend the Alamo. Under manned with light weapons, the untrained volunteers had an unyielding resolve to fight for the independence of the Republic of Texas. These men were courageous, brave, and determined warriors who were facing certain death. They all knew they had no chance of winning the battle of the Alamo, and fought till the end. It was a devastating defeat in the fight for independence from Mexico and Santa Ana’s army.
After departing the historic district of the Alamo I headed west to Medina lake and onto Bandera, TX. Bandera was like stepping back in time. Folks still ride real horses to town in Bandera. That was cool to see. I continued on along the trail and made my way to Luckenbach, TX. Luckenbach is a must stop while cruising the Texas Hill Country. When I rode into Luckenbach, it was lunch time. So, I stopped by the Feed Lot and grabbed a Bratwurst and Sauerkraut sandwich with mustard. No complaints here, it was very good. It was approaching mid day and time to head back to Austin to meet up with the family. Today’s run was 312 miles of pure fun and excitement. I love to run the Hill Country west of Austin and San Antonio. There are many trails with scenic vistas, hills, canyons, and valleys to ride. There’s a big check mark in the recommended box for a ride through the Texas Hill Country.
Next run is planned for the San Jacinto Monument near the Texas coast. The San Jacinto Monument is the site where Sam Houston's rally call was "Remember the Alamo!" Sam Houston and his army defeated Santa Ana at this site and won the independence of Texas. And, a new Republic was born. But, that’s another run. More later!
See ya on down the trail!!
The Alamo Cenotaph
The Alamo
Feed Lot at Luckenbach, TX
It was a hot ride home this afternoon but a lot of fun. See the link below for the route taken today. The odometer on my OldWing says 362 miles. My GPS says it was 347 miles. I think OldWing odometers tick a little faster than newer Wings. I'm looking forward completing another run along the Tour of Honor in Texas soon. Next run will be to the San Jacinto Monument near Houston. Stay tuned! More to come!
