KRATZMC

Well day #2 back to Texas was just a Point A to Point B kinda of day.  I had a great Breakfast just east of Quartzite Az at the Cactus Grill Restaurant.  It is located at a fuel stop along the south side of E/B I-10.  It is a Gem of a restaurant and the best cooked breakfast I’ve had the whole trip.  I won’t tell you the exact location, since I would like to keep it a well kept secret.  You’ll just have to find it yourself.

Corned beef hash and eggs, accompanied with the “Home Fries”.

Once I hit Lordsburg NM, the temperatures dropped into the low 40’s with my throttle hand cramping near Las Cruces, I almost called it a night.  My goal was to hit Texas which I did, after pushing on and a full hard day in the saddle.  It was a pretty satisfying day knowing that the previous morning I had been in the SF Bay Area and was now in Texas.

Day #3, was to try and make it the 601 miles from El Paso to home.  Once out of El Paso, I-10 opens up to a speed limit of 80 MPH, which allows a steady cruise at 85 MPH without getting in trouble.  A few cars cruised by me at 95 plus, so I followed them at a safe distance.  Both cars, a Black Audi and a Black Dodge Charger  got pulled over a short time later just east of Van Horn.  I took the opportunity since they were tying up the LEO’s to open it up for a while, making up for the short winter days.  The first few hours of the ride was very cold, in the upper 40’s and low 50’s but after two hard days of riding, it seemed much colder.  I hit a psychological wall at about 350 miles into the ride, causing me to think about stopping in Junction Texas and finishing the last 150 miles home the next morning.

One of the many rest stops of E/B I-10 with Free Wi-Fi and Snakes.  You gotta Luv Texas

Red Bull break and fuel stop

Cockpit view of E/B I-10 in S/W Texas…not a very exciting ride but it has a few scene vistas.
After a quick break and a red bull near Fort Stockton, I got rejuvenated and pressed on home.  The short day light hours plagued me, as I reached Junction Texas.  This is the beginning of Hill Country to the north and is chock full of deer.  I quickly made my way from I-10 north towards Fredericksburg, as I lost last light.  I could see deer all along the shoulders and the constant scanning was getting me tired fast.

I finally reached Fredericksburg, only 92 miles from home, when I had a revelation.  Why not just stop here for the night.  I could finished the last few miles home in the light and still be home before lunch, free from worrying about the deer.  The store fronts along the main street were all lit with their Christmas decorations and a nice cold beer from one of the many German Biergartens seemed an appropriate reward for three days of hard riding.

Oktoberfest Draft with the German Sausage Sampler.  I gave the waitress a $7 dollar tip for having to serve me in the cold outdoors.

As I made my way down main street, it started to rain but just very lightly.  I reached Atdorf’s Biergarten, with the outdoor dining area well light but empty.  The waitress started to escort me into the inside dining area and seemed surprised when I requested to sit outside.  With my riding gear on I was plenty warm and it was well protected from any threatening rain.  After washing the the Sausage Sampler down with a German Draft Beer, I checked into a motel for the night to reflect on the last 4,000 miles.  I am looking forward to a few weeks at home to just vegetate and get some things done at the ranch and think of where the next ride will take me.

Almost home Day #3

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