Tag Archives: travel

I wrote in one of my posts that solitude was one of the things I looked forward to on my rides. And though that’s true, I ultimately wanted to share my experience with you: friends, family, and other fellow travelers. So thank you for following along on this quest.  Here are some numbers that summarize myContinue reading “Reflections”

The final ride on my quest for 254 was also the longest ride I’ve taken: 1,893 miles over five days. It came during the first week of August, 2020, and for the most part, the weather was pleasant for this time of year in Texas. The remaining group of 29 county courthouses were all northContinue reading “Amarillo by Morning”

At the end of June 2020, I went on a four day ride out to what is variously referred to as west Texas, the southern plains, the southern panhandle, and the Permian Basin region of Texas. I visited 22 Texas county courthouses on this trip, bringing my total to 225. I only lack 29 countiesContinue reading “Permian Basin”

Memorial Day weekend of 2020 marked 9 years since I bought my bike, and I went on a four day ride, reaching 26 county courthouses. In 2011, it was the beginning of the hottest summer on record in the Austin area, before or since. There would be 90 days of triple digit heat that summer,Continue reading “Western Trail”

There are four national forests in Texas. All are in the east, south of I-20 and east of I-45. Two of the largest lakes in Texas are also in this area. There are some really beautiful stretches of road in this part of the state. My first stop on February 27th was in Madisonville (MadisonContinue reading “Piney Woods”

The Republic of Texas claimed its southern border was the Rio Grande. Mexico said the border was the Nueces River, whose mouth is 150 miles to the north. The land between these two rivers is known as the Nueces Strip. After Texas became a state in 1845, it was the Mexican-American War that settled it.Continue reading “Nueces Strip”

Sometimes it takes a while for Texas to shake off the summer heat. Having traversed the state from Texarkana to El Paso as if in a furnace, I was looking forward to a cool weather ride. In November, I rode south and east towards the Gulf Coast with lots of layers, a heavy jacket, andContinue reading “Gulf Coast”

Late September 2019 provided an opportunity for a three day ride through the rolling plains of north central Texas. On the 27th, I rode to Goldthwaite (Mills County), Comanche (Comanche County), Eastland (Eastland County), Breckenridge (Stephens County), Graham (Young County), Archer City (Archer County), and Wichita Falls (Wichita County). I stopped for lunch at MattContinue reading “To Wichita Falls”

The thought of riding to El Paso was both the most daunting and the most anticipated of any of my trips so far. I love the mountains and the west and I’d never been to El Paso. But I knew it would take two days to get there and two days back, in the heatContinue reading “Trans-Pecos”