Come Ride With Me
Saturday AM . . . a nice bike ride in Abilene before catching a flight to Atlanta . . . about 25 miles . . . who’s in? Knowing you couldn’t make it, I grabbed my Canon and took it with me. Here’s a January Saturday AM in West Texas:
The sandhill cranes are everywhere. I remember once at Highland someone came up and said he’d shot his first sandhill and was wondering how to fix it. He googled “sandhill crane recipe” and my blog came up on the first page. “Honey,” his wife said, “did you find anything?” “Yes, it’s a sandhill crane fajita recipe — from our preacher!”
We’re riding down highway 36:
Ha! And you thought there were no “mountains” in Abilene. You can ski on these hills. (But bring your own snow and ski lift.)
Now we’re going to cut over from hwy 36 to hwy 18 on 107:
Now we’ll head east on hwy 18:
Crossing over I-20 now on 603 and heading back on the access road:
This sign reminding us of Abilene’s famous underground rail:
Mike
Wish I was right along with you. Seeing those scenes remind me of my own tours of west Texas in my bug traveling to see patients. Homesick in a big way. Our view outside our window is about a foot of snow and 10 degree weather. Although I do admit the fresh fallen snow on the evergreen branches look like feathery necklaces. God’s beauty is so diverse. Just watch out for the young bulls in the spring. I remember two of them having a buttin’ contest when I was trying to drive past them on a ranch. I was kind of nervous because they were bigger than my bug. Have fun.
great photos Mike!
Mike,
Loving these photos! I especially like the rusty pipe on the post! The colors of West Texas are unique and truly beautiful!
Thanks for sharing!
Great stuff Mike! I tried to link an Abilene wind turbine shot from Megan and Garrison’s wedding last year, but FB won’t let me. One of the best windmill shots ever but I’m biased. Safe travels!
And I remember someone giving you grief over that bird kill here – funny.
Who knew preacher man that you had great composition! Thanks for the bike ride
Made me homesick! Enjoy!
Very nice.
Travelling along with you… love that you keep your eyes wide open ~ high (cranes) and low (crossing I-20)
My favorite stops: Serendipity and the Drive-Thru marquis~ my philosophy of life (the former, not the latter!)
Thanks for the trip, Mike! Now back to my old Kentucky home. ~ Mel
Mike,
You should try riding across the entire state.
Lincoln Smith
Twickenham Church of Christ
Huntsville, Al.
Love the beer/food/cigs drive thru sign. Cigs must be a real temptation after a 25 mile ride.
I wish my rides were as flat as yours appear to be. Middle Tennessee does not have many flat places. Looks beautiful. If you are ever in Nashville area and have some time look me up. I even have an extra bike or two.
You know, I never thought I would miss the Abilene landscape in winte. But now that I’m trying to survive my first wnter in Boston and am quite literally hedged in on all sides by snow, these photos are the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in weeks! Thanks for sharing
Nice ride! Thanks for sharing.
I do love the pics… and you have my admiration because I am a TRUE flatland rider and while I know you had precious little elevation to deal with, you also had brutal wind to deal with. No getting away from it here. That old Texaco station makes me think of that one out 83/84 on the way to Tuscola. I will always remember driving by it with Troy’s first boss at ACU who said, “When I retire, I want to get a job sitting on the porch of that gas station. I want to wave at people and say, ‘Hi-dee!’” Very West Texas. Thanks for the ride.
Totally off subject of your lovely trek around West Texas and responding to your tweet.
Today’s high is to be 17, Yep! 17 with windchill factor of minus 10. Wanna ride today?? lol
Thanks for sharing your ride. I wish I could have joined you!