Days 31 &32: La Grange to Mexican Hill Ranch

Chicken Ranch Dance Hall

The Chicken Ranch (Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) operated outside of La Grange from 1844 to 1973.  Near the end it was put under surveillance by law enforcement and they counted 484 people entering within a period of two days.  This nondescript roadside dance hall, not connected in any way but proximity, is the only reminder.

Our ride yesterday was about 90 miles, from La Grange to Richards, Texas.  The first 22 miles was utter bliss with the best of all SAG in a small town called Carmine.  A local man had bumped into Bubba on previous rides and was inspired to make fresh coffee at the town park.  This inspired "Deb" another local, to provide pastries, granola and "Happy Belly Green Smoothies". The mayor of Carmine, a man with a zither business was also there to greet us.  The smoothies looked rather scary but I tried one and it was great-- spinach, mango, almonds, celery, ginger, orange, mint and coconut water.

This pleasant interlude was rudely followed by a ghastly six mile ride on a four lane divided highway-- a wide shoulder but very rough and I was kept busy dodging broken glass, truck tire debris and the crushed carcasses of snakes, turtles and armadillos.  Fortunately it was so short and we were soon back on a beautiful country road.

Bubba provided lunch in Independence, at the original site of Baylor University and the ride continued on-- temperatures were reasonable, winds likewise and in a bit less than nine hours I was at the Mexican Hill Ranch in Richards where we are spending a rest day.

The picture above is at the MHR-- a bike hostel located on the route, 1829 miles from San Diego and 1220 miles from St. Augustine.  Ernie and his wife Doris run a ranch with a hostel business on the side and have been gracious hosts for our rest day.  Today several of the other cyclists and I went to "Washington on the Brazos" a museum about the Texas Revolution, the Republic of Texas and eventual U.S. Statehood.  The museum was very well done and since I knew absolutely nothing about Sam Houston, Santa Anna, Davy Crockett, the Alamo, San Jacinto and etc.  I learned a great deal.