Day 40: Back in Texas!!

After a 40-day, 17-state circuit it felt good to finally circle back to Texas.

We spent the night in a motel on I-35 but had a great meal at a nice brewpub on the courthouse square in bustling downtown Denton.

Even though it was windy and hot and we are still 300 miles from home, it is nice to be back in Texas.


The only real excitement during the drive from St. Louis came when a guy in a pickup truck pulled up next to us on I-35, just north of Oklahoma City, waving his arms, yelling and pointing at the back of our truck.

What does that asshole want, I wondered?

Turns out he wanted to tell us that one of the bikes had fallen off of the rack on the back of the truck and was bouncing down the interstate behind the truck, connected only by a lock and chain.

Miraculously, when we pulled over, the bike appeared to have sustained no significant damage. I re-attached the fitting and we motored on south.

Another matter of note on the drive south is that we passed by the town of Joplin, Mo. on I-44. Apparently the tornado crossed the interstate at one point and we were able to see denuded tree stumps that looked just like the ones we have seen in news photos over the last few days. There were a few billboards that had been snapped off, leaving nothing but a bare post, and we saw a few houses that had been stripped of all their siding and shingles. However, the main area that was hit by the tornado is apparently not visible from the interstate.

Despite weather reports of storms on our route through Missouri we were dry for the entire drive.

We have been blessed with great road and weather conditions for the entire trip.

Unless something notable happens on the drive down I-35 from Denton this will probably be my last post.