Day 3, Fort Stockton, TX to San Antonio, TX 320 Miles

   Up and on the road again today at 6:30 a.m., we headed east on I-10 into the pre-dawn morning. Conditions were perfect for riding, high 70's with only the hint of a headwind. Approximately 30 minutes later we caught the first glimpse of the sun's sleepy face peeking over the distant eastern mountain range. It was a beautiful and inspiring sight and reminded us how fortunate we are to be able to ride motorcycles with friends across the country and witness these sights.

   Not much to report in terms of wild animal sightings, but the road-kill count is excellent, two dead deer, several coyotes, one porcupine, three inextinguishable carcasses, a Texas Diamond Back Rattlesnake and a Partridge in a pear tree. Really? No Partridge, I just made up that last part under poetic license.

   Once again the headwind increased with the warming of the earth and low fuel warning lights began to flash on the dashes while we were still some 25 miles short of our intended and only available fuel stop at Sonoma, TX.  By slowing down to conserve fuel we were able to coast into town on fumes and a great sigh of relief.

   Our next fuel stop was scheduled for Kerrville, TX. I spent a week there attending the Mitchell Autopilot school in 1969 during my airplane building days. Boy, how that little town has changed in 42 years. Like I haven't.

   We arrived in San Antonio at exactly 12:00 noon, as anticipated, and checked into out hotel, the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott. As our rooms were not ready yet, they recommend a Mexican restaurant nearby in the Mercado Square, known for their Margaritas. Is this Heaven, or what? Tried my first Pomegranate Margarita. Pomegranate is recommended for prostrate health you know. And there was that Beerita again. Really going to have to give that a try soon.

   The boys and I got checked into the hotel, showered and caught the Yellow Line Trolley for the princely sum of $1.10 to downtown San Antonio and its famous River Walk for which it is known. Oh yeah, least I forget, the Alamo is there too. Not the rental car company, the other one. You may have heard of it. Jim Bowie and Davey Crockett met their demise there along with about two hundred other Texas patriots at the hands of 3,000 Mexican soldiers under the Direction of General Santana in 1836. Remember the Alamo!

   Visiting the Riverwalk one is almost obligated to ride the open Disney-like boats on the city portion of the San Antonio River with a narrated history of the area by the boat captain. $8.00 general admission, $6.00 for seniors, why not?

   Following our boat ride we opted for supper at the Saltgrass Steakhouse, one of several restaurants along the Riverwalk. Ironically, none of us ordered steaks, but they sure looked good. After supper we walked over to the nearby Alamo and snapped a few photos. We then decided to walk back to the hotel. That was when I discovered that I had left my wallet containing a couple of hundred dollars, several credit cards and my identification on the dinner table for any one of several hundred tourists to pick up. Panic! Fortunately for me, Juan the busboy found it and gave it to the manager who promptly put it into their safe. Juan got a nice tip from me. And I'm not talking about, "Wear white at night." I'm talking cold cash. Thank you Juan. After that ordeal we hiked back to the hotel and called it a night. 

Good night.

John and the usual suspects.