"It's Like a Whole Other Country"
Teabagging in Houston. Image by luna175. Some rights reserved.
Years ago, I passed through Texas with RAAM. That was enough. I swore I would never return.
Most of Texas is a car-addled eyesore inhabited by folks who are famous for being cocky jerks. (Fittingly, Dallas calls itself the "Big D.") And the brainiacs "governing" the place consistently demonstrate that evolution is a fallacy by behaving like lobotomized chimps.
What's this have to do with anything? Well, David Byrne, of reCycling the World, has spent the last few days getting his own dose of Texas culture. . . .
Day 1, Lamar, Texas:
I crossed the first of three long bridges along the gulf coast. I was pulled over by the Texas State Patrol after crossing the 4 km long Lavaca Bay bridge.
Dozens of cars moved over a lane as they passed to give me room. Two did not, coming within half a meter of me. One of them called the police to report she’d almost hit a cyclist who shouldn’t be on the bridge. I was escorted the last half kilometer and politely told it is too dangerous for me to bike on that bridge.
The trooper also advised me not to go into Mexico: “It’s too dangerous there.” “More dangerous than this bridge?” I replied.
Day 2, Corpus Christi, Texas:
Yesterday’s Trooper advised me to use the walkway on this bridge. My Bikebins have little clearance with the one meter width. It is awkward for me to walk beside the bike, too.
Day 3, Falfurrias, Texas:
Drive-through liquor store.
(Before I am told this for the thousandth time: I hear Austin is nice and San Antonio has a river.)
