Texas goats leave us flat

Way back in March we bought folding bikes at Camping World in Henderson Nevada.

Hardly ever used them afterward since Bullhead City was too hilly and we didn’t stop long enough on our return trip to merit prying them out of the back of Smiley. Too busy at home. Now that we’re back in Texas in the really flat Rio Grande Valley it seemed the perfect time to break out the bikes. Chained them to Harvey’s trailer hitch for security and climbed onto a long slow learning curve. They call this spiky little fellow a goat head:

Not sure which way is up (this is the original)

 

Could be...

Lethal to bike tires. Flat number one – my rear tire. Filled with sealant and pumped up. Flat number two – same tire (3 miles from resort). Rescued by Norene and Smiley and took the ride of shame home. Inner tube replaced (complete with Green Slime sealer already inside) by Bike Masters – all good. Flat number 3 – Norene’s rear tire. Bike Masters again. Hey - was that a guy in a Bike Masters shirt out back sowing something? Naaah – they’re too nice and it turns out goat heads are everywhere! No more grass for our bikes in Texas – parked on concrete from now on.

It's OK to say they look like kiddie bikes

Now that the weather is more normal (70’s) we made a second stab at going to the nearest flea market, Don Wes, since our last foray (in the 50’s) was just too cold (yes, we are fast becoming temperature wimps). Norene girded up for battle and I followed instructions. Lots of items competing in the worst purchase ever category and I bought the inevitable Texas t-shirts.

That's better - no jacket, mittens, earmuffs.

Now here's the plan...

What?

Locally grown and cheap!

Live band later on. Was not instructed to dance today.

Norene looked for an ugly Christmas shirt for an upcoming Ladies Luncheon and ugly Christmas shirt contest but struck out. She settled on this one from Wal-Mart:

This should be a lay-down.

Drove home on the old highway Business 83 (pre-expressway it appears). Big wide street but the neighbourhoods run the gamut from dirt poor to modern suburbia. Puts perspective on how lucky we are to have come from the prosperous north. Folks close to the US’s southern border have not fared as well.

Sky courtesy of The Simpsons.

And you thought I didn't have a soft sensitive side....