mike_profile_v1.jpeg

HELLO!

Welcome back. Seven years after my first ride across the United States, I am doing it again.

This blog will document my trek.

Day 27 - Leakey to Kerrville (79.4 miles)

Another solemn day…woke up to thunder & lightning. Steady light rain for first 25 miles, but riding on winding roads with little traffic was a nice change. We followed the Guadalupe River along Route 39, and saw firsthand the devastation from last July’s flooding. Lunch at LJ Vineyards in Hunt, Texas about 4 miles from the tragedy at the Mystic Campground, where 27 campers and 2 counselors died. Today’s riding was very nice with rolling hills and lots of pretty scenery. Camping tonight at Kerrville State Park.

An amazing occurrence today about 30 minutes after leaving Leakey this morning: 2 “Axis” deer, transplants from India, ran across the road about 20 ft ahead of me and jumped over a 6 ft fence in unison,. These deer are large, both had full antler racks and spots like young whitetail fawns. What a sight it was!

Memorial for Mystic Campground victims along Route 39 in Hunt

The boot fence, a much hyped but underwhelming stop at mile 50.

One boot on the fence

Sculpture at Stonehenge II at mile 63. Camera angle makes tree appear as “hair”.

Stonehenge II, near Kerrville

LJ Vineyards in Hunt, our lunch stop. Vineyard is 4 miles from Mystic Campground. According to the owner, the Guadalupe River rose 22 ft in 2 hrs on July 3-4, 2025.

Another view at LJ Vineyards

Rock formations along the Guadalupe

Signs of the massive flooding last July

Recovery will take more time.

The Guadalupe River by the campground

Another shot

Day 26 - Leakey (0 miles)