sadness based around loss , from saying goodbyes .
Numerous connecting flights , starting in Sao Paolo , saw me finally arrive in the USA where I first stayed in Fort Myers , Florida , awaiting a connecting flight to Houston , Texas , the destination of the ship that was carrying my motorcycle . The Port of Galveston to be precise .
My host in Fort Myers , and the person who picked me up at the airport , none other than Abner Honorio , the grandson of my host family in Brazil ! Again , the cogs of the universe aligned for me , all based upon personal interactions .
From there I flew to Houston and was picked up at the airport and hosted by Brian , a fellow adventure motorcyclist who had been following my blog and offered to assist . Knowing I ’ d be arriving there and would have access to Brian ’ s garage and tools , I ordered a new set of tyres and had them shipped to my new friend ’ s home . Once there my bike received fresh oil and air filter cleaned , new tyres and a general going over . Ready to hit the road again !
My goal , to ride to Denver , Colorado to look at a job opportunity with a well-known motorcycle shop , Woody ’ s Wheel Works .
I had become friends with the owner TG Witte ( Woody ) earlier in my journey , when he supplied me with a custom-built set of wheels for my journey .
Reunited with my motorcycle and a destination planned , I decided that rather than bee-lining for Denver , I ’ d enjoy a few extra days in the saddle , and accepted an offer from another online friend who lived in Texas .
Jay and I would meet in Terlingua where he and I would tour Big Bend National Park . The weather was warm for early November . My bike was running well and being back in the desert of SW Texas reminded me of riding in Mexico . All was good .
Stopping at a roadside BBQ stand , I had lunch , then back on the bike , fresh knobbies , humming along the pavement , I was on Texas Route 90 , heading west towards Marathon where I would turn south towards Terlingua .
Route 90 is a narrow , two-lane highway , with a speed limit of 75mph ( 120kph ), I was rolling along at 70mph .
Cresting a hill , no traffic in sight , I spotted a pack of small , dark-coloured animals crossing the road from my left to my right . They were still quite far off , and already more than half-way across the road , I merely let off my throttle and started decelerating . As I got closer , about to pass , the last of what looked like a half-dozen dark brownish , black hairy pigs off the side of the road entered the scrub brush from the side .
To try to put even a little more space between myself and the pack , I started steering left of centre . Again , no traffic for miles .
TRAVERSE 68