Day 23, The Law in West Texas

If you have had any interest in the American west then you would have enjoyed the morning as much as I did.  Today we crossed the famous Pecos River, it really was a sight to behold.  Where we crossed was on a bridge over a deep canyon, the river must have been at least 100 yards wide and more then 20 feet deep.  As I rode over it I had many stories of outlaws and rangers running through my head, some true some not.  It was really great to be where so much history has taken place. 

We also had a chance to stop by the museums of Judge Roy Bean "the Hanging Judge". This is located in the town of Langtry.  The judge named the town after a famous star of the time Lilly Langtry. I was amazed to find out that all of the stories of him being a judge that hung many an outlaw he actually did not hang anyone.  I also learned that he himself was not the most law abiding citizen.  With that being said what he said was the law in West Texas.  The museum itself was built around his original saloon.  Walking into it i was hit with the thoughts of what would it have been like to be standing there all those years ago.  You could really imagine what it was like, the boots sounding against the wood floor, the sound of a bartender or patron putting there glass back ont he counter, the many mingled voices in the background, the smell of whiskey, horses and sweat. 

When you drive through passes that have been cut into mountains do you ever look at the rock structure.  I do sometimes but most of the time I am moving to fast to take a good look at it.  Well on the bike I am not moving that fast and had a chance to stop and look at the walls today.  The rocks looked just like someone had laid textured block as a retaining wall.  Crazy.

So today ended in a difficult way.  I could see that Kyle was just not riding like he is capable of, there was just no power left in his legs, but man does he have amazing will power.  We had multiple discussions about how he was feeling and what he could do and what the dangers were to keeping going.  In the end he pushed through to the end, and then decided to take the following day off.  I was sad that he had to do this as I know what it is like to have to stop on this ride, and i know how it affected Shane as well.  I am however happy he came to the decision.  Kyle your commitment is amazing.

Lesson for the day:  I learned today that there are rides within the ride going on.  We are all here to ride for Parkinson's, but we are also riding for other reasons.  When we have to make choices that affect all of these things it can be very emotional.  What i have taken from this is that even though you are involved in something and think you understand what is going on you still have to step back and make sure there is not something else going on. 
This same passion that makes these things hard to deal with is what fuels us to keep moving forward.