Wednesday 16th July 2025 Cotulla to Pleasanton
Little error this morning, did not reset the alarm, went off at 5 as normal, no way is it going to be light enough to ride until 6:30 at the very earliest, so had another half an hour in bed, just snoozing though.

Breakfast then out the door, as soon as it is light, picked up some more water at the service station then off we again, heading North East, not to Newcastle, though! little place Pleasanton, hope it sounds as nice as the name.

Same as yesterday for the first 18 or so miles, to a little place Dilley, brought a smile to Grandad Bingo’s face, it will not be long now before he sees his darling beautiful granddaughter, such a sweet little girl, always has a smile and more importantly a mischievous one to boot.

So with a soft drink and coffee in the aptly named Dilley, off we went, with the hereditary mischievous smile, heading more east now, so not a tail wind, but still coming from the side, so not all that bad, you can tell when it against us as the little smile turns to a grimace for some reason. Long section 30 miles of wilderness, though we did spot a few deer’s prancing about, if that’s what they do. Other than that is was a few nodding donkeys still eking out what is left of the Texas oil fields, still a lot of activity by the looks of it though.

Lovely road and very courteous drivers, been very impressed, giving us loads of room and more often than not a little blast of their air horn as the rumble past. Bit of a tough section so like always I pull up to have a little look at a nodding donkey, like the mechanical aspect of them, but if the truth be known I was knackered, Bingo knows, says with the same mischievous grin, there is a little town in a few miles, I have a minute looking at the wonders of engineering, I am interested in how it all works, least that buys me some time, all ready lets go. Like Bingo said only 3 mile down the road, we roll into Charlotte, they do have some lovely names for their little towns, makes me wonder who was Charlotte, need my Editor back! Whoever Charlotte was she did set a very good example to the locals, very welcoming in the local store, telling us “Yall be careful out there it very hot” great people once again. [town is named for Charlotte Simmons, the daughter of Dr. Charles Simmons, who aided in the development of Atascosa County: Ed]

Final little ride to Pleasanton, only 17 miles down the very hot road, all good just ride it, sure I will spot a little place to get a beverage, when we are a little closer, makes us both go a bit faster, the thought of a nice cold beer, its like the carrot in front of the donkey, it works. Sure enough 4 miles out we pull over, not for a mechanical, more medical, bit thirsty lovely cold beer, then another one, sorted out some lodgings couple of miles down the road, so never like ending on even numbers so we have one more, before we venture outside into the furnace.

Soon hit the hostel all booked in, showered wash the kit, then relax, come up with a cracking plan, walk to Walmart, no one does that other here, get a load of salad stuff and have a picnic, turned outs great, maybe over egged how much we brought, but hey ho really nice meal, then another cunning plan, to freeze a couple of water bottles, then take the rest of the stuff with us tomorrow, what can go wrong!