Ridin' the Texas Back Roads

I took off Monday about noon and headed north west from the Rio Grande Valley to the wildflower strewn Texas Hill Country.  I parked my bike by this beautiful stream just outside of Utopia, Texas yesterday at about 2:00 P.M. and enjoyed the quiet gurgle of clear water over limestone.  After refreshing my senses for a short time, I rode into Utopia and stopped at the Lost Maples Cafe for some friendly conversation and a piece of homemade coconut meringue pie.  I sipped hot coffee from a cafe mug between bites to freshen my palate.  Plentiful moisture this year has created a magnificent wildflower bloom.

 I rode the hills for a while before turning my bike south toward home.  I arrived last night at 9:00 P.M. tired, but refreshed.  My trip meter for the two days read 750 miles.  I hope to return soon.

Zephyrs stir miniature

soldiers of lavender

and salmon pink

standing at attention

on a carpet of pastel green.

Purple tendrils

surround a phone pole.

Splashes of white and pink

peak out from

Winter’s stark remnants.

An ice blue sky

domes the hillsides

carpeted in yellow and blue.

Songbird fugues

pierce the air

backed up by the

steady gurgle of a

crystal stream.

Subtle hints of perfume

carried on the breeze

refresh and revive

my wakening spirit.

Dennis Price