Pull Tight

The official Texas State dinosaur was recently changed to the Paluxysaurus jonesi. Named after Paluxy, there is soon to be an exhibit at the Fort Worth Science Museum. Somehow I missed this in the news. My son told me about it after it was mentioned in the college geology class of a friend.

Went to see Midsummer Night's Dream at the new Wyly Theatre in Dallas last night. We went because this was part of a package of tickets purchased earlier in the year and didn't have high hopes for this production. Wow, we were wrong! This must be the way Shakespeare would have wanted it. So interactive you felt like you were part of the production. And, more fun than you think is possible at the theatre. If you only see one theatre event in the greater Dallas area this year, this should be the one.

We went to see the theatrical production of Grey Gardens last week at a local community theatre (Water Tower in Addison). Really good show. I didn't know much of the real story or had seen either the movie or documentary, but before the show was over I had added both to the Netflix cue. After we got home, we spent a couple of hours googling the real people and story. It is a fascinating story.

Lucinda Williams may write and sing true love travels on a gravel road, but bicycles do not. Stiff aluminium frame, light weight seat and skinny tires at 110 psi make for a rough ride. We ran out of pavement a couple of times on our ride today, the second time in a light rain shower. Still a good day however. Rode from Paluxy on a route between Chalk Mountain and Three Way. There is a pretty nice kids baseball field about 3-4 miles from the nearest paved road out here, and many miles from any towns. I guess if you build it they will come. On through Hico, we visited the Billy the Kid statue. Most Hicoians think he died in Hico as an old man instead of NM. Worth checking out for you history buffs. Then on to Iredell for lunch at the only cafe where we had a pretty good lunch of catfish, shrimp and homemade coconut pie. We rode to Walnut Springs and then to Paluxy via FM and county roads. 69 miles

The unseasonal cool weather was great for bicycling riding. From Paluxy to Morgan Mill past mansions, abandoned dairy and chicken farms, and one lavender farm. Many more horses here than a few years ago. All of the newcomers to rural life seem to have some affinity for horses. Made it back down to Bluff Dale for lunch and was surprised to see an old high school acquaintance running the BBQ place where we stopped. Had a short but fun visit. On toward Tolar via Rock Church (with a side trip to the old suspension bridge, photo to follow) and then back to Paluxy via more very lightly traveled county roads. Logged almost exactly 60 miles. Got a few interesting photos to post as soon as get them downloaded.

The publisher of Born to Run sent me a video to share. I have no idea how they found me in cyberspace. Click title above to view.

Heard an amazing interview on the Bob Edwards radio show yesterday (NPR). Christopher McDougall has written about a tribe of Mexican Indians from the Copper Canyon who are probably the best distance runners on the planet. The Tarahumara tribe may also be the happiest, most peaceful and healthiest people in the world. James Fixx’s The Complete Book of Running was what originally inspired me to run for a few years some 30 years ago. This book may be even more inspirational and more important. The book is Born to Run . Check it out. You may throw away your running shoes and take to the trails barefoot. I definitely will be reading. And maybe you will see me out on the trails again, worn out joints, extra pounds, sore feet and all.

My longtime close friend Gael lost her battle with cancer on Sunday. Gael and I first met during the 70s in Austin, where we worked together briefly. As most who met Gael, we became friends forever. To say Gael was unique would be a vast understatement. Philosopher, musician, or poet could all be used to describe her, but none really do her justice. Many of you may remember me telling the stories of some of her life/adventures and of her friends. I think you had to actually know her to believe some of the stories, but after meeting, you would have had no doubt they were true. I remember laughing until there were tears in my eyes on numerous occasions. Many of the stories, I probably shouldn’t put in writing here, but catch up with me sometime. She had true life adventures and had this wonderfully carefree attitude towards life. Most of us would have to live to be about 300 to pack the amount of living she had in slightly less than 60 years. In recent years she wrote an on...