The GREAT Ride begins

[Begining with the end in mind, the picture is of Ron standing by the Red River, under the I-35 bridge - the place where the GREAT Ride will conclude.]

The GREAT Ride is actually the evolution of an idea that came into existence more than two years ago. At that time Hector Hinojosa and I were planning a ride from Port Isabel, Texas to Fort Worth. For some reason that idea didn't seem to resonate with anyone other than Hector and me. It was finally laid aside for lack of support.

Then, a little more than a year ago, I decided to resurrect the idea, but this time expanded the concept. We would ride from river-to-river. We would ride from the Rio Grande to the Red River. Now that was far more fascinating. Don't ask me "why?" It just is. Actually, it's more fascinating to me as well. Then, the idea to call it the GREAT Ride came out of the river names. Actually, I toyed with Grande River/Red River Excursion Across Texas - making it the GRRREAT Ride. But I decided Tony the Tiger was just toooo present in that name. Besides it's the Great State of Texas - not the Grrreat State of Texas.

Also, probably as much as the extended route, the fact that there was more interest simply came from the timing. The time wasn't right two years ago - it's right this year. My desire to resurrect the ride came from the landmark age I attained this year. Having been born in 1947, I reached the status of Old Man this year - 60 year old. I remember, as a boy, being told that my paternal grandfather, also Pop Holland, entered a Walk-a-thon in south Texas in his early 70s. He twisted an ankle and didn't get to finish it, but the fact that he tried such a thing at that age stuck with me all my life. I think it is good to do something worth remembering. So, the trans-Texas bike ride was resurrected from the moth balls and run up the flag pole, again. Hector was still "in." Then, rather surprisingly Darrell Plemons saluted the idea. Then Darrell Crow, a sometimes multi-day riding buddy, stepped up. We've all grown tired of the " . . . my brother Darrell and my other brother Darrell . . . " joke so  don't use it in a comment. Then, finally, making me no longer the Old Man on the ride, Mike Bell threw his helmet in the ring. Part of Mike's draw is the opportunity to ride Marilyn's recumbent. So, we are five. Five who are committed to the 600+ mile trip from river-to-river.

This blog will be our official posting site. I am hoping to be able to update it as we progress via the use of my new iPhone. Failing that, I'm confident I can send email updates to me techno-babe wife who can post the updates here. So, stay tuned. We travel down to Brownsville one week from tomorrow and start pedaling on Oct 27.