Following the assembly, the students all had an opportunity to view the Cycle of Education and have their picture taken by it.  Some even had their picture taken on it...including the very gracious Principal of Santa Maria MS, Ms. Elizabeth Garza (pictured below).

I had a super time in Santa Maria ISD.  It is always fun to have interaction with young people!  Thank you so much faculty, staff, and students of Santa Maria MS.  In particular, thanks go out to Ms. Kelly Cotton for arranging the visit and chronicling it in their school newsletter, which can be viewed by clicking here.

Thank goodness for the enjoyable time at Santa Maria, because the ride itself from San Antonio to Santa Maria, then on to Laredo, was a soaking wet beat down.  In the last substantial town before riding the last hour to Laredo---in total darkness along the Texas/Mexico border, on uneven surfaces, and continuing rain---a Chrysler 300 kept edging into my lane for 50-70 feet before I backed off only to see him veer across my lane, clip a car in the turn lane, then hit yet another car head-on that was traveling the opposite direction.  It was a bad scene.  Thankfully there were no fatalities, but it reminded me just how precious and unpredictable life is.  It also reminded me how crucial it is to stay ultra-aware while traveling on a motorcycle...a lesson that may have paid off a few dozen miles down the road when my slower speed allowed me to react safely to a (four-legged) coyote crossing the road about forty feet in front of me.


It was a day of extremes---> the joy of trying to make a difference with young people enabled by braving the risks of the road!  Onward I travel! 

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Riding Stats: Day 48---458.1 miles traveled, 8 hours and 50 minutes of moving time, 4 hours and 10 minutes of stopped time, 51.8 miles per hour average moving time, 35.2 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 83.9 miles per hour.