This journal, may, at this point, begin to read like an account of history rather than a chronicle of someone so passionate about motorcycling.
Bear with me for I have no doubt that if you do, you will begin to see the method of my madness, the relevance of these events in my motorcycling life and their interconnectivity.

Saturday March 26th, 2011.
Wanting to know more about this great state I now call my home, I began to read what I could and set out to learn more about the history of Texas during its turbulent revolution days and to gain a better understanding of the events that helped and led up to the building and creation of America.
This was an opportunity to go for a “long ride”, but more importantly it was my way of “pushing myself” to assess whether I truly had the affinity for this sort of “thing” or not!
Today, exactly to the day, is the 175th anniversary of the Goliad Massacre.
The Living Historical Society of Texas was presenting their annual reenactment of the events leading up to the secession of Texas from Mexico in the town of Goliad, TX on the actual battlefield outside Presidio La Bahia, where the now historically known events took place.
They are a group of avid historians who depict a very realistic picture of the history of Texas and America through their authentic attire, artifacts and equipment and the accurate and realistic representations of the personalities that shaped life in those times.
At the very least, I will try to express my feelings and perceptions of the reenactment that I experienced.
Goliad, TX incidentally is 80 miles away from Corpus Christi, TX., where I live.
I figured that this would be a good reason to justify a long bike journey/ride. (My Honda ST1100 had become for me, that kind of machine for which you create a reason to go somewhere just so you get to ride).
So that was final. I would go for a ride to Goliad, TX.
Returning home from work on the night of the 25th March, 2011, I pulled into the Stripes Corner store at Whitecap Boulevard and Highway 358 East as I had so many times in the past and fueled up the ST before arriving home. I prepared my Nikon camera gear, strapped the tripod on to the ST1100, showered and went to bed.
I was up well ahead of the alarm clock. It was still dark. I had coffee. I watched the news, listened to the weather report. Heavy clouds but no rain.
At 7:29a.m. I “punched” the starter button on the ST and she purred to life. Backing out into the driveway I set out at 7:31a.m..
I turned left onto Whitecap Blvd. and left again onto Highway 358 Westbound as I do each day.
This is one of the only two ways to get off Padre Island -where we live – and onto the mainland and as such, is the stretch of road I ply most.
Padre Island is the Barrier Island off the coast of Texas separated from the mainland by the Laguna Madre – The largest Natural Lagoon in the world. It is always lovely crossing the lagoon and I feel blessed to have had time to witness and enjoy ever-so beautiful sunrises and sunsets on this stretch of highway – some of the most beautiful I have seen in my life, I must say. The rich warm glow of orange early morning and late afternoon colors, bathing the dark green water of the lagoon with gulls and pelicans on the move looking for breakfast and dinner hand-outs from fishermen at the bait stands cleaning their fish from their catch of their day.
I have become very familiar with this stretch of the highway and can almost swear that I know every pothole, ridge and furrow on it.
The ST with its plush suspension soaks up all these road inconsistencies in stride. Not anything surprising. It is one of, if not, the most comfortable bike built to date – at least in my personal opinion.
My thoughts wandered as I tried to recollect the most vivid and memorable sunrises and sunsets, only concluding that they all have been!
The ST11 is such a smooth running machine I needed to remind myself that I was on a bike and needed to keep my full attention on the road. Heart pounding with anxiety, I was enjoying being out this early and was looking forward to the open road. The peace and quiet of the highway at this time of day, the relatively cool, crisp morning air and the beautiful view looking out across the lagoon towards the rising sun in the east all combined to put me in a tranquil mood.
All I wanted at this time was the personal reassurance that I would not turn around and “chicken out” of this ride when I got outside the city limits.
I relish every ride on this fine machine.
The city skyline faded out of view in my rear-view mirrors. The highway signs went by as quickly as they approached. I looked ahead and without even realizing it, I was branching onto Interstate Highway 37 (IH37) Northbound. Twenty-nine miles had gone by already. I was comfortable. No apprehension yet.
I was outside the city limits.
Aaaah! I was on tour.
It was a steady cruise at 65 m.p.h. The ST11 seemed like it was begging to run.
In a few minutes I turned off IH37 onto IH77 Northbound and began the journey towards Refugio, TX. which would then take me to the junction of IH77 Northbound and Texas Highway 183 (TX183) and further on to Goliad, TX..
It was still early morning. On this section of road it was cloudy, no sunshine and still cool. All was well. I was happy. I was at peace with my surroundings.
It was 8:30 a.m. and as the day began to get much lighter with the morning light, I crossed from San Patricio County into Refugio County, making time to “freeze” this feeling of serenity with a “photo op” right by the train bridge.
I looked around and realized that I was completely alone! Not a car, truck, person or creature in sight!

Pressing on through the town of Refugio, TX. at a posted 35 M.P.H. speed limit
(Refugio Law Enforcement Officers – LEO’s - are notoriously known for their exceptional and eager traffic ticket-issuing skills). I arrived at the junction of TX183, turned north and onward to Goliad. I increased the angle of rotation on the component I had a grip on with my right hand and cruised at a sedate 70 m.p.h. for quite a while as I appreciated the solitude. With pretty much no traffic we (the ST11 and I) “laid down the miles” quickly and effortlessly.
I looked around and began to marvel at the expanse of Texas. “Gosh, they are right. This state truly has wide open spaces!”

Arriving at the Presidio La Bahia in Goliad, TX. at 9:34 a.m. the day’s activities were just beginning.
Driving to the rear of the Presidio, I barely found a big enough parking spot and squeezed the ST11 between two vehicles behind the south wall. It was packed. There was a large gathering of visitors. They had come from far and wide. I judged this from the vehicle registration tags I could see on vehicles in the parking lot.
Unpacking my camera gear, I made my way to the “battlefield” and I prepared to enjoy the day’s festivities.

Infantrymen fought, the horsemen charged and the battle raged on as the air filled with the acrid smell of black powder smoke.
This re-enactment of the Battle of Goliad and subsequent massacre of Col. Fannin and 284 of his troops had been very well presented. I came away from this event with a deeper knowledge of the historical facts.
Historically there is nothing I can write here that has not already been written in great depth by others more knowledgeable in this history than I.
So if you (my reader) are interested enough and would care to, the Internet as we have come to know it, has a lot of this history chronicled and readily available/accessible. I could easily fill several pages more about the history of this day and still not do full justice to the events that took place here 175 years ago. The history of this battle is intertwined with the battle of the Alamo in San Antonio, TX..
For those of my readers who are at this point vaguely familiar with the history of the Alamo and Davy Crockett and others, Col. Fannin and his troops were the reinforcements that did not show up. They were the reinforcements that were unable to show up – as we now know in retrospect. They were ambushed/intercepted by the Mexican Army as they headed towards San Antonio.
This was the Battle of Coleto (March 19th and 20th, 1836). Supposedly being taken as war prisoners these 400 troopers were held in Presidio La Bahia where by orders given by Mexican General Santa Ana, they were individually shot in the compound of this fort. The corpses were stripped, partially burned and left unburied. It incidentally happened to be Palm Sunday of that year. The only ones to be spared were the 2 doctors of the Troop due to their profession. Some had feigned death and swam away from harm in the San Antonio River and a Mexican woman, known today as the “Angel of Goliad”, saved about 25 others.
It is this atrocity that gave the Texans their battle-cry: “Remember the Alamo, remember La Bahia” during their victory in the San Jacinto Battle on April 21st, 1836 in their defeat of the Mexican army.
I went on to learn that the Texan Troops later returned to Presidio La Bahia, gathered all remains and bones of the massacred troops which were strewn all over the compound and given a more fitting military burial on June 3rd, 1836.
Entering the Presidio, I attended a church memorial service in the chapel, held for the troops who had lost their lives in battle and afterward toured the grounds within the walls of the Presidio to get a feel for the way of life during that period of time, courtesy of the presentation the historical society re-enactors.
The museum in the Presidio is well worth the visit. The whole visit on this day was very well worth it. So if you ever do find yourself in the neighborhood around the anniversary time, take it from me that it will be worth taking time out of your schedule to witness and experience this historical reenactment/event.
Anxious to get back on the ST11 and ride, I quickly loaded my gear and made my way to the final resting place of the troops who were massacred by Santa Ana’s Army, said a prayer and paid my respects before heading away.
By this time I decided to get something to eat before getting back on the long road for my return journey to Corpus Christi.
Heading downtown Goliad, I chose a Whataburger establishment for a meal.
The young couple with 3 kids, not able to hold their curiousity, and their warm country friendship, engaged me in conversation.
By the end of our meals, they encouraged me to not miss the rodeo being held at the local fairgrounds. It would be on my way out of town along highway 59.
So, as encouraged, I treated myself to about 2 hours of an ongoing rodeo. It was the first time in my life I had the chance to experience a live rodeo event. It’s definitely not the same as seeing it on TV!
I could smell the dirt, the horses, the cattle and the countryside. I could hear every breath and snort of the horses as they galloped by. I could feel the thundering of their hooves pounding into the soft dirt of the arena and the subtle whispers of encouragement from their riders.

The roping skills and cattle wrestling were exciting to witness. They really could lasso the cattle with ropes. This was not a TV myth!

If you’ve never smelled burning skin before, you will never forget or mistake it for anything else if and when you do.
This was physically demanding work, thinking back to the days of cattle drives in the not-so-long past. The cowboys of the day did this from sun up till sundown each day for months on end.
Their costumes were authentic. I took the opportunity to walk around and get acquainted with the organizers and players of the show.
The most important things of each and any cattle outfit of the day ……………… The Cook, The Chuck (food) Wagon, complete with a Grill, Coffee Pot, The Cowboy’s Rope and Saddle …….. and of course, their horses.
Friends (re-enactors at the event) I made earlier in the day, shared a lot of the history of the events of the era with me.
The next Historical Society event, coming up in a month’s time, was going to be held at the Bayview Cemetery in Corpus Christi (the city in which I lived at the time). They made me promise I would come, so we could get the chance to meet again.
This is an annual ceremony. Not a reenactment.
It is another one of events organized by the Living Historical Society of Texas, particularly to honor and make known, the history of the lives of the people laid to rest here. It is a brief window into their lives and contributions of the people at a particular time in the history of this city and country.
………. after which I pointed the ST11 in the direction of home.
True to Texas form, the road for this trip was straight and uneventful. I found myself beginning to pay attention to my surroundings. Great road surface quality and very few cars. The peace and quiet of the countryside. The open air and wide spaces over land as far as my eyes could see. The characteristics of the design of the ST11 made for a very planted, smooth, comfortable and stress-free trip. This is what she was designed for!
Pulling up at home around 7:30 that evening made for a seemingly short day. It had been a 12-hour trip.
My brain and ego were on fire, screaming with excitement together in the context of having been on a really long and exciting ride today.
All by myself! If my arms were any longer, I’d have been patting myself on the back!
“Yesss! I’m a true Sport Tourer/Long Rider now.
Don’t mess with me”! I had traveled a whopping 212miles today – round trip.
I had a new chip on my shoulder!
Little did I know that this trip, with respect to distance and time, would pale in comparison to what was yet to be in the near future, making this feel like a ride down the road to the neighborhood corner store.