There hasn’t been a drop of rain on this entire trip, but I woke up in Rio Grande City to find sheets of water coming out of the sky. South Texas’s prayers have been answered. Cattle ranches won’t have to sell off cows, and all the onions, cabbage, and corn I’ve passed will make it from farm to fork.

Bags packed, I pedaled 100 yards from my motel to the Denny’s next door. I used to hate Denny’s before taking off on this bike trip, but that was back when I had standards, rules, and best practices concerning the calories I consumed. It’s not a well-advertised deal, but for $4 they will bring you as many buttermilk pancakes as you can eat.