MISSION CONCA, SIERRA GORDA: MARCH 10
The bridge a few kilometres short of Conca crosses a gorge below the junction of two rivers. One river is fed by thermal springs. Thick trunked trees shade the beaches on the far bank. A shed shared by half a dozen entrepreneurs serves barbecue meats and chicken. I park the bike the near end of a line of pick-ups and order chicken and a cold beer.
Three black on white geese waddle by - followed by two laggards. Canned Mexican weep-music wails from speakers. Two families unload from Texas-registered used cars. Men roll their pants up. Women hike their skirts. Small kids are stripped to swim suits. The current draws patterns as they wade in the river.
A man in his mid-thirties fetches my beer and sits at the table. He wears an embroidered denim shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots.
He says, Yes, the money for the new construction I've noticed comes from the North. Many men from the Sierra Gorda work in the North.
One of the geese takes flight and lands midstream.
I remark the two Texas-registered cars. Every man working in the North returns with a used car or a used truck. Halt illegal immigration and the US market in used cars would collapse.
The riverbank cowboy brings my barbecue chicken and seats himself again. I remark that prior to the road, burros were the sole transport. They still are off the road, he tells me. Some burros travel by pickup to where they are required – four-legged burros and two-legged burros.
Two more geese take to the water and a white butterfly zigzags on the breeze. Chicken is tasty, beer is cold, enjoyable conversation. Another good day...
