Giant Killer Bees!!!

Tired of sitting around every afternoon, we ignored clouds threatening rain and hopped the bike for a 2 hour (round trip) ride.  From Harlingen to Hildago, TX 281 is not particularly scenic or picturesque.  The view consists mainly of fields in various stages of  plant growth

uncut bushes,

and small towns with the usual mix of  new and old houses and business. 

Our turnaround point was here, close by the Hildago City Hall.  

According to RoadsideAmerica.com (in 1998), killer bees have been around since the 1950's when some African queens escaped from a lab in South America.  "Their volatile spawn migrated north, growing nastier with each succeeding generation."  In 1990 they arrived in the US at Hildago, TX.  Mayor John Frantz capitalized on the event by proclaiming Hildago the Killer Bee Capital of the World.

In 1992 he obtained $20,000 from the city budget to build the World's Largest Killer Bee.  

(The bee is enclosed in a web of lights.)

I kept my distance, but Duane felt adventurous and got too close to that deadly stinger.  Fortunately I was able to rescue him.  I told him that he'd better get out of there or  I would have to drive the bike home.  

He moves pretty fast for an old man!

Louise and Duane