TEXAS???

I am really trying to make the best of this place but when you keep getting the short end of the stick its just plain demoralizing. I finally made it to the local trail... did all my research as far as tire selection, when to ride, paid my club dues, the works...

As I approached the trail my heart started pumping, it had almost been a whole month since I rode some sweet single track. Parked my truck got out and was like a silly little school girl fumbling to get all my gear on. I couldn't do it fast enough. Then I was off... the first mile or so was pretty tame and fast with hard packed clay and some big rocks that where easy to roll over. Then I headed into some tight quarters with cactus very close to brushing my exposed skin...the adrenalin was kicking. The fear of falling into cactus made it feel like I was speeding through a construction zone on the freeway at 80mph... eyes strait ahead! Then finally I hit some really technical rock sections going up and down knowing that all those times I practiced track stands have definitely helped battle the harder elements of this course. During one of the climbs I notice my front tire had been losing air. I wasn't worried at first because I was running slime tubes but when I tried to air it up my presta-valve was caked with slime and the co2 couldn't penetrate. So there I was...stuck dead smack in the middle of this 10 mile trail. Didn't matter which way I walked I had to go 5 more miles pushing my bike. So off I went trying to keep a smile on my face and shrug off the fact I am a newby to mid-west riding. About a mile into pushing I encountered a rattle snake at about 4 feet... he was definitely stubborn and it took five hits with my bike tire before he shook his rattle and hid under a cacti bush. So after that little experience every grasshopper and cicada I heard sounded just like a rattle snake. It didn't make it easier that most of the rest of the trail I walked was just narrow enough for a bike tire surrounded by tall grass. The sun was then starting to set and I was surrounded by swarming mosquito's the size of horse flies biting me on my back and arms.

So tell me this...who in there right mind would voluntarily live in Texas? Especially if you enjoy trail riding... At least I have an excuse, I am working here because of my career option. I guess I will ride on the road until my tubeless tires arrive... and then I am going back to that wretched trail and make it my own personal challenge to get all the way through without walking next time.