General Cycling Discussion - Nasty haze in Texas

Ugh! If the darned love-bugs weren't bad enough (and they are plenty bad this time of year) we also get treated to the yearly dose of this nasty thick haze that blankets south Texas due to agricultural fires from Mexico. This time of year the Mexicans burn their fields to prepare them for planting the upcoming crops -- the problem is that when too many fires are burning and many going out of control then you get this huge cloud of smoke that follows the prevailing winds and really messes up the air here in Texas. When it gets bad enough (like it did in 1998) they issue health warnings and advisories and the air is thick enough to chew almost. I wish someone would go down there and teach these geniuses how to farm their land WITHOUT SETTING THEIR ENTIRE DAMN COUNTRY ON FIRE!!! :irritated

Here's a satellite pic of the smoke plume:

I was in Austin in 98. The smoke was thick like it was burning right in Austin. I had an allergic reaction to the smoke ended up with a massive migrain. I was driving at the time from San Jose Ca. to Austin and back. I made it back to Ca.. But on the way back to Austin the headache just got worse and worse. About Las Cruces N.M. I noticed that when I talked on the C.B. my speech was slurred. So I parked the truck and went to the emergency room. To make a long story short my blood pressure shot up over 200. Then the doctor told me they had to get the pressure down or I was going to have a stroke. well they got it down but it scared the c**p out of me . So I dont go back to Austin when they are burning down in Mexico.

All the cars and trucks in the US don't make as much polution as mexican farmers. The smoke can be smelled and seen day and night far north of Austin. Maybe they'd get the message if we dropped all our solid waste on Mexico City, then again maybe they couldn't tell the difference. Your right to polute Mr. Fox ends at the border.

North winds in Dallas today. Clear air. Lower temps. It was a nice day to go riding.

The smoke hasn't been bothering me at all. But those damn love bugs are another story. Literally rode through clouds of them this weekend. Yuck.

It has been gawdawful up until yesterday (yeah cold front
and north wind), must be what its like to smoke
3 packs of camel unfiltered a day, does not make for the most
pleasant of riding experiences.
Then again, riding through a swarm of luv bugs is pretty
bad too. . .

Marty

We actually cut our ride short Saturday because of the haze crud.

Had to make my visit to the allergist today to try and get over this crud that is in my nose which was provoked by the smoke.

I feel sick all the time right now. I went to Big Bend in '98 and it was BAD out there. you could hardly see across the basian from emory peak

Hey at least with NAFTA, you can import your smoke with no tarriffs

I'm with ya. I rode last Wednesday when the temps. were in the low 90's and with the combination of humidity, wind and smoke, I had a headache and was getting the "I'm too hot" tingles after about 35 miles.....hung it up early.

Comparatively, yesterday was beautiful!!!! Will this wind settle a bit?

I am knocking on wood here, but East Texas hasn't been too bad with the haze lately....NOR with love bugs! I remember the love bugs being so bad some years you could not stay outside for any length of time. And try to get those buddies off your car...UGH!

Originally posted by MsVicki
I am knocking on wood here, but East Texas hasn't been too bad with the haze lately....NOR with love bugs! I remember the love bugs being so bad some years you could not stay outside for any length of time. And try to get those buddies off your car...UGH!

hehe I'm glad I live in the desert... no bugs! :D