I'm not exactly a country & western music fan, but my immediate thoughts were "I've Been Everywhere, Man," which I see has already been mentioned, a couple of Texas-related songs--"Miles & Miles of Texas" (Asleep At The Wheel) & "Amarillo By Morning" (George Strait), and, just because I love John Prine, I'll go with "That Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore." Not sure if Prine is exactly a country artist though. Speaking of not exactly country artists, maybe I should throw in "Dead Flowers" (The Rolling Stones).

I've heard you can do that, but have not been around ripe ones for a few decades, so have not tried.

I think you can burn them off, like with a lighter, then cook them. And I learned a new word today... "glochids." Thanks, as always, Bill!

Glochids!

If you can figure out how to get rid of them, the fruit is great!

It has been decades, but I do remember!!!

Do I detect another off-color disguised pun... ?

You know, I think you're right. He isn't. I'll remedy that shortly.

Just imagine the richness you’ve brought into his life. :)

I do detect a certain lack of Buck Owens in that list. You might be able to improve Klaus’ life even more with another recommendation. “Today I Started Loving You Again” would be a good start. :):)

2024 update:
Klaus has since become a big Willie Nelson fan, and even has some vinyl LPs.

This is the list of the songs I got in the comments section when I originally wrote this back in 2008. They're in the order they were posted. For all you Country aficionados, feel free to add some additional ones in the comments section.

Johnny Cash:
A Boy Named Sue
Ring of Fire
Folsom Prison Blues
I've Been Everywhere, Man
I Walk the Line
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Kenny Rogers:
Lady
Every Time Two Fools Collide (with Dottie West)
Know When to Hold'em
Glen Campbell:
Galveston
Rhinestone Cowboy
Garth Brooks:
Friends in Low Places
The Dance
If Tomorrow Never Comes
Roy Orbison:
Pretty Woman
Charlie Pride:
Kiss an Angel Good Morning
Conway Twitty:
Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man (with Loretta Lynn)
George Jones:
He Stopped Loving Her Today
Willie Nelson:
Always On My Mind
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Mama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys
Georgia on my Mind
Dolly Parton:
I Will Always Love You
Jolene
Patsy Cline:
Crazy
Tammy Wynette:
Stand By Your Man
David Frizzell:
I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate our Home
Tanya Tucker:
Delta Dawn
Randy Travis:
For Ever and Ever, Amen
Waylon Jennings:
Amanda
Good Hearted Woman
Hank Williams:
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Your Cheatin' Heart
Hank Williams, Jr.:
A Country Boy Can Survive
All My Rowdy Friends
Mary Robbins:
El Paso
Alabama:
Feels So Right
My Home's in Alabama
Statler Brothers:
The Class of 57
I'll Go to my Grave Loving You
Reba McEntire:
Fancy
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia
Lee Greenwood:
God Bless the USA
Rascal Flats:
God Bless the Broken Road
Freddy Fender:
Before the Next Teardrop Falls
John Denver:
Annie's Song
Country Roads
Jimmy Buffett:
Margaritaville
Sammi Smith:
Help Me Make It Through the Night
George Strait:
All My Ex's Live in Texas
Barbara Mandrell:
I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool
Charlie Rich:
Behind Closed Doors
Jerry Lee Lewis:
Great Balls of Fire
Ronnie Milsap:
It Was Almost Like a Song
Merle Haggard:
If We Make It Through December
Ernest Tubb:
Waltz Across Texas
Johnny Paycheck:
Take This Job and Shove It
Sammy Kershaw:
Queen of my Double Wide Trailer
Charlie Daniels Band:
The Devil Went Down to Georgia
Bobby Bare:
Drop-Kick Me, Jesus

and one person suggested, for Klaus specifically:
I Like Beer, by Tom T. Hall

If I recall, the Southern Tier is on your list of possibilities. Having ridden it, I suggest an East-to-West direction. I had very few days without a headwind.

Thanks for reading and for the comments!

I read that comment in the Forum, and have since packed some cotton balls with my patch kit. Fortunately, I haven't needed to try it out. :-)

"The wind today was like an post-adolescent boy on a date: calm and cool at first, but hot, heavy, and in your face by the end. " An apt description assuming my memories from a half century ago are correct - great writing!

Interesting plant! I seem to learn something new about it every now and then ever since we camped outside Mojave when we moved there from Ft Wayne, IN in 1956.

That's a really interesting article. I didn't know any of that, and also found that the information I heard and posted about the leaves may not be accurate. As the article says, "Now, however, it has been shown that the root systems of mature creosote plants are simply so efficient at absorbing water that fallen seeds nearby cannot accumulate enough water to germinate, effectively creating dead zones around every plant."

Finding puncture causing stuff:

Many years ago on the now defunct "Phred" bike touring web site, I read that you can carry a wad of cotton in the patch kit and rub it back and forth inside the tire, where the offender will catch fibers so you can spot it without bloodshed. Works a trick! Carried a wad ever since.