An Unforgettable Finish: My Police-Escorted Ride to South Padre Island

Selfie of a cyclist being escorted across the South Padre Island bridge by multiple police vehicles, with a view of turquoise water and traffic in the background.

Sometimes it’s not the miles or the mountains that make a bicycle tour memorable — it’s the unexpected kindness of strangers.

In 2020, I set out to ride my bicycle from Texhoma, right on the Texas-Oklahoma border, all the way down to South Padre Island. The purpose? To raise funds to save a small nonprofit dessert truck in Lubbock, Texas. What made this food truck special was its mission: employing young adults with developmental disabilities. It was a cause close to my heart, and I was determined to make it.

The 12-day ride was hot and grueling, but filled with meaningful moments — including coverage from local TV stations who helped amplify the message. But the most unforgettable moment came when I reached Port Isabel, just 40 miles from the finish line, and discovered that bicycles weren’t allowed on the bridge to South Padre Island.

I was stunned. After riding nearly 1,000 miles, was I really going to be forced to stop just short of my destination?

Then something incredible happened.

An ex-policeman who had been following my ride online reached out. He had a contact in the Port Isabel Police Department. I made the call, explained the story, and within hours I had an official police escort arranged to take me across the 2-mile bridge.

View from a cyclist's perspective of a police vehicle escorting across the final stretch of the South Padre Island bridge, with palm trees and high-rise buildings in the distance.

As if that weren’t amazing enough, a state trooper joined the escort too.

Riding across that bridge, surrounded by flashing lights and uniformed officers who believed in what I was doing, was one of the greatest honors of my cycling life. It wasn’t just about reaching the end — it was about how people I'd never met stepped up to help make it possible.

Sure, it would’ve been nice if bikes were allowed on the bridge. But honestly, that roadblock led to something far more memorable. It reminded me that the journey isn’t just about the destination — it’s about community, compassion, and the way people come together when the mission matters.

To everyone who donated, followed along, or helped in any way — thank you. You made this ride unforgettable.

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