That's not Gun Barrel City, Texas, I am referring to. It is the Alamo City of San Antonio. I have never had so much daring fun as I discovered Monday evening coming in from Richland Springs. I needed to leave 281 at Loop 410. This all happens at the San Antonio Airport entrance- exit. It was just after six when headlights are worthless and drivers go insane, their foot- feeds sticking at wide-open. The barrels came next....thousands of them...perhaps tens of thousands of orange barrels of fiberglass or plastic. Getting on loop 410 wasn't too hard. Soon I was heading for 87 and the highway to Nixon, or so I thought. Somehow 410 disappeared and I was on I 35 heading to Austin. After a few miles I was able to exit and I headed back on 35 toward 410. Finally on 410, and sure I was heading right I relaxed a little...and then a large green overhead sign. DOWNTOWN AND ALAMO TWO MILES. I definitely didn't want to go to either, so I exited and dodged a few thousand barrels as I finally headed in the opposite direction. I am now frustrated, nervous, edgy, and getting run into(almost) by all the speeders. After a few miles I saw a sign for Boerne. THIS IS NOT RIGHT! I exited. More barrels. Finally I was back on 410 again heading for the Alamo and Downtown. I finally came to I 35 and IT WAS THE WAY to downtown and the Alamo. I hung in there and finally began to see a familiar sight or two. Highway 87 was a most welcome highway. I don't know how many hours I spent in dodging barrels and people out to kill me with their sports cars. I am still amazed at what happened.I went to a San Antonio city map and saw the picture in the light of day. Loop 410 takes you to I 35. You are then on 35, like it or not. You make a choice which direction on 35. I didn't know that. I didn't want to BE on I 35! After a few miles, if you went the right direction on 35, you will arrive at a 410 exit. It is an amazing mess. If this loop had existed in the 1830's Santa Ana would never have found the Alamo!
Avoid 410 at all cost, at least that end of it. It is only for professional drivers. Frozen badly at the lease. Twenty-six Monday morning. I went out but the deer and hogs were smarter. I may be through for the season. Remember, if you go to Barrel City avoid 410!!!!!!. A footnote: I came to a flashing sign on 410 after I was going right. It said: 410 CLOSED AT 8:00 PM UNTIL 6:00 A. M.! Some later travelers were in for a bigger shock. They just needed to remember to follow the barrel highway wherever it takes them.
