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Monday, 16 April 2012
Sunday, 15 April 2012
No Rain but Hot, Hot Day to Coldspring 64.4 miles.
Didn't sleep too well at Dave's, too hot. Bev made us a lovely breafast of mini bacon quiches, egg and bacon flan, melon, strawberries and muffins (?). The americans put everything on the one plate mixing hot and cold. Not for me. Dave ferried us all back to Navasota and another 64.4 mile day beckoned. Beautiful wooded, Sam Houston State Park stretched on both sides of the road often showing signs of fire damage. This is a major problem here and the rangers have signs posted stating the threat level. Thankfully low at the moment. Cycled across bridge at Lake Conroe, very windy. Butterflys flit everywhere, one even went down my t-shirt and hitched a lift for the next 30 miles. They cling to the road surface, so tiny, probably for warmth making them difficult to avoid. Also, a snake slithered across my path, I swerved, and it swerved back into my path
but I managed to avoid it. There are Churches around every corner, or so it seems, must make a point of counting them tomorrow. No rain during cycle, but hot, very hot. I went into a store to buy an ice-cream and when I came out the heat hit me like a wall. I don't drink nearly as much as the rest, don't feel the need, but think it is something I will need to redress as I felt a bit sluggish today. As I write, 5.00pm the rain has come on, pouring down, thunder too. Maybe clear the air, first rain I have seen in 6 weeks ( just saying ). Oh, it looks as though it is going off, we have had our 15 minutes worth, sun back out again. Lovely.....still loving it...
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On the Road to Navasota
Smallest Catholic Church in the World, Longhorn Cattle, Spike being Loaded on the Van, Dave's House, (no picture of front of house, will try and get one)
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Heading East to Navasota, Texas - 66.6 miles
Slept not too badly after my 100 miler. Another 66.6 miles to do today. Set off with Todd and Merv and felt strong. After 20 miles we cycled through a small village and I eventually had my pancake breakfast, a pancake stack, maple syrup, and egg 'over easy'. I was so happy and cruised the next 30 miles. More lush Texas scenery, it just goes on and on, overcast with a crosswind but very warm. Dave, our leader, lives near Navasota so we are staying at his house tonight. All 13 of us are sleeping on beds or available floor space. Fortunately, it is a huge, beautiful, ranch type house, plenty land with a lake in the grounds. His wife, Bev, had snacks ready for us and we are going out for a BBQ later, followed by desserts back at the house. I am so impressed with Southern Hospitality. Another example happened yesterday when we came upon workmen tarrying a road We couldn't pass and the foreman offered to get in his truck and look for a bypass road. We had our maps so worked things out for ourselves. He then offered to fill up our water bottles from his supply. So considerate. We have a couple of more days in Texas but we are out of the Texas Hill Country and are now officially in the Deep South. Very hot tonight but it is raining outside, what is that stuff, hope it goes off before morning, don't really care cause.....still loving it....
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Saturday, 14 April 2012
Rested, Invigorated and Then.......
Spike and I woke this morning in good form and ready to roll. No squeaky noises so his 'spit and polish' must have done him some good. Left at first light with Todd and Merv and made our careful way out of rush hour Austin. All seemed to be going well until we took a wrong turning and added an extra 14 miles, all hills of course, to our day. Our 79 mile day was turning into a nightmare - hiils, winds and now over 90 miles. Not the best and we couldn't even take the time to stop for pancakes..Aaahh. We cycled through Bastrop State Park which was devastated by forest fires last September. High winds brought down power lines which started two seperate fires which joined up. 1400 homes were lost and a large area affected. The community is still reeling from the impact. We plodded on into the wind and I could see the mileage creeping up - I decided if the total was over 94 miles when we reached La Grange I was continuing so as to reach my first 100 miles. It was 94.2 miles, I checked in first, then went back out again with Todd to make up the 100 miles and I did it, 100.2 miles. My first and my last century. It was a unexpected hard day which in the end gave me a bit of a boost. We are in the area of the famed Chisholm Trail. This was not a single route but a network, that fed into a main spine, for driving Texas Longhorn Cattle between Austin and Wichita. Jesse Chisholm was a trader, knew the country well, spoke Indian languages, and was in demand as an interpreter and guide. Among those Chisholm shared the route with was William Mathewson, better known as Buffalo Bill. This country continues to fascinate and surprise me, till tomorrow.....still loving it.....
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