TEXAS TEST FLIGHT - DAY 13

Ride report: 60.0 miles (TODAY’S BREAKING NEWS: I didn’t get lost - not even once), 542.0 total miles,  14.2 mph avg, 4,719 calories, 3,241 ft. climbing.

Today’s ride started at the Buchanan Dam NW of Austin and ended in Leander, a NW Austin Suburb.  Tho it was the typical 60 miles I considered abandoning for the day at Susan’s rest stop/lunch in Bertram.  PB&J and cookie dough, if you must know.  It was Susan's idea.  She says I wasn't in the mood for much else.  The wind, predicted to be 8-12 mph out of the SSE ended up at about 15 steady with gusts to 21 - if “Accu”weather is to be believed.  I think it was all of that.  To the uninitiated, this means that the entire 60 miles was pretty much into a headwind.  And the first 36 miles to Bertram was the hilliest.

With the complaining done, I gotta say that the scenery was great.  Apparently Llano County is known for granite outcropping - they were in evidence along today’s route as the pics below will confirm.  Granite outcroppings are like all other hills - they look better from a distance and when going down them.  (OK- one last complaint.)  Thankfully, after Bertram the route profile was generally downhill.  Don’t misunderstand, there were still hills.  But overall the elevation was decreasing rather than increasing.  I felt better when I got to Leander than I did at Bertram.

As a final side bar before getting to the pics...

The reader may recall one of my earlier posts in which I showed a flood gauge at a low water crossing.  Apparently there are different types.  Along today’s route I encountered a low spot in the road with one of those 8 foot fences on one side of the road.  Located about 5 feet above ground level was a young raccoon.  Sorry, a dead young raccoon - stuck in the fence.  I was left to conclude that high water had deposited the carcass.  An effective means of tracking water depth - unless you happen to be the afflicted raccoon.

So - pics...

The Colorado River at Buchanan Dam.  Impressive.

One of many granite outcroppings.  This one appears to have suffered a recent fire and had a bunch of wildflowers to boot.  In Inks Lake State Park.

Also in Inks Lake State Park.  All very nice.  Until the three mile climb getting outta here.

Somewhere along the route this afternoon.  Its an advertisement for an RV resort South of Bertram - a town of maybe 1,300 people.  While their advertising is eye catching, even more surprising was the PRIVATE AIRFIELD for the RV resort.  Needless to say, it was populated with high dollar, new, class As.  The kind that run 300-500k.  Wowza!  Private airfield (shakes head)...

And to close out the day we unlimbered the scooter for a 19 mile jaunt from our campground to a restaurant called "The Oasis At The Lake".  Google it.  The place is amazing.  Tiered open air seating combined with enclosed seating for up to 3,000.  Unfortunately (as you can see) we didn't get to see a sunset.

Also at The Oasis.  I can't explain it, I just take the pictures...

Don't bother me.  I'm thinking...

A view of the dining area below ours.  Gives some perspective on the view.

The shoreline from our dining area,

Why am I not surprised?  Damn Yankees?  OK - I'll buy that.

Some of the houses along the shoreline beside The Oasis.

Its inexplicable, but Susan keeps taking these pics for me...

Till next time.

TEXAS TEST FLIGHT - DAY 12

Ride report: 64.9 miles (I got lost.  More on this later - sound familiar?), 482.0 total miles,  15.5 mph avg, 5,168 calories, 3,392 ft. climbing.

This whole getting lost thing was really no big deal.  Susan says she sees a consistent theme here.  I pay her no mind.  Turns out I stayed on 965 N out of Fredericksburg when I was supposed to be on Crabapple until it intersected with 965.  Regardless, I ended up at the intersection of Crabapple and 965.  Pretty much a no-harm-no-foul sorta thing.  Susan says I was lost.  I maintain that I couldn’t be lost if I was standing at the right intersection.  As I was standing there pondering the mysteries of my ACA map, a little old lady pulled up and I took the opportunity to ask her for directions.  She was very nice and gave me directions to Welgehausen road when I asked, “Just 3/4 mile up the road.  And if you don’t mind me asking, why on earth are you going that way to get to Llano?”  Whereupon I had to explain the concept of ACA maps, bicycle tourism, and an apparent desire to find the tallest hills around.  She assured me I was on the right track.  She wasn’t kidding.

I must say that Welgehausen Road and County Road 111 North out of Fredericksburg are some of the most scenic routes I’ve ridden yet in Hill Country.  Flowers were everywhere,  as were butterflies.  Scenic vistas, creek bottoms, cliffs - on several occasions I would come around a corner and just exclaim, “Wow!”  Oh yes - and lest I forget, the steepest grade of the trip was encountered today - 17%.  As I labored up it, I was passed by a Monarch butterfly headed the same direction.  I tried to chat him up, but he was in no mood for idle conversation as he was suffering up the same grade.  I didn’t push the issue, he seemed irritable enough as he mumbled, “Outta my way.  Tourists!"”

So - on to today’s pictures...

I knew cactus didn't need much soil, but this was a new one for us.

Address: Middle of No-where, Tx.  00000

Average Hill Country Face

17% Hill Country Face.  Also known as "Anticipatory Ouch-Face"

Part of CR 111 was torn up down to the sand - I'd say dirt but there wasn't any here.  I wondered what was going on, so I chatted up Dave who works for the County - he's not an SB since he doesn't work for Tx-DOT. Turns out last fall's rains soaked thru to the roadbed and the clay under the road swells when wet thus "heaving" the road.  Kinda like freeze heaving in Kansas, but swollen clay is the cause rather than frozen water.  Made the road suck in places, but I learned something today.  The guy in the roller raced me to the other end of the "fix".  It was no contest.  Him and the butterfly came out ahead...

There was just a whole lotta this today.  But this was the only time the blue, orange and white flowers intermingled.

Downtown Llano.  Very 20s.  Kinda cool.

And the courthouse was impressive.

Till next time.

TEXAS TEST FLIGHT - DAY 11

 Ride report: 75.6  miles (I got lost.  More on this later), 417.1 total miles,  15.0 mph avg, 6,258 calories, 5,456 ft climbing. (Yes - you read that right.)

Getting lost really wasn't my fault.   I knew that after meeting Susan for lunch in Johnson City  I had to turn within a few hundred yards of leaving the RV.  I was going to Fredericksburg and I was supposed to be on a highway numbered in the 200s.  One would think that would be enough to navigate to the correct location.  Turns out that Texas decided that both highways 290 and 281 should pass thru Johnson City.  I see the sign that says Fredericksburg and a highway numbered 290 - naturally I turned left.  However, 2.5 miles later my ACA map was telling me that I should have crossed the Pedernales River when I had clearly done no such thing.  Hmmm...  What are the odds that neither the state of Texas or the ACA know what they're doing?  At 3.5 miles I decided that the odds had diminished sufficiently to actually think about it and concluded that I had taken a wrong turn.  Such is life.  3.5 miles later (a total of 7 miles out and back) I was back where I was supposed to be.  Susan was still lounging in the RV.  I called her to let her know what had happened and pulled out of town.  So there ya have it - a directionally challenged guy's version of reality...

As you might imagine, with that much climbing there was a lot of this today.

The Sequoia just couldn't pass this one up.

Same location - different shot.  The Bluebonnets were more impressive in person.

Steepest decent of the day.  I had just hit about 40 mph when I scanned the radius of the curve and saw something in the road.  Something in my head took me back to the ACA map's reference to cattle guards and I hit the brakes.  Just in time.  I stopped after the cattle crossing to check out the low water crossing.  The water was running about 8 inches deep across the road.  The ACA folks suggest walking thru these as moss may make the road slick.  They had no idea the temps wold be barely above 50 degrees.  No way I'm doing that.  I rode thru.  Managed to only get my left foot wet.

These were all inside an 8 foot fence on some ranch.  I'm still trying to decide if they're pets or targets waiting for deer season in the fall.  There are certainly a lot of buck in the pic.  I'm leaning toward targets.

In keeping with the guys desire to take their pictures with large plants...  They don't grow these this big in Kansas either.

This was a small one.  He was in a pasture right across the road from...

...this big one.  As I was standing there, the small one started bellowing at the big one.  I watched two bulls fight and tear down a fence between two pastures when I was a kid.  Not wanting to stand between two love struck bulls and the object of their desire, I left forthwith.

Jut showing my eye for an artsy shot here.  The juxtaposition of the prickly cacti contrasted with the softness of the bluebonnets, when combined with the last standing section of wooden fencing leaves the viewer with a more complete understanding of nature's grandeur...

Hows THAT for artsy!

Yeah - there was a whole lotta this today.

And also a lot of this.  Sometimes the bluebonnets were so thick I could smell them as I rode past.  Very nice.

This was just a typical view.

Ah - the Texas state bird.  These things are all over the place.  I think I saw a bike jersey in that pile of vultures.  One of em followed me for several miles uphill.  He was flying just behind me encouraging me to work harder.  Hmmm... 

Then there was this - the Texas state scaly animal.  The observant viewer will note that he's sipping from a Corona.

This thing was prolly 4-5 ft. tall and 12 ft. long.

Till next time.

TEXAS TEST FLIGHT - DAY 10

Ride report: None - rest day in Austin

As promised, we did little but goof off today.  We slept late.  Susan’s reaction to birds in the morning is much the same as her reaction to loud diesel trucks in the middle of the night.  Birds apparently being harder to intimidate than young men driving loud trucks, we got up.

We figured to stop by a local bike shop and have some adjustments done on Delta’s front derailleur before catching lunch.  It was chattering against the chain at the top and bottom end of the cassette’s gear range.  I had noticed that the micro-trim adjustment wasn’t functioning at all.  So, off to Bike World on Lamar Avenue we went.  Once again, very nice people.  Told us to go have some lunch and they’d have it done when we got back.  They did - and for only $25.  And speaking of lunch...

We tried to get some BBQ last nite at Black’s BBQ just a half mile away.  The line was out the door, off the property and down the street - crazy.  We demurred.  Playing the thinking man’s game we elected to go back for lunch today.  When we made it there shortly before noon, the line was out the door but still on the property.  We stayed.  25 minutes later we were eating BBQ brisket sandwiches.  Very good.  While in line we chatted up a couple from Manhattan (no not that one - New York) who had flown down to meet friends and watch some professional golf tournament, but what with it being so cold and windy they decided to skip the golf and try the BBQ.  They were very nice and when they learned of The Thin Blue Ride asked lots of questions.  At first they thought when I said “bike” I meant motorcycle.  Susan disabused them of that notion.  This was followed immediately by “Are you crazy?”  As it happens the answer to this question is yes, but it has been a life long affliction and has nothing to do with bicycles.

Looking at tomorrow’s temperatures, I anticipate a late start.  I didn’t come down here to ride in the cold.  I can do that in Kansas.  Well - OK - I’m gonna be riding in the cold tomorrow regardless.  But we’re at least gonna let it hit 50 before the first pedal stroke.  That  should be around 1100.  So it looks like the birds will get a chance to redeem themselves tomorrow morning.

Anyway, let the promised cheesey tourist pics commence...

Apparently all the really good BBQ places have an entirely separate building with smoke pouring out the top.  And we solicited a random UT student to take our pic under the sign.

This is on the grounds of the state capital in Austin.  C'mon - really?  I know that in today's world as soon as firefighters sees a camera, one of them is designated as the "kid grabber" for the photo op.  Really, I never see a picture of a firefighter that isn't holding a kid or a kitty - but in the 1870s?  How does that work?   Artist  -"Hey, we need a fire fighter to stand still while we do all the stuff we do to be able to cast him in bronze."  (Firefighter grabs kid?)  I can't imagine that's a quick process.  How long can those guys keep a whiney toddler compliant?  Not that I'm bitter or anything...

I'll grant Texans this: their state capital is fairly impressive. I think its all red granite.  The structure in the foreground goes down three stories.

And when we walked up to the edge, this was going on down there...

This one is from under the pedestrian bridge from "our" side of the river looking North toward downtown.

Just to prove we were actually there...

Where's Waldo now?

Cheesey tourists love this kinda shot...

The iconic UT tower.  Google it for the details.

So I'm standing there minding my own business on the state capital grounds and this happens...  BTW - the Chinese tourists think I'm hilarious.  Apparently word has gotten that far.  I expect the Chinese internet censors to edit me out of existence shortly.

So - there ya have it.  If these don't constitute cheesey tourist pics, I don't know what does.

Well - OK.  IF the other's don't qualify I'm sure this one does...

Till next time.

TEXAS TEST FLIGHT - DAY 9

Ride report: 32.2  miles, 341.5 total miles,  15.9 mph avg, 2,446 calories, 971 ft climbing.

It was a light climbing day.  Delta stayed home today and the Sequoia got to go out to play.  Delta whined, but the Sequoia deserves some time and I needed to see if Ben at Pathfinder in Manhattan had managed to run down the source of the creak when I pedaled hard.  He did - and on very short notice.  Thanks Ben and Pathfinder.  Anyway - we had to get from the Guadalupe River drainage along which Hunt, Ingram and Kerrville sit and over to the Pedernales River drainage where Fredericksburg is located.  I figured there'd be a big hill to climb between the two.  Turns out it was  just outside of Kerrville.  Nothing compared to the last couple of days tho.  It seems that hills do to riders what a slow boiled pot does to frogs - look it up.  That's a colloquial way of saying that my definition of bad hills has changed markedly over the last two days.  Today's version - meh...

You may notice that today's ride was also rather short when compared to previous days.  This was by design.  Susan and I thought a short day today would be best because we drove to Austin (where I now sit comfortably ensconced at the Pecan Grove RV Park just across the river from downtown Austin) after she picked me up at Fredericksburg.  We wanted to get here early enough to take care of some chores (primarily laundry) before our rest day tomorrow.  So - the plan for tomorrow is to do some exploring and eat some BBQ.  Susan is skeptical.  Turns out that Austin is having  a cold snap.  At least that's how I'd define it.  It seems that Susan believes were's in the depths of a Siberian winter. This affliction apparently being common among the same set chromosome crowd, she is not alone.  She says we'll go out when it "warms up".  I plan for August.

I did manage a couple of pics on the ride today - both are historical markers.  They're included immediately below...



















And quite interestingly, we stopped at a truck stop (where else) to eat some lunch today and as we were looking out the front window of the RV, two different classic Mustangs pulled up to the same pump maybe 10 minutes apart.  Both driven by the same guy.  OK - that's too much for me.  I had to go ask.  Turns out the has FOUR and was getting them out of the garage since spring has sprung (mixed chromosomes).  One was very interesting - it was a 1978 Mustang II.  Almost no one restores these cars as they're not considered a classic Mustang.  The other was a red 64 1/2 - and if ya have to ask you're not a Mustang person...  They both looked sharp.  As proof, I proffer these two photos...

Finally, our digs for the night and the restaurant where we ate this evening.  Just in case ya can't read the sign, it was the Shady Grove Restaurant.  Texans love "groves".

Oh - we unlimbered the scooter for tomorrow's tour of the City.

In closing, let the reader be warned.  No ride report tomorrow as its a rest day.  I'll still post, but anticipate cheesey tourist pics.  And some details on the cold snap.  Tonight's low in Austin is supposed to be about 46, tomorrow night's low about 42 and Monday night in Fredericksburg is gonna be around 35!  So -in the cheesey tourist pics, anticipate that at least one of us will be in winter attire.  If the "Accu"weather guys are right - maybe both...

Till next time