Bluebonnets, bikes, and buddies

Hi everyone,

We had a hard time getting out of the RV park this AM in Austin.  Just seemed that there were a lot of details to attend to plus getting Katy outfitted and her bike ready to go.  Lisa brought her by at about 9:15 and they had stopped at a bakery near Lisa's house.  Delicious goodies were enjoyed by all.  Although Lisa gave us explicit directions out of the park and onto the correct road, I managed to make the wrong turn right away.  Lisa saw me do it and called to tell us but we realized it ourselves and were able to correct it really quickly.  Poor Lisa must have been shaking her head.

Paula and I stopped just short of Bastrop, TX to wait for the THREE riders.  It was about a 30 mile ride.  They arrived at about 12:15.  Katy's hip was bothering her so she decided to ride the rest of the day with us.  We had lunch and then the guys started out again at 1:00.  We three girls stopped at yet another bike shop in Bastrop for more tubes (this is our "insurance policy" so that we do not have any flats!  Wish it would work!!We then tried to follow the bikers through a state park.  As we entered the ranger came over to the RV and suggested to us that we probably wouldn't want to continue into the park because of the overhanging trees.  She said that they could do some major damage to an RV of our size.  So I did a U-turn out of the park and we took a more major highway into La Grange.  (an amusing story from last night.  We asked Lisa to google a map for us today from Austin  to La Grange.  When she typed in the  city names the map came up with a direct route to La Grange , IL. ) .

As we drove into town we saw a hillside  of bluebonnets, the TX state flower.  They are just now starting to bloom and when in a big bed are simply breathtaking.  We had to drive by to find a place to park and go back to take a picture and in so doing we passed a Texas Stop Sign  (a Dairy Queen).  We couldn't park there so continued around the town and parked on a side street.  We walked back to the highway to take pictures of the flowers.  We actually had to stand on the road to take the pictures.  As we walked back to the RV a man stepped out in front of us from a driveway and started taking our picture.  I thought that some local was taking a picture of the crazy tourists taking pictures of his flowers.  Well the man lowered his camera and it was Howard Swan along with Ann.  We knew that they were going to try to catch up with us on their way home from Dallas where they were visiting their daughter Karen and her family, but we weren't sure just where they would find us.  As they drove into town he saw us taking the pictures of the bluebonnets.  We all went to the DQ and waited for Dave and Mike to join us.  Howard took pictures of them coming down the highway and Dave was really surprised to see them as well.  

They followed us to an RV park here in LaGrange.  We got parked and they went to find a nearby motel where they got the last available room.  They came back and we drove about 15 miles away to Fayetteville to a great little saloon called Joe's Place for Texas BBQ.  The town is very small but so quaint with old houses, many of which have been restored to their original style.  We had a great time talking and sharing stories.  Thanks, Howard and Ann, for a wonderful treat.

Tonight Mike is staying outside so that Katy can be in the RV.  It is a beautiful night and we hope that he gets a good rest. Went about 75 miles today.  Just 2 more nights in Texas.  We have been here a total of 12 nights so far.  A big state!!

Nite, ya'll,
Lana