Halfway and just west of Austin

Hi Everyone,

We are just west of Wimberly, TX tonight, 6 miles short of our goal.  The steep hills slowed the bikers down and a late start didn't help.

We got away from our campsite in Ingram at a good time this AM (7:50) but only went a few miles to meet 2 newspaper reporters at the Walmart parking lot in Kerrville.  They were very interested and Dave took a long time explaining the reason for the trip and his background with the camps, etc.   

When the guys finally took off it was 9:40.  Paula and I finished up some shopping at Walmart and then drove on to the bike shop in Kerrville.  It didn't open until 10 so I paid a short visit to the health food store nearby.  Picked up some energy mix for the water bottles.  The bike shop had only 2 of the slime tubes so they are now in our possession.  After getting gas Paula and I headed out to find out how far Dave and Mike had gotten.  We drove our usual 20 miles and didn't see them so kept going.  We finally called them when we felt we had driven much farther than they could possibly have biked.  Sure enough they were way behind us.  Turns out we had taken the wrong route for a few miles and they were waiting in that short section we missed.  They found some freshly made tacos at a gas station and had plenty of water so we just stopped and waited for them to catch up.  

the riding today was like yesterday with lots of steep hills and some great downhill coasting, but as we approached Blanco and got closer to Austin the traffic really picked up.  Of course, it is Friday and people are going places as well as coming home from work.  the narrow roads we are using, with no shoulders and blind curves are treacherous when cars and trucks are at a minimum, but at this time of day it is very dangerous.  Some drivers resent giving any road space to bikes and seem to enjoy coming as close as possible.  (They are not the majority of drivers, but it would only take one and a slight swerve of the bike for something tragic to happen.)  Dave and Mike got to Blanco and decided they were tired of feeling like sitting ducks.  We picked them up and drove the 10 miles to the RV park.  We will drive them back to that point in the AM.  Tomorrow will be a short day, only 58 miles.  

Our daughter Katy flew to Austin today and our niece Lisa Millman picked her up.  Katy will ride with Dave and Mike for the next week.  My brother Dean and sister-in-law Betty will drive up from Houston tomorrow and spend tomorrow night and Sunday (our day off!!!!!!!) with us.  Our nephew Dan Runyan lives in Sugar Land and at one time indicated that he might be able to ride a couple of days with us, but we have not heard anything further from him.  

I know that I have said this before, but the countryside is beautiful here in the  hill country of Texas.  Spring is just around the corner and the trees are close to bursting into green.  Still have not seen the Texas state flower the bluebonnet but have been assured that we will very soon.  Many places along the roadside are covered with  yellow and lavender flowers.

 Some of the creeks have water running in them and a few of the rivers seem pretty high.  The roads have big dips at the bottom of the steep hills and all have signs warning of flood stage water, some even have a gauge showing possible depths up to 6 feet.

No flats today!!!!  Laundry and showers were available tonight.  Life is good!!!

Love and blessings,

Lana