Despite a visitor during the night trying to steal my sandwhich, I had a great sleep. Waking up to cloudy skies affected my mood however and was only able to accomplish twenty miles by 11AM. Doubtful I'd make it to Austin by day's end, I cruised through Llano (pronounced "LAY-no" believe it or not), Kingsland, and Marble Falls without much concern for how many miles I was riding. In Granite Shoals I was stopped by a nice group of seniors taking a break from dominoes. They offered me a slice of cheesecake and coffee and we chatted for a bit about the journey.
Texas Farm Road 1431 proved to be the busiest farm road I've encountered. Two lanes in each direction with fresh blacktop most of the way I somehow made it to Cedar Park just after sundown. With 92 miles under my belt for the day and just outside of Austin, I stopped for a bite at a cafe with the assumption that restaurants in the city would be crammed with ACL festival attendees.
The rain is supposed to return tomorrow but I'm not too worried. I will be taking the week off (from biking and blogging) as I explore the live music capitol of the world.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Texas weather 101
The rain is what first awoke me. The gusts of wind inspired me to act quickly. Still dark out, I could tell there was total cloud cover. After five minutes, I was packed and under the awning of the general store I was camped behind. As I contemplated my next move, the moon slipped below the horizon. It was 4:20 AM.
Nine miles from the closest town, I figured I could make it within an hour. Under optimum conditions, I can make three-minute miles. It had stopped raining but the distant lightning seemed to crawl closer. These were not optimum conditions.
As I pulled up to a cafe in Coleman that had just opened for the day the clouds unloaded. The delayed start meant a larger breakfast and after reading the local paper in its entirity, I decided to make a break for it. About five miles out, the rain returned and I was soon soaked.
Before arriving in Brady, I was dripping from persperation rather than precipitation. The midday sun brought the mercury into the 90s and I pulled over at a rest stop to cure my ailments. My wrist was acting up and my buns are constantly reminding me they weren't designed for a bike seat.
"Here. Lunch is on me," a man said handing me a five. He wouldn't take no for an answer so I thanked him repeatedly.
"My brother thinks he drove past you ouside of Brady," my phone tells me; a text from my dear friend T. "What are the odds?"
After lunch in the "real" heart of Texas, home to the bulldogs and the Labor Day goat cook-out, I was back on the saddle and continued toward Pontotoc where I lay now in my tent, under a roof, and watching the lightning dance.
Nine miles from the closest town, I figured I could make it within an hour. Under optimum conditions, I can make three-minute miles. It had stopped raining but the distant lightning seemed to crawl closer. These were not optimum conditions.
As I pulled up to a cafe in Coleman that had just opened for the day the clouds unloaded. The delayed start meant a larger breakfast and after reading the local paper in its entirity, I decided to make a break for it. About five miles out, the rain returned and I was soon soaked.
Before arriving in Brady, I was dripping from persperation rather than precipitation. The midday sun brought the mercury into the 90s and I pulled over at a rest stop to cure my ailments. My wrist was acting up and my buns are constantly reminding me they weren't designed for a bike seat.
"Here. Lunch is on me," a man said handing me a five. He wouldn't take no for an answer so I thanked him repeatedly.
"My brother thinks he drove past you ouside of Brady," my phone tells me; a text from my dear friend T. "What are the odds?"
After lunch in the "real" heart of Texas, home to the bulldogs and the Labor Day goat cook-out, I was back on the saddle and continued toward Pontotoc where I lay now in my tent, under a roof, and watching the lightning dance.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Strong wind from the Southwest
Waking up early I couldn't wait to get out of town. The dogs barking all night really got on my nerves and for the third morning in a row I woke up tired. Breakfast was on Sweetwater and I was soon on a farm road crossing the Horse Hallow Wind Energy Center. This was one of my planned stops and despite the ferocious headwind I was happy to have made it.
Early in the afternoon I began to evaluate my day's milage and was not surprised to learn I had only gone forty miles. The wind was unrelenting. I decided to change trajectories and with the wind now more on my back I was able to pedal an additional forty miles in a lot less time.
After having been denied by the "lakekeeper" access to Elm Creek Reservoir on account of the wind (even though boaters still could go) I made it to Hords Creek Lake just before closing for a quick dip. The cool water was just what I needed and now with clean clothes on and having set up camp early, I feel ready for a big ride tomorrow.
Early in the afternoon I began to evaluate my day's milage and was not surprised to learn I had only gone forty miles. The wind was unrelenting. I decided to change trajectories and with the wind now more on my back I was able to pedal an additional forty miles in a lot less time.
After having been denied by the "lakekeeper" access to Elm Creek Reservoir on account of the wind (even though boaters still could go) I made it to Hords Creek Lake just before closing for a quick dip. The cool water was just what I needed and now with clean clothes on and having set up camp early, I feel ready for a big ride tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A tough start and a tough finish
Today was full of contrasts. Early in my morning ride the smell of toxic fumes from the nearby oil wells gave me a bit of a headache and I was soon dreaming of fresh air. The shoulder of US-84 was not suitable for bikes which meant that the semis passed me at full speed just inches to my left. And without a full night's sleep, I was already tired.
Then arriving in Post my spirits lifted. A local retired firefighter gave me the rundown of this Texas historical town and a free cup of coffee from the local cafe didn't hurt.
Continuing southeast the shoulder became better and entering Snyder early in the afternoon for lunch was an unexpected treat. The owner of Big Apple Deli prepared me a special lunch and his mother and I chatted for over an hour. She even tried to convince me to stay but I insisted I had to press on. My afternoon ride was delayed a bit which didn't really bother me because of the great conversations we all shared.
Arriving in Nolan County the road became as smooth as glass and the wind farm that began to surround me was much better smelling than the morning's oil.
Unable to make it to Sweetwater, I landed about five miles out in the most depressing town thusfar. If it would have been a ghost town then it might have been quaint. But the main drag looked as if it had been vacated rather recently. "For sale" signs in every window implied their was still hope for a turnaround. I asked the police chief, who was parked nearby, where I could camp and he instructed me the playground was alright but to beware of the skunks. Great.
Then arriving in Post my spirits lifted. A local retired firefighter gave me the rundown of this Texas historical town and a free cup of coffee from the local cafe didn't hurt.
Continuing southeast the shoulder became better and entering Snyder early in the afternoon for lunch was an unexpected treat. The owner of Big Apple Deli prepared me a special lunch and his mother and I chatted for over an hour. She even tried to convince me to stay but I insisted I had to press on. My afternoon ride was delayed a bit which didn't really bother me because of the great conversations we all shared.
Arriving in Nolan County the road became as smooth as glass and the wind farm that began to surround me was much better smelling than the morning's oil.
Unable to make it to Sweetwater, I landed about five miles out in the most depressing town thusfar. If it would have been a ghost town then it might have been quaint. But the main drag looked as if it had been vacated rather recently. "For sale" signs in every window implied their was still hope for a turnaround. I asked the police chief, who was parked nearby, where I could camp and he instructed me the playground was alright but to beware of the skunks. Great.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
A holy start in the Lone Star
Yesterday's time shift was quite confusing for me. I wasn't aware of it plus I crossed into the Central time zone early in the morning so it wasn't until sunset that I realized that it was an hour earlier. As one can imagine my life does not revolve around time much these days so I feel like a complete amatuer in the department.
Arriving in Lubbock midday, I located the synagogue, found a motel room, headed to a buffet of pizza and salad, and returned to temple to bring in the holiest day of the year. After, despite Jewish law, I stopped at a copy center for a late night session of crafts, letter-writing, and emailing. Not my first choice of how to spend a night off but since the fast had begun and I had a lot on the to-do list I feel like I accomplished a lot.
Today I mailed letters to the governors of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas as well as one to the President. The current strategy is to invite them on board and build a coalition. We'll see how it goes.
After this evening's closing service I broke the fast with the congregation. Being so grateful, I helped with cleanup before mounting up and biking into the night, tossing my sleeping bag down behind a building in Posey.
Arriving in Lubbock midday, I located the synagogue, found a motel room, headed to a buffet of pizza and salad, and returned to temple to bring in the holiest day of the year. After, despite Jewish law, I stopped at a copy center for a late night session of crafts, letter-writing, and emailing. Not my first choice of how to spend a night off but since the fast had begun and I had a lot on the to-do list I feel like I accomplished a lot.
Today I mailed letters to the governors of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas as well as one to the President. The current strategy is to invite them on board and build a coalition. We'll see how it goes.
After this evening's closing service I broke the fast with the congregation. Being so grateful, I helped with cleanup before mounting up and biking into the night, tossing my sleeping bag down behind a building in Posey.
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