Where Oh Where is the Tailwind?

Yesterday we departed Fredericksburg to head to Austin – it was our last day in Texas Hill Country, and boy was it hilly! Remember that camp song, The Bear Went over the Mountain, The Bear Went over the Mountain, the Bear went over the Mountain, and what do you think she saw? She saw another mountain, she saw another mountain, she saw another mountain, and what do you think she did?

Change Mountain to Texas Hill; Repeat that 32 times and you’ll know how our day went! (My apologies to those who now have that song stuck in their heads for the rest of the day).

Nested Do-Loop Ride Instructions

Rob and I actually skipped the last 10 miles of the ride as it was Austin city riding, and, seriously, who needs that? As it turns out, it was a really good decision. The ride leader had changed the ride plan into Austin with the intent of avoiding traffic. The instructions told everyone to get onto the Austin Velo — a 3.1 mile bike path loop. Unfortunately, and unbeknownst to the ride leader – there is no other exit to the Austin Velo — there is only the entrance and exit at the same place. All of the riders got lost. Some of them went back to beginning and then took the roads to the hotel, and others ended up trudging through wooded areas to find a road. All were late coming in and our ride leader was beside himself with worry.

But, in testament to the collective camaraderie of this group, not a single person was mad or frustrated — they all chalked it up to an innocent mistake and yet another story to add to this adventure. At dinner, they surmised that it was an early April Fool’s joke! Rob and I are fortunate to be on this ride with these guys – as I said earlier, they are all good people.

Our stay in Austin was short, and we hit the road early — we stayed together for the first 9 miles to get out of the city, and then spread out. The headwinds returned. When oh when will we get a tailwind? It’s like the difference between fighting your way downhill to hit 7 miles an hour, to easily coasting uphill at 18 miles an hour without even trying! The winds again ranged from 15 – 20 MPH, and gusted higher. Even the side winds were tough, as they blew us into the road, and the traffic was busy today.

Tonight we are in La Grange, Texas (made famous by ZZ Top — haw haw haw haw) – and tomorrow we head for Navasota, and only three more days in Texas after that! Woo hoo!