April 1, 2018
This was supposed to be a “short” 50 mile day. However, those 50 miles did not account for the three steep climbs that were part of the journey. Fortunately, the winds were not bad and traffic was light on this Easter Sunday. There was also the big plus of being in Texas Hill Country. Even with grey, threatening shies the scenery was fantastic.
When you think of Texas you generally think cattle and maybe sheep with a few goats thrown in but here is proof that they raise all sorts of critters. Llamas in Texas, who knew?
Small town Texas is an interesting mix of better times in the past and a promising future. For every derelict gas station there is a new one and the main streets seem alive even on an early Easter morning. Land for sale signs seem to pop up like dandelions near these towns as developers try to sell the idea that their community is the idea place for that retirement ranchette.
The ride today was marked by three climbs, each a little tougher than the previous one. The hills were long, steep and the roads twisted their way up grades of six and seven percent. Trhe last two climps were basically back to back connected by a swift downhill glide that barely gave your body a chance to recover. It was tough but every rider made it on muscle alone.
