Only 41 miles today, but what a day! We started witth a ride thru Bastrop and Buescher State Parks with lots of ups and downs, some quite steep (17% - I walked). It was largely pine forest with the wonderful fragrance of pine. About 2/3s of the way thru the parks a big storm blew thru, which was part of a front moving thru the area. The temperature dropped 10-15 degrees almost instantaneously and the wind was howling thru the treetops. One of the members of the groupwho was already out in the open took refuge in a big trash can that had been overturned by the wind.
When the rest of us got out of the park we had a 2+ mi ride in a crosswind that was blowing about 25 mph across open fields and gusting. There were a couple times when I thought I was going to be blown over. Then we turned a corner and it became a tailwind. Terrific! From there it was an easy ride with only occasional cross and headwinds as the road turned one way or another.
I think we are truly in the South now as I saw Spanish moss today for the first time on this trip. Also saw more oil wells today--spotted the first ones yesterdayy, which I forgot to mention in my blog. Again lots of flowers along the roadside. More bluebonnets than we've seen before. But the most beautiful were the winecups, which are a rich magenta with a white center. Unfortunately, I still have not found any way to add photos to this blog.
To post pictures, you click on the picture icon at the top of the posting window and insert it. The insertion will be where you place your cursor. (It maybe different if you are using an Ipad. I suspect you first have to email the pics to yourself to get them on you Ipad.) Good luck--enjoy your ride....it will be over before you know it!
ReplyDeleteBTW--it is always windy in Texas. Wind + chipseal = mountains....at least, that's what we tell ourselves!
What an interesting day! Fortunately you only got the edges of that storm front. Love that you are seeing more flowers - it seems to make everyone's mood better.
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