Saturday, May 11, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
Pet Therapy
Heidi, in full on "recovery mode"
Our bikes are at Bicycle Sport Shop getting some love.
We have begun "mission eat brisket, drink beer" in Austin with our friend Jordan, and his cool cat Nala.
Next up, eating, laundry, eating, hair cut/beard trim for the 8 foot tall hairy one, eating, then a beer tonight with Lisa and Preston!
Bike touring is so hard.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Sisterdale, TX, is awesome
It's like Grand View, every day
We normally do a 4 person "mixed" team time trial in Grand View, WI, round the first weekend of August. It is a hard, rolling, hilly, 50 mile TT. And we usually go as hard as we can, and suffer for our determination. We do it as a "mixed" group (2 men, 2 women), and the original fantastic four were Heidi and I, plus our friends Andy and Laura (our friend and teammate Darryl M deserves an honorable mention for doing it with us more often than not over the last 5 years or so, since I couldn't get outta work one time and Andy has now moved to CA. Thanks Darryl!) Now a mixed team time trial is a challenging event, and not just physically. The stress can leads to cracks in the mortar of even the best relationship. Not sure about that person you are about to marry? Try Grand View! All will become clear in about 2 hours time...
Andy and Laura were supposed to be sittin' here, at this picnic table in Kerrville, TX, with us and the really nice couple from Arkansas on their Harley trike and the family of four French people here visiting their friend in Austin. But alas, "the real world" rang the doorbell and they answered it.
So, in short Andy and Laura, this trip is like Grand View, every day (50+ mi yesterday, 60+ on tap today) (we even started yesterday with a 500' climb, right out of the blocks, uh, State Park)
But with heavier bikes
Less pointy helmets
And more snacks
Plus, a little singing and joke making - although Heidi claims to not be able to hear all my good ones. Somethin' about the wind...and I don't THINK she means ME?!
Andy and Laura were supposed to be sittin' here, at this picnic table in Kerrville, TX, with us and the really nice couple from Arkansas on their Harley trike and the family of four French people here visiting their friend in Austin. But alas, "the real world" rang the doorbell and they answered it.
So, in short Andy and Laura, this trip is like Grand View, every day (50+ mi yesterday, 60+ on tap today) (we even started yesterday with a 500' climb, right out of the blocks, uh, State Park)
But with heavier bikes
Less pointy helmets
And more snacks
Plus, a little singing and joke making - although Heidi claims to not be able to hear all my good ones. Somethin' about the wind...and I don't THINK she means ME?!
This is our first breakfast in months
I think it may have been Norcal the last time? (Like, 2 months ago)
Crazy!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Its smells great here!
After a month of desert, the creeks with clear spring water, brightly coloured wild flowers and green trees seem so luscious. And smell great!
Broken record
We keep meeting nice people on this trip.
Yesterday we met Jessamee and Zach, going the other way, at the top of the hill that I was referring to as "Bart Simpson's head" - cause you went steeply up, then across a flat but rolling top, then steeply down - just like Bart's hair/head!
Then last night and this morning we had nice chats with John and Joanne at the "Lost yer Marbles State Wreck-reation Area" (although I could have the name wrong), also bike touring the other way. They don't know how close we were to taking them up on their offer of lunch, and staying another night there!
So, like I've said before, if you want to meet interesting, nice people - go bike touring.
And sorry for sounding like a broken record.
(For you kids out there, in the old days, when you listened to music, to "records", or "vinyl", it could get a scratch in it and skip, repeating the same section of recording over and over, until you got up and went over and lifted the needle off the record.
Now when you hear rappers say
"Put the needle on the record!"
Or
"I've got two turntables and a microphone"
It might make more sense?
Maybe?
Yesterday we met Jessamee and Zach, going the other way, at the top of the hill that I was referring to as "Bart Simpson's head" - cause you went steeply up, then across a flat but rolling top, then steeply down - just like Bart's hair/head!
Then last night and this morning we had nice chats with John and Joanne at the "Lost yer Marbles State Wreck-reation Area" (although I could have the name wrong), also bike touring the other way. They don't know how close we were to taking them up on their offer of lunch, and staying another night there!
So, like I've said before, if you want to meet interesting, nice people - go bike touring.
And sorry for sounding like a broken record.
(For you kids out there, in the old days, when you listened to music, to "records", or "vinyl", it could get a scratch in it and skip, repeating the same section of recording over and over, until you got up and went over and lifted the needle off the record.
Now when you hear rappers say
"Put the needle on the record!"
Or
"I've got two turntables and a microphone"
It might make more sense?
Maybe?
Gov Walker, Texas Ranger
Riding through the beautiful "gated communities" of the Texas Hill Country private hunting ranches I do now think that WI Gov Walker is coveting what Gov Perry has, in the "killin' fer fun" business - the 10 Commandments be damned.
No wonder he and the Fitzgerald twins have been using their majorities in both houses of the state legislature to re-write WI laws and history, allowing "foreigners" to own Large tracts of land (and giving tax breaks not only to corporations but also to the executives of corporations who move to WI). No wonder he hired the TX "deer czar" to come up nort' to tell the WI DNR "how to" run the deer hunt. It all makes sense now. He's been flyin' all over the country, hobnobbing with billionaires. They have been giving him money, and he's looking for ways to repay them (other busting the unions, of course).
So I expect that soon enough we'll be seein' lots of 10 foot high fences going up in WI, and lots of Romney-class Americans, and others, to follow.
And when Gov Walker, Texas Ranger, loses his re-election bid in 2014 (250,000 jobs? Hardly!) I have an idea for a reality TV show for him, just like Sarah (and Bristol) Palin. "Driveways of the Rich and Famous". There are tons of billionaires out there, the one's that he's been getting to know ever since he became Gov - and busted the unions in WI - with massive spreads, and Huge gates. Hellfire, they could even hold a contest; you know how bored rich people love a contest. It could be called "The Ornate Gate" contest, with points for flowers, stonework, woodwork, landscaping, cost and hubris. I think it'd be the perfect job for Scott Walker.
No wonder he and the Fitzgerald twins have been using their majorities in both houses of the state legislature to re-write WI laws and history, allowing "foreigners" to own Large tracts of land (and giving tax breaks not only to corporations but also to the executives of corporations who move to WI). No wonder he hired the TX "deer czar" to come up nort' to tell the WI DNR "how to" run the deer hunt. It all makes sense now. He's been flyin' all over the country, hobnobbing with billionaires. They have been giving him money, and he's looking for ways to repay them (other busting the unions, of course).
So I expect that soon enough we'll be seein' lots of 10 foot high fences going up in WI, and lots of Romney-class Americans, and others, to follow.
And when Gov Walker, Texas Ranger, loses his re-election bid in 2014 (250,000 jobs? Hardly!) I have an idea for a reality TV show for him, just like Sarah (and Bristol) Palin. "Driveways of the Rich and Famous". There are tons of billionaires out there, the one's that he's been getting to know ever since he became Gov - and busted the unions in WI - with massive spreads, and Huge gates. Hellfire, they could even hold a contest; you know how bored rich people love a contest. It could be called "The Ornate Gate" contest, with points for flowers, stonework, woodwork, landscaping, cost and hubris. I think it'd be the perfect job for Scott Walker.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Hey, this reminds me of...
Today, when we were riding along Ranch Road 334 or 337, I don't recall which, Heidi said
"Hey, this sort of reminds me of China, all the litter".
The difference, I think, is that in China they seemed to just throw it on the ground (and usually, there would be a plethora of people with homemade brooms sweeping it all up, eventually)
But in America, or at least on the Ranch Roads in TX, a lot of the roadside litter comes from the beds of pickup trucks traveling at 60 or 70 miles per hour (the speed limit on most of the "small" roads is 70). So throw that box in the back; it'll just fly out later, don't you worry.
It's not really "littering", right?
Then, a little later, when we switched from hilly and desert-like to hilly and green I said
"Hey! This reminds me of WI!"
Esp areas like Chaseburg, Viroqua etc
Texas Hill Country, I suppose...
"Hey, this sort of reminds me of China, all the litter".
The difference, I think, is that in China they seemed to just throw it on the ground (and usually, there would be a plethora of people with homemade brooms sweeping it all up, eventually)
But in America, or at least on the Ranch Roads in TX, a lot of the roadside litter comes from the beds of pickup trucks traveling at 60 or 70 miles per hour (the speed limit on most of the "small" roads is 70). So throw that box in the back; it'll just fly out later, don't you worry.
It's not really "littering", right?
Then, a little later, when we switched from hilly and desert-like to hilly and green I said
"Hey! This reminds me of WI!"
Esp areas like Chaseburg, Viroqua etc
Texas Hill Country, I suppose...
Out of the desert
We are definitely out of the desert. Today we hit Texas hill country and even a little rain! This morning was cool and cloudy, a nice relief for us after nothing but sun for the last month (or more?). The scenery is noticeable greener and the trees are big. We camped last night under a beautiful, big, old oak tree.
Thunderstorms are in the forecast for Thurs-Sat., our first since Eureka, CA! We'll use the stormy weather to take a day or two off for rest, laundry, and to visit a few friends in the Austin area.
Thunderstorms are in the forecast for Thurs-Sat., our first since Eureka, CA! We'll use the stormy weather to take a day or two off for rest, laundry, and to visit a few friends in the Austin area.
Critters
Man, it felt like we were on a safari, over on Ranch Road 334 from Brackettville towards Camp Wood.
First I saw a "road kill" armadillo, our first, dead or alive.
Then we saw a pair of road runners; runnin', then flyin'. So cool!
Heidi saw another one, a little later.
I stopped counting "road/car/truck/motorist kill" armadillos at around 4 or so.
Tons of "road/car bumper kill" deer, all over the place. I think we did eventually see a live deer.
Then, there s/he was. A live armadillo. A baby. I warned Heidi (who was tight on my wheel), slowed, turned around and stopped. Took a bunch of photos and a short video. S/he was rootin' around fer grubs in the dry leaves (it looked like. I plan to look up what they eat/forage for once we have cell phone coverage or wifi, someday). S/he looked like Piglet, with a coat on. So cute.
Then we saw some wild turkeys.
The birds I mean; don't get them confused with the 3 Jack Daniels bottles I saw, neither.
At the Big Oak Campground we sat on the porch swing and watched the deer come up along the river, which actually had water in it. A beautiful evenin' after the safari ride.
Then, this mornin' we were takin' down the tent, and "what the?!" There's a shiverin' mouse or kangaroo rat at my feet? Did I just shake it out of my sleeping bag? Nah. Did it just come out of a hole in the ground; I ooked around, nah. Did it fall out of the big tree above me? Maybe? Did a raptor just drop it? Maybe? Anyway, s/he was shiverin'. We put some rocks, sticks, and moss off the trees around it. It kind of came to, and moved over, under the little cover we provided. Hope s/he's ok?
Heidi named him/her Algernon.
And I'll spare you the two bad parts, from yesterday. They were interesting, but I don't want to write about them...
Lollipops and ice cream, Heidi.
It's all lollipops and ice cream.
First I saw a "road kill" armadillo, our first, dead or alive.
Then we saw a pair of road runners; runnin', then flyin'. So cool!
Heidi saw another one, a little later.
I stopped counting "road/car/truck/motorist kill" armadillos at around 4 or so.
Tons of "road/car bumper kill" deer, all over the place. I think we did eventually see a live deer.
Then, there s/he was. A live armadillo. A baby. I warned Heidi (who was tight on my wheel), slowed, turned around and stopped. Took a bunch of photos and a short video. S/he was rootin' around fer grubs in the dry leaves (it looked like. I plan to look up what they eat/forage for once we have cell phone coverage or wifi, someday). S/he looked like Piglet, with a coat on. So cute.
Then we saw some wild turkeys.
The birds I mean; don't get them confused with the 3 Jack Daniels bottles I saw, neither.
At the Big Oak Campground we sat on the porch swing and watched the deer come up along the river, which actually had water in it. A beautiful evenin' after the safari ride.
Then, this mornin' we were takin' down the tent, and "what the?!" There's a shiverin' mouse or kangaroo rat at my feet? Did I just shake it out of my sleeping bag? Nah. Did it just come out of a hole in the ground; I ooked around, nah. Did it fall out of the big tree above me? Maybe? Did a raptor just drop it? Maybe? Anyway, s/he was shiverin'. We put some rocks, sticks, and moss off the trees around it. It kind of came to, and moved over, under the little cover we provided. Hope s/he's ok?
Heidi named him/her Algernon.
And I'll spare you the two bad parts, from yesterday. They were interesting, but I don't want to write about them...
Lollipops and ice cream, Heidi.
It's all lollipops and ice cream.
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