The Best Hellday EVER!

Today was . . . just great. The less than perfect weather we were supposed to have (thunderstorms) never happened. Instead, it was ideal for our 62 mile ride - in the 80's, cloudy, though with occasional bright sunshine, and none of the horrendous wind we had been experiencing. The humidity which we set off with this a.m. - so much so I found my map was soggy within 30 minutes - burned off in no time. Ahhhhh. After our ride, the afternoon was filled with brilliant sunshine!!

It is truly astonishing what a huge difference the lack of wind made today. At least the first quarter of the route was exactly the same as one of our very windy rides earlier in the week. It was as if I was seeing much of it for the first time! A true attitude adjustment. I had gotten caught in traffic early in the ride, and then at a stop light, so Paula and Lieselot were far off ahead, and the group as a whole (which seemed smaller today) was extremely spread out. I've learned that I truly do prefer riding by myself, so it was a-okay by me. I'd hope to say howdy to them at the rest stop.

Since there was hardly ever any other cyclist around me, I was paying particular attention to my map. Still, there was one tricky quick turn at the bottom of a hill, and I wondered if I had monitored my mileage correctly. I saw nobody around. The road was nicknamed "Sheep Dip Road," and with good reason. When I saw a particularly large, um, dropping with a bike tire track through the dead center, I knew I was in the right place. I never thought I'd be thankful for plentiful amounts of poo on a road.

Eventually, I came to the rest stop in Willow City, which was at a little joint (and that's probably an exaggeration) called "Harry's on the Loop." Paula and Lieselot were just fixing to take off (that's Texas talk, ya'll). I made my way inside the tiny place - which obviously sees a LOT of action, judging by the number of beer caps in the parking lot, which seem just about as plentiful as the gravel. I went to pay the proprietor, a gruff fella in typical cowboy clothing, for an ice cold bottle of water. I had to set my PB&J in its ziploc there on the counter in order to fish out my $1. The guy eyes my PB&J and says to me, "Mmm, that looks good." To which I responded, "Don't even think about it - I'd beat you up before I let you have that." He laughed a I've-smoked-too-many-cigarettes laugh, you know, the raspy one where you think the laugh-er may expire right there and then, and said, "If I tried, I think I'd draw back a bloody stump!" It was classic.

Before I got back on the road, I thought I'd better hit the loo. So charming - the door stated, "Harlots Waiting Room - Have a Seat." hahahaha grrrr. The inside of the loo was plastered with junk all over the walls - "art" made of coins glued to the walls, writings and drawings in what appeared to be black Sharpie, and more charming sayings printed and posted on the door, such as (I paraphrase), "Please complete all bodily functions before standing up." Still - what can ya expect. This is Texas.

I continued to have a great ride, though I was getting SUPER sick of sweeeeet Gatorade, and sweeeeter PowerGels. I began craving a nice, cold, bitter brewski around mile 45. There was some brief excitement as I cruised along Gypsum Mine Road. Just ahead of me on the dusty road, I saw a somewhat familiar long, skinny, straight shape. But before my mind choked out "SN --!!!!" I thought I ran over a cute little snake in the road. I did a quick about face to check the damage. The snake was still alive and kicking, er, flicking - its tongue anyway. It didn't seem very alarmed when I rode up to it. I had hoped it would skitter its snakey way from my bike tire in fear. No such luck. I ended up picking it up by its itsy bitsy tail tip (it seemed far enough away from the head - though that Croc Hunter madman may have disagreed), and gently tossed it onto the shoulder. It coiled itself up and looked peeved, but not squished. Phew! If I look up Texas snakes and see that thing was poisonous . . . ! BTW, I think this was the critter.

My good deed for the day checked off my to-do list, I continued on. Have I said what an incredibly enjoyable ride this was??? As I tried to take just one more picture - there was an amazingly lovely house, stone wall and farm which looked like it belonged in Southern France - I learned my damn batteries were dead. AGAIN! Argh! Oh, well.

After a well-deserved shower, Pam, Paula and I went to pick up Lieselot and go see some Fredericksburg sights. First stop was the little grove of bluebonnets I'd found in bloom by the hotel. Then, we went off to visit the Fredericksburg Herb Farm. LOVELY spot! I can't tell you how good it felt to wander through their 3-4 gardens in the sunshine. OH - and I got a kitty fix. I'd seriously needed to pet a cat and there was a willing victim right there and happy to oblige. Many bluebonnets at this place by the way, wouldntcha know.

We then drove just outside the town to Wildseed Farms, which calls itself "The largest working wildflower farm in the nation." You would NOT believe this place! Humongous fields of bluebonnets and poppies and cacti. Like I've said, the bluebonnets aren't even "supposed" to be in bloom for another week or more. Pshaw! Oh, and they have the biggest darn windchime you've ever seen! I dunno, probably 10 feet tall or more? The most amazing thing about this place is that it's a big nursery, right? Well, they also sell beer and wine there, and I strolled about in the sunshine, gazing at gazillions of beautiful flowers while drinking a Corona with lime. It just doesn't get much better.

We then returned to town to pick up more PowerGel at the bike store (I'm sick to death of the damn stuff, but what can ya do?) and to meet everyone else for dinner back at the biergarten we ate at the first night. After a stroll almost the entire way down Main Street in search of ice cream for dessert, we actually found an ice cream parlor open. This was quite a windfall - they roll up the sidewalks in Fredericksburg at 5 flippin' 30.

So, we have only 2 more days to ride. sniffle. How can the week be nearly over?????