People went their ways yesterday after arriving at the motel in Austin. Several have friends or family in the area, and stayed or visited with them. Others were tired and stayed close to the motel. Mitch drove six of us down to Sixth Street, where four had a light dinner. We then split up; some returned to the motel and the rest went to a BBQ place for dinner. Two others attended an acro yoga class near the University.
The motel's continental breakfast featured Texas-shaped waffles again (see photo). And not much else to eat or drink! The motel also has a dryer with an unusual feature: it doesn't stop and can't be unplugged or turned off by users. Once your clothes appear to be dry, you open the dryer door and become quite dexterous grabbing clothes. The big stuff is easy; the real skill is catching socks without breaking your fingers on the fast-moving interior ribs of the dryer!
It rained last night; did not hear it due to the din of all-night car and truck traffic on the nearby Interstate. The rain restarted around 8 am and continued off and on into early afternoon. Also the temps dropped from the 70s to 50s in several hours this morning. As a result, most riders hung out in their rooms until checkout time, then rode or went in the van to Bastrop State Park, where we are camped tonight.
Rain, urban traffic, wind, 40s temps - just like commuting to work in Chicago! So I rolled at 10 am and did 47 miles, climbing 1500 feet on light hills. Rode west through the University campus and into a residential area. Most houses were one story. The architecture in Austin is a mix, not a definitive style like in New Mexico.
My first stop was an REI store, where I bought a light fleece to replace one left by the side of the road west of Phoenix. Also another pair of sun sleeves to wear with short-sleeve shirts as it (eventually) gets warmer. The REI store is at the location of the first Whole Foods store, which has since moved a block (see photos).
Then bought a coffee at the bookstore next to REI. As a biker, you are conscious of Lance Amstrong when in Austin, his home base. Sure enough, the bookstore had one of his jerseys (see photo)
My next stop was a pilgrimage to a statue of Texas blues singer and guitarist extraordinaire Stevie Ray Vaughan (SRV). The statue is in a park on the south side of the Colorado River that runs east-west through Austin. I have enjoyed SRV's music for years, so wanted to see the statue. After SRV's death from a helicopter accident at Alpine Valley, north of Chicago, the statue was dedicated posthumously by his mother.
I then rode back into town and headed east on 7th Avenue. Soon was out of town, riding past simple homes and fields. I stopped at Joe's Bakery, which had a full parking lot (good sign) and yummy Mexican treats (see photos).
Austin has defined bicycle routes that are numbered (see photo example). In the future will there be state and federal bike routes, like car/truck routes?
Texas has a chain of stores called "HEB", which are like Meijer's. The chain uses the PULSE debit card network, which I supported while working at Discover. So it was fun to finally see an HEB store, as there are none in Chicago.
The route went through Montopolis, whose park district building featured murals (see photos). A clever way to encourage fitness and healthy eating.
Outside of Austin is the Circuit of the Americas racetrack, home to Formula 1 US Grand Prix racing. The inaugural race was held here last November. We rode past an entrance (see photo). Unfortunately the track was hidden by hills.
West of Bastrop while cruising down a country road, I was suddenly beset by two fast dogs. The front one tried to bite my front tire, and kept at it for 100 yards. He was a fast sucker. I suddenly remembered what I had forgotten to buy at REI: an air horn for dogs. Several miles later the adrenalin slowed down, and I stopped at a Home Depot for duct tape to ship a box home. I was wearing biking gear. Before I could ask the greeter where to find tape, she said, "Did you find the air horn? I thought I sent you to the Wal-Mart." I realized she had mistaken me for Andre, who also has a yellow jacket. And thanks to him and the other prior riders, the dogs were ready to rumble when I rolled by! We had a good laugh over dinner. Seated by the campfire in photo 1 are Carol, Julianne, Julie, Jerry, Rhodri and Flynn in the background. In photo 2 are Terry, Bob Pedersen, Andre, Bob G, Mitch and Ken in the background. Others are nearby.
Shortly before the photo, a roadrunner ran by our campsite. It is fast, and about 18" high.
Tomorrow is a short day, 40 miles to LaGrange. Maybe time for a pie stop in LaGrange?
Bruce
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