Day 32 - Bastrop to Lagrange, TX

In yesterday's post I forgot to mention the wind. In Austin and as we rode east out of town, there was a north wind that I estimate at 10-20 mph. In downtown Austin, I leaned my bike against a pole to take a photo. A gust blew the bike over, causing the rear brake pad to rub on the tire. I could sit on the curb and fix it, or go to Castle Hill Cycles a block away. At the shop, Gordon and Tyler did a quick fix and I was back in business. They asked about our route, bike types and tires used. When I mentioned our challenges with chip seal, they suggested dropping air pressure in the tires. My Schwalbe Marathons are rated 55-85 psi, so I pump them up to 80 each morning. The guys suggested backing off to 60-70. The ride will be less efficient, but I may try it if we hit another bad patch.
Last night we camped in Bastrop State Park. The park had a fire recently, so patches are clear and new growth is coming in (see photo). Char marks are visible on trees, mostly pine and oak. The park has port-a-potties and a trailer with showers, but no sinks. You have to pull down and hold a cord to activate the shower, meaning you do yoga-like body contortions to clean the body. Always something new!
We rode 40 miles today. The altitude ranged between 300 and 400 feet of elevation, but we climbed 1600 feet due to many ups and downs in Bastrop and Buescher State Parks (they are almost adjacent). Andre said we had short climbs with 17% and 20% grades. See photo of (clockwise) Linda, Ken, Bob G and Andre with sunny Texas bluebonnet flowers, outside the Buescher Park Headquarters.
After 22 miles we arrived in Winchester, and stopped for a great $5 hamburger at Murphy's Steakhouse (really a diner) (see photo).
Last night it rained and got COLD. At 6 am it was 30 degrees. These see-your-breath breakfasts are getting old. We broke out the cold weather gear again. And shed it after warming up on a few hills. By mid-morning all clouds cleared and it got up to the 70s by afternoon. Great for wildflower photos of sunflowers and desert paintbrush (see examples).
We continue to see creative ranch signs (see photo). As we came to US route 77, we saw our first oil wells (pump jacks) (see photo).
Our destination today was the town of LaGrange, made (in)famous in a song by the band ZZ Top. Nice little town with a classic Midwest-style town square. See photos of the county courthouse, a red stone store on the square, and the former jail now repurposed as the visitors center.
We are in an RV park with the BEST showers on the trip. What's the biggest point of contention? Showers? Bathrooms? Washing machines? Nope, it's electric outlets to charge our tablets, phones and laptops. See photo of typical power strips plugged into an RV station.
Since we got in early, Rhodri had time to get a haircut. See the photo of the newly-trimmed man.
Texans take smoking meat and BBQ seriously. Check out the photo of the industrial-strength smoker by our tents. The box on the right is for the fire; temperature gauges; and a chimney. Nice!
Mitch raises and trains guide dogs for the blind. One of his dogs is in use by Gary, who lives near Fort Worth. Gary, his wife and the dog drove up to see Mitch and join us for dinner (see photo). The dog reminded me of our son's two black labs.
Tomorrow night Flynn and I cook dinner, so the next post may be delayed a day. We will be in Navasota, north of Houston.
Bruce