Yes, It Is "Hill" Country for a Reason

It's beautiful here at this time of year.  Grass is green.  Trees have leaves.  The wildflowers, including the blue bonnets are blooming.

Today's route reminded me of southeast Missouri, only the hills here a bit more forgiving even though there are a lot of them and not close enough together to utilize the momentum going down to get up the other side.  Rats!  An unfortunate situation for an untrained, flatlander!!

Here's how the day went, see below --

Simple right?  Left out of the motel.  Straight 15 miles, take a right.  We were lost within a mile and a half!  How can that be????  Well, something about a new intersection that wasn't there previously.  It had to be the cue sheet, not the directionally challenged.  Oh well, at least we realized it when we got to a T intersection...this doesn't seem right! Ha!

Also note the handwritten note at mile 21.  No lying there!

All in all a good day.  64 miles in the books.  Tomorrow is advertised as 65 miles with 4,100 feet of climb (maybe only one more hill than today).  We had overcast skies the majority of the day with sun late in the afternoon.

The rental bike is a Terry Symmetry.  It's an aluminum frame with a triple ring.  One of the other guests said, "Don't you have something with a double ring?"  Whatever for would be my response!  There's Hills out there!!

This is where friend Bob Wilson would call me a bike snob.  Yes, I REALLY miss my Trek bike. This thing weighs A TON.  But, I really don't think my carbon fiber frame would be nearly as nice on these chip seal roads.  We are spoiled in the upper Midwest.  The DOT works hard to keep things smooth.

This is along the route this morning.  Absolutely gorgeous.  I'm not one to stop and take many photos, but I just could not resist.  The route meandered along this river, and the houses on the hills are able to enjoy it everyday!

Low water bridges were prevalent.  As well as cattle guards, just like the rural roads of Missouri.  No high water issues today, and the only sign of cattle was residue along side the road.

We ran into another tour group today going the opposite direction.  We'll probably see them again in Fredericksburg later in the week.  They are with Adventure Cycling (campers!).  They were a group of about 50 riders.

So I'll close tonight with the joke that Natalie and Sophia sent today at about mile 30 --

Why did the cyclist carry an extra helmet?  In case she got "ahead!"   Carried me several miles down the road today!  Thanks girls!!