Today was one of the best! Period. Short mileage didn't mean necessarily a real easy day as the gravity alert for Texas Hill Country is by definition of at least a moderate rating at all times. Wind? Don't remember, so not a headwind probably. Scenery? High alert. Off the charts. Lots of sun. A great day.
The country had changed from the bigger mountains of the western hill area, mountains more pronounced and numerous. Peaks that were ranging at over 2500 feet of elevation, not high as compared to Emory Pass, but rugged and steep, had transitioned to more rolling country. Lots of trees. Live oaks everywhere, fenced in country. One feature that caught our attention, very solid, very high fences. Apparently there is a LOT of big game hunting on these multi hundred acre fenced in areas. Exotic species of deer primarily according to JC, pictured later. JC actually restores bird habitats on his acreage.
Today was also made special by our time spent riding along the Guadalupe River. Complete with a LOT of water, literally cutting into rocky hillsides forming incredibly beautiful scenery. Whether a gentle, green (a new color for us and actual grass on the roadsides) pasture like valleys to the rugged, canyon type features. At some point civilization caught up with us and the houses, camps, resorts and all imagined along the river were Texas sized big.
A special moment in Hunt, TX. The halfway point in mileage for the trip. Celebrated with cinnamon rolls! Hot, sweet, covered in calories. Yes! Thank you Paul and Nicole!
On to Kerrville where we are greeted with news of a surprise night of eating out and a quick thunderstorm! We actually get zero rain at the camping area, but strong winds. Three major branches on the ground among but not on our tents and one missing tent greet our return from dinner. If the 'tumbleweed' tent had taken a slightly different route, the Guadalupe would have had another feature, Candy's blue tent.
The camping site in a Kerrville was along the river. I think everyone arrived there by a different route. The map route had a lot of turns so there were a lot of improvisational alternatives selected. Some by thoughtful studying of the map, and others like me jumped at the first sign mentioning the park that we were wanting to get to for the night.
Just a little addition of interest at the time, the darkening, brewing clouds of the building thunderstorm that hit later. I wasn't really lost, but like Daniel Boone once said, ' I was never lost, but once or twice was confused'. I was confused. I found Derrick, our riding friend from England, and found relief, but not the camp. Derrick was also having a Daniel Boone moment. One rider, Candy, rode past the park by 5 miles. She stopped, asked some folks that had been moving to a new house all day, where to go. They loaded Candy and bike up in their van, after all day working and delivered her to the park. We have met a great number of great people on this trip. Just as I hoped...and knew. This is a country of great people! Just go anywhere, they are there.
In the pictures,
Need some boots?
Also a common feature of the hill country roads are low washes that are prone to flash floods. Notice the water level signage. You see these a LOT.
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