"Bland, boring and otherwise undistinguished"
This phrase was not only the words used by my wife Tina to describe our first date, it was also a good description of yesterday's ride. However, today was 1A Best Day of the trip. Please pardon my efforts to describe today's ride as they will fall short of giving the day it's due. It was wonderful and pleased in so many respects. I by far took more pictures of more variety than at any other time thus far. There were infinite "ahhhhh" moments along the way, just time after time after time.... Do you sense that I found today enjoyable? Because....
Cultural variety.
There was a stretch of road coming out of La Grange towards Round Top where there were literally 10 miles of off and on tents, barns, structures of great variety large and small to house the twice a year Round Top antique festival. The last one concluded just two weeks ago. For a two lane country road, I can't imagine what it would be like during this time, but it was interesting just to see the structures that were used. Two points of interest not photographed because I wanted to live in the moment...and at that moment of passing these two places, I might not have lived if I had tried to stop for a picture. But one was a store covered in various road signs and the other a succession of large signs that would have been used by various gas stations. A blast from the old days of name brands now gone.
The world's smallest Catholic Church. Picture.
Round Top. Pictures. This town retains the architecture of the 1800s, while offering up pies of heaven. "Do you have chocolate pie?" Only 5 types. Plus ice cream. In-cred-I-ble! Royer's. Must be well known, talked to folks from MS that came to Royers just for the pie. Had seen it on tv. Round Top has a population of 77, but also has music and Shakespearean festivals.
Washington County Fire and Ice Cow judging, corn hold tournament and a cook off for BBQ, chili, and any other food you care to bring. Very friendly folks, many of them teachers. Picture.
Wildlife. Horse, cows and finally....Texas Longhorn Steers. Pictures
Wildflowers. I thought that we had been blessed to this point with the wild flowers and we had, but today was like a quantum leap in intensity and coverage of the flowers. This magnificence not only exceeded my expectations, it vaulted past my imagination of how beautiful this country could be.
Not only were there patches of flowers, there were complete fields, ablaze in red, covered in blue or yellow or a combination of these colors and more. As the wind blew, it was like the old kaleidoscope toys of our youth, consisting of rotating colors and patterns. It was as if Monet had preceded us and painted his most beautiful paintings just for us on our bikes...and the many, many others that infused the area.
Gravity for the day...embracing, smooth, sweet.
Wind...caressing, warm, refreshing (tailwind of course)
Clouds, sun, all were great. And immense green fields, wide open vistas from ridge lines. Some Texas sized ranches and houses, entrances beyond belief. Live oaks, many and beautiful.
For tomorrow, weather getting a little dicey. Two more nights in TX after tonight. But this day will remain with me forever. What a day. Hope you enjoy the pictures. Actually will divide them up with a separate posting.
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