It's a beautiful morning...I think I'll go outside for a ride...

Approximately the first 20 miles of our ride today was in Bastrop State Park and Buescher Park. The picture above depicts the serene setting. The road through the park was extremely hilly (okay, I know I'm still in hill country) and curvy and completely tree lined and sometimes canopied. I think we saw two cars as we traveled the 20 miles.

I've said it before, but the fields of flowers just go on and on. I have never seen anything like it. The flowers we most commonly see are Texas blue bonnets, crimson flax, indian paint brush, primrose wine cup, mustard seed (weed - but beautiful), galardia and today we started seeing white daises. I took my helmet off thinking I might look better - didn't work.

It's not easy to get down on hands and knees on the chip seal to set up a camera to do a "group shot"....and then to have someone take a picture of you doing it is hitting rather low. The real trick was to try and get up and run to my "spot" before the 10 seconds were up and the camera took the picture.

Whew, I just made it!!! Hanging on to Suzanne because there is a red ant hill between us and I don't want to fall into it! The funny thing was we wanted this group shot because we were in the midst of a beautiful field of flowers.....but our big bods covered up the lovely view! This was taken on the second half of our 40 mile trip...note on such short trips we tend to run into each other more often as there isn't such a spread from the #1 rider to the #23 rider.

The "Sweeps" try to stop every 10 miles to stretch, drink water, snack, etc. Can you think of a better place than this to stop. As I laid on the ground, using my helmet as my pillow and looked up at the billowing clouds, I thought...."now this is what it is all about".

That is me, Sparkle, coming down the one lane road over the bridge. The nickname Sparkle has stuck - so I answer to it more than I do to Patti. The wind was still a close companion for most of the last 20 miles. I don't know who ever said you bike from the West to the East to make use of tail winds.....cause it doesn't work!

Our newest friend....and I can't remember her name. Note she is wearing a dress of sorts and is biking from New Mexico to St. Augustine. She is by herself and camps, some nights behind a bush at the side of the road. We haven't seen our other cross country bikers for quite a few days....bet they are making better time than us!

In the state park we met this couple who live in the area and were just taking a joy ride through the park (on a tandem bike). As we talked and discussed our route, we discovered that we will be riding right past their house tomorrow morning so she gave us her phone number and said to call and let her know what time to have the coffee ready. Bikers are so friendly.

Court house in downtown historic LaGrange - which is where we are staying for the night. Even tho margarita parties are supposed to be for crossing state lines only - we get to have one tonight - just because we have worked so hard! Thank you Carol and Linda!

Of course I can't close for the day without mentioning opening day for the Brewers....I hope they won!

Oh, and Miss Kitty's quote for the day is "A great many people end up over the hill without ever having actually climbed it!" Don't let that happen to you....your climb may not be on a bike...but whatever it is - go for it!