Periodic Progress Report Southern Tier Cross-Country Bicycle Tour

Date(s): Oct. 22, 1999
Day: Friday
From: Vanderpool, TX
To: Comfort, TX
Lodging: RV Park USA
Segment Mileage: 74.9
Cumulative Mileage: 1864.5
Actual Riding Time: 5:42
Average Speed: 13.1
Weather: Warm, sunny
Temp: low 80's

We're definitely leaving the desert and entering the plains. The morning ride was through the last of the hill country; grassy fields dotted with live oaks and occasional limestone cliffs. Unfortunately Spike and Lynne weren't riding with us today as they heard from a park ranger at 5:30 this morning that Spike's sister in law, who has cancer, is getting worse, so they were trying to get a ride to Austin when I passed them at the entrance to the park. [Update on Spike and Lynne: A man came to our camp in Comfort, TX while we were eating dinner and said that he had given Spike and Lynne a ride from Kerrville all the way to the hostel in Austin where they hope to get a flight to Boston. Amazing that he would find us here tonight.] I rode alone for most of the day, and soon passed Janet, who had left first, on the first climb out of the valley. Then the route headed west for a while, and I was a little confused, seeing the Monarchs crossing in front front of me in the opposite direction as the last two days, then I realized that we were headed in a different direction. It was a pretty ride into Hunt, along the ridgeline with live oaks all around. There were many large cattle and sheep farms surrounded by tall fences. Toward Hunt, TX, there were several vacation houses as we neared Kerrville and Austin. In Kerrville I stopped at a small gallery and later at the Cowboy Artists of America museum. On the way into Kerrville, along the Guadalupe River, there was a small flock of wild turkeys next to a couple of deer grazing. Outside of Kerrville the route passed through Center Point and I stopped at a foundry/gallery and was given a quick tour of the foundry where they cast and finish small bronze sculptures. There seems to be a large art community in this area.

It was a quick ride from Center Point into Comfort. On High Street there were 3 historical markers about the various influences that German immigrants had on the area, including a group of Germans who wanted to join the Union in the civil war but were killed by confederate soldiers. I gave Oliver a hard time for not stopping to read about his fellow country men. He claims he will visit them in the morning.

Camp is at another RV park next to the highway. At least they have a very good bathroom and laundry, giving me a chance to wash (nearly) all my clothes. For dessert we get to use group funds to get treats at the Dairy Queen nearby.