Periodic Progress Report Southern Tier Cross-Country Bicycle Tour

Date(s): Oct. 23, 1999
Day: Saturday
From: Comfort, TX
To: Blanco, TX
Lodging: Blanco State Park
Segment Mileage: 43.2
Cumulative Mileage: 1907.7
Actual Riding Time: 3:36
Average Speed: 11.3
Weather: Warm, sunny
Temp: low 80's

We continued to ride through the hill country today. I thought we were through it earlier, but apparantly it extends to Austin, our destination tomorrow. Oliver and Todd left early today for the first time as they planned to ride the 95 miles to Austin so that they could have an extra layover day there. I left shortly afterwards so I could get into Blanco early and have some time for doing some other things besides the normal camp chores that seem to take all our time. At about mile 20 I caught Oliver and Todd. Todd had another flat and was finishing the repair job as I joined them. They were going to have a long day with the hills and headwinds but they were determined to make it to Austin. They left me as I stopped to take a picture of two buzzards in a live oak tree. Just after Sisterdale I ran into several other cyclists who were doing a local club century (100 mile ride). One of them caught up with me and told me of his ride on the same route a year ago and passed on some info about the route ahead. Later we passed one of the century rest stations and they offered us all kinds of fresh fruit, power bars, and pastry and of course we went for the pastry first, then the bananas, along with some Powerade for the road. They were very friendly and wished us well on our trip and our stay in Austin. They said that the bat show, when bats emerge from below a bridge in the downtown area at dusk, was well worth seeing.

One advantage of being in a populated area is the number of back roads on the route. Before we had few choices other than major state routes. We have also left the desert, although I still see a prickly pear cactus now and then, a plant that I associate with the desert.

I reached Blanco at around 1:30 and it seemed like a longer ride than the 43 miles because of the persistent headwind and the rolling hills. The state park was full, the second time in 3 days that I had to plead for a site. They agreed to put us in a grassy area behind the trailer camping area. Originally they charged us $10/person but after Bruno and Cyndi protested, they relented and negotiated a more reasonable deal. It's close to the bathrooms but we're borrowing a picnic table from an empty site that we assume it will soon be filled. Cyndi agreed to cook with Bruno since Todd isn't here. It's a different group now that there are only 8 of us, and the cooks will have to adjust their recipes accordingly.

After I arrived at camp, I walked into Blanco, about a block away. There was an opening at a mediocre Western art gallery where I had some snacks, then I cruised through town and ended up at the Dairy Queen for a milkshake. I'm definitely going to have to cut back on junk food when I get home, but I can get away with it now.

The Blanco River runs through the town. Blanco means white in Spanish, and the area was probably named for the white limestone that is evident in many outcrops. The roads are unusually white, consisting of white limestone chips over tar.

It's a beautiful fall evening and we'll probably stroll over to the Dairy Queen for dessert. Jimmy just arrived, having taken a side trip to the LBJ ranch and he is filling us in on the history of the place. Maybe in the future it will be included on the route. Camp seems so much quieter with only 8 people, but with luck we'll all be back together when we leave Austin on Tuesday.