Day 18: Kerrville to Wimberley, TX

Distance: 86.9 mi (139.8 km)
Cumulative Distance: 1,577 (2,538 km)
Average Speed: 14.8 mph (23.8 kph)
Climb: 5,542 ft (1,689 m)
Cumulative Climb: 86,449 ft (26,350 m)
Flats: 0
Cumulative Flats: 11

We were told about the Texas hill country and we’re in it. Hills, of course, mean up and down. Today we had a net descent of 857 feet but still logged a climb of 5,542 feet. That just means a lot of pumping up those hills. As you know from our blog, we only tabulate the climbs, but for the record, our total descent so far is 85,747, so we should be about 700 feet above sea level. The GPS, from which all this data comes says we’re at 1000 feet, it works out quite closely.

Winds were not favourable today, so on top of the climbing, we were often into wind. Made for a working day.

Last evening at the bike shop we met three ladies on same Southern Tier route as us. They left San Diego on 21 March, had sag support from their husbands for the first several days (over Emory Pass), but are now on their own. They are doing well! The bike shop was a good one; we got new brake pads for Gaby, a new larger seat pouch for Lee, cleat covers for Dave and stocked up on energy supplements.

Today we saw numerous deer. There are fences, about six feet high we estimate, on either side of the road. The deer, in beautiful line astern formation, generally sail over them. However, we saw one buck take a tumble after miscalculating, tangling in the top wire, landing and skidding several feet on his chest before recovering and heading into the woods. Must have hurt!

The country is much more prosperous, touristy, and generally more picturesque than the previous few days. Quite a few pretty streams and, of course, a lot of dry creek beds at the bottom of all those hills.

At Sisterdale we stopped at a winery, no we didn’t do any sampling.

The highlight of our day is our Cabin. Keith has taken over the reservations desk and makes the arrangements for the next day’s accommodation. It sometimes takes some time to find a place that will cater to our needs, and he often has to make several calls and then try and negotiate a reduced price. Today he outdid himself. Our “Cabin” has huge living/dining room, full kitchen and three bedrooms. Gaby won the master suite with its four poster bed and huge bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub. She kindly let Keith soak in the tub (without her).

 

It was the Masters so the guys had to watch a bit.

Desert was one-half glllon of ice cream split four ways - well Gaby didn't really get that much! We had to use styrofoam take out trays from Marco's restuarant where we had had a great meal. Blue Bell Cookie Dough ice even tastes great off styrofoam.