First long day

Posted bycinnicrewPosted inPart 2

Day 10. 69 mi. 6:13 AIS, 2253 elev. 12.8 mph (woohoo!!) Buescher State Park to Somerville Lake Marina Campground

Today started out fast and cruising, favorable winds, overcast and felt good. There was a chance of rain but it never materialized. It was definitely our longest ride yet. We took several nice breaks about every 15 miles or so and the little towns were so interesting. The east side of Texas is now very lush and green. The wildflowers are amazing and abundant. Seems like the Indian Paintbrush is the most prolific.

Grand Texas style country home
Thought this was funny. But maybe that’s a “kind” of heifer
Texan star pride
Closed this morning

Road through the small town of La Grange. (Cue ZZ Top song of the same name). Cute little main street. Had a city center square around the Courthouse. Found a city bakery and a nice coffee shop so we took a generous break in La Grange.

Lafayette County Courthouse La Grange
It’s in La Grange. For my quilting friends Jamie C, Cindy H, Gail K and others I may have missed
Yum😊
That’s a different way to communicate steep road

Down the road 15 miles was the most interesting long stretch of antique showplaces. Between permanent buildings and short term event tents. The antique business is big in Warrenton and Round Top, Texas. In April and October. Round Top population of 90 caters to this antique traffic. Very gentrified little community of cafes and bed and breakfasts.

Round Top city square. Never did figure out what the building is/was. Looks like a school. Dean and Bruce (TierTwo) I think you forgot your gallon of water here about 2 weeks ago!
The caterpillars just hatched Such a cute little guy.
Huffy
When there ample shoulder to ride outside the gigantic rumble strip and there’s still ample shoulder inside the white line. There was plenty of truck traffic but wasn’t scary

Beyond Round Top we were headed to Lake Somerville and in search of a restaurant, Wild Bills, to eat early dinner before camping. We made Wild Bills at 4 before it closed at 5. Super nice people working there. Fixed us up with a delicious hamburger, fries, beer and I had an ice cold Mexican Coke. That Coke did the trick to get me the last 5 miles to camp. Our campground is pretty proud of itself..$30 a tent. We have water and electric but the shower/bathrooms leave a lot to be desired. However, plenty of hot water so we are fine. Busy highway and train track nearby. Going to be an ear plugs night. Yard light far enough away.

Yummy gigantic hamburgers

Tomorrow morning I am expecting my nephew Joseph Pappalardo to show up bright and early. He wants to ride with us a bit. Not sure of his plan yet. He recently moved to Keller, TX (Dallas area). More on that tomorrow.

On a side note. I think the bird of Texas must be the buzzard. They are literally everywhere. We saw our first dead buzzard today! Adding to the dead critter list we are accumulating. Does anyone know what a group of buzzards are called? Bevy of Buzzards? That almost makes them sound cute. Battalion of buzzards? I like that one

4 thoughts on “First long day”

  2. A flock of buzzards is called a “Wake”. Glendive, Montana has “Buzzard day” when the buzzards return to Makoshika State park. Sort of like when the swallows return to Capistrano.

    I hear that they are tasty after baking in the Texas sun on asphalt for a day or two.

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  4. LaGrange. HOW, HOW HOW HOW! Speaking of old rock groups like ZZ Top, I see on Google Maps there is a town just to the east of Somerville Lake named Navasota. There used to be a rock group named Navasota. They did a cover of the song “Old Slewfoot” (“High on a mountain top what did I see, Bear tracks bear tracks lookin’ back at me!”) which we used to play at full volume while drinking beer immediately before we made our foray out to the bars when I was in college. A deep track. The Navasota vinyl album is a rare item indeed. Always wondered about the name Navasota. Now I know.

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