Rockdale to Bryan, TX  (Mon 10/19) 53 miles  12.5 mph  8:30 to 1:30

Not on same schedule-all in bed by 9:00 pm & at bkft @ 6:00 am! Woke at 7:00, packed-ate Tx shaped waffle. I’m ready to leave-they are still packing. 52 & cool, 2 shirts & long pants.  Stop at Hearn @ McD for bathroom-they’re in sun, Kory is biking around (needs to keep moving). I sit in shade eating nuts & taking pictures of butterfly. Rd & shoulder are terrible. Kory, M.R. ahead, I follow Karen at slower pace-suites me fine. I want to stop-Karen shows no signs of slowing. Traffic, trucks, bumper strip, narrow, gravel strip to bike on. Finally get to Bryan & fancy Best Western. Sit in hot tub, eat at IHOP-have 4 glasses of sweet tea-they drink water. Going to have more rest stops tomorrow.

Kory, Me, Karen, Mary Ruth-day 2

Tx waffle, Tx jersey

Kory, Karen W, Mary Ruth

Austin to Rockdale, Tx (Sunday 10/18) 52 miles  12.6 mph  7:30-12:30

A new adventure w/new companions. Never completed San Juan, bike East Coast, Norway or bike Germany to Denmark. Good intentions for this trip- AUSTIN to DeRIDDER, La. MARY RUTH (70) has dreamed of biking to DeRidder to visit her 96 yr old father. KORY, KAREN W & ME (all friends & triathletes) are joining her-their 1st time for this long of a trip. Armand is sad-he’s driving to New Iberia to visit family & picking us up on Fri.

Leave house at 7:00-still dark. Armand is leading us out of town-really wants to join us. Say good by-he bikes home to play golf. Bring up rear-they have been training-not me-can’t get up early to bike. Stop in little town for donut-next town 2 donuts & ch milk-feel better. Mary Ruth falls off bike in parking lot-skins knee. Now trying to keep up w/Kory. Difficult-head wind. Get to Rockdale-take picture. Comfort Inn lets us check in at 12:30. 4 women-4 bikes-we all fit-I get tub 1st-& get to wash clothes. Eat dinner at the Ranch-closed but lot us in. Walk to WalMart. Have trouble w/internet-lose blog. 9:00 & time for bed. Tomorrow is another day.

Armand,me, Kory, Mary Ruth, Karen W.
Starting our adventure

My yellow bike, Karen, Kory, Mary Ruth