On The Road Again

Seeing things that I may never see again, like Giddings, TX. We had a very nice little hiatus in Houston, but it did feel good to get some more miles on the legs. First off, I'd like to send out a big thank you to the Houston crew. Coleen, thanks for letting us loaf around your house for 4 day. Sarah and Will, we could not be more appreciative of your hospitality. From picking us up from the sketchy bus station at 1am, to opening your houses and pools and barbacues, to giving us a ride out of the Houston metroplex yesterday. If you are ever in Virginia, please let us return the favor.

We started out of Katy, TX yesterday morning headed for Brenham (home of the Bluebell Ice creamery). The roads here in Texas are a welcome change from what we have been riding, low traffic and wide shoulders. It made for a much more enjoyable ride. Judah did have a flat around Bellville. After a little repair work we were headed out again. Only problem was that was our last tube and the nearest bike store is in Austin. Keep your fingers crossed. We crossed the Brazos River, and it confirmed what Robert Earl Keen says in The Front Porch song: "The Brazos still runs muddy, like she's run along." Not the most tempting river to swim in, but its still fun to see the places I hear about in all the songs I listen to.

We rolled into Brenham just in time for lunch at up Purcell's Country Buffett. I didn't have much of an appitite after the ride, but Judah managed to put down about 10 pieces of there famous fried chicken. We scouted out hotels that would have the Versus channel so we could watch the tour, but to no avail. We had to settle for an update from my brother. I can't wait for him to get the 2009 Tour DVD so I can watch the stage, it sounded awesome.

We got a late start this morning and by the time we woke up it was pouring rain, so we waited it out in the hotel room. We got off about 10am, which was unfortune because the mercury quickly climbed into the triple digits. We were way out in "the cut" for most of the ride and there was little shade to be found. The mesquite trees down here don't block the sun like a good southern pine in Georgia. We had a quick lunch at Jackee's Cafe in Burton. This was about the only thing going in a town of 312. And its a good thing we stopped because it was another 26 miles through the oil fields, and cattle ranches where we may not have seen a car or another person until we got into Giddings. We were planning on heading a little farther west, but the next closest hotel was another 25 miles down the road. Not a particularly exciting prospect at 2 in the afternoon. So we decided to bunk down here for the night, get up early and head the 60 or so miles into Austin tomorrow.

Like I said, we are going to hostel it up for the next 3 nights. We will meet with our prospective departments at UT, swim in the lake, watch the bats and check out
6th street to see if this town is to our liking. Touring the University in July is probably like taking a tour of Va Tech in Feburary. It will take a strong will to look past the weather. Anyway, hopefully we will be able to check in frequently down there. Oh yeah, we have set a return date, we are flying out of San Antonio next Friday the 17th. See you then.

Cowboy up,
Steve

Sorry I missed it yesterday, but my phone is dead and no computer to speak of, Happy Birthday Joc.