LaGrange,TX 4/7/08
50.2 miles today
1649 total
The word of the day was green. Most of the first 15 miles we rode through Bastrop and Buesher State Parks. What a treat! In contrast to yesterday, there was almost no traffic and we were in forests of tall pines and oaks. It was shady and cool and very beautiful. Of course, no ride is without its challenges and this ride certainly had them as well. We were challenged by some of the steepest pitches we’ve ridden up so far – 16% grades! They weren’t long but they would come out of nowhere. There were also some wonderful rides down long hills weaving through the trees. What a great way to start the day!
Eventually, we headed out on to a state road 153 to Winchester past fields of cattle and more of the gorgeous Texas wildflowers. The area was filled with orange, pink, yellow, and red flowers which are impossible (at least for me) to catch adequately in a photograph. The road wound through lots of green fields, a few houses and glimpses of streams along the way.
The last part of our ride into La Grange was on US 77 with gentle rollers and a rumble strip like we haven’t seen since Arizona. Our hotel is on the near side of town so a bunch of us kept going into La Grange for lunch. We had heard about Frank’s Place for delicious burgers and onion rings. We wound our way around the downtown square with the courthouse dominating the middle and were disappointed to find that Frank’s closed for good last month. We asked a man nearby for a lunch recommendation and he sent us across the Colorado River to a place called the Riverview Café. There we were lucky to find homemade onion rings and delicious burgers.
Since there was a major downhill into town, we tried to get creative finding our way back to the hotel. Instead, we found lots of ways not to get back! Between a freeway and the Colorado River, we were forced to retreat back the way we came. That’s ok. It was an early day and we had time to spare. There is a long line for the one washing machine here so I may wait until tomorrow. Michelle worked on my derailleur so shifting should be smooth again on our next ride into Navasota. The sun is shining. No complaints here.
