Another tough ride in texas

So nice camping in paid XG: I hung outside w/ door open making my presence visible. Dirt bag camping is reclusive. Worked on bike, changed tire, called Gracie. Clouded over during night making it warmer.

Drove out of xg to TH parking area. Headed out to ride to otheer side of Georgetown Lake. Riding this sharp edged limestone is taxing: To fall on it would result in many cuts from same rock. Trail @ start was ST tyhru junpiers & over limestone rocks. trail dropped out onto old road that worked its way up river until it hit the ford. Apparently the lake at one time was way high but now is a shadow. The beach area is closed as the water is below the floating barrieres that have been grown over in the sand. Trail wandered thru old bottom lands until it climbed up on the far bank and the riding got way more technical. The rock edges were sharper and the line choices were blocked by prickly pear cactus. i walked some each way. I had a hard time punishing my tires over sharp rock. 3 hours.

Drove to Joe hogg XG for shower. New person womaned the gate and I paid the $3.00 & drove in. I experienced all h20 turned off in xg. Learned to turn on h20 before stripping.

Beautiful day & ride in Texas hill country

Dateline: Austin, TX

Peaceful sleep in parking lot. Wasn’t a police station across the block.

Up @ 7 AM & out looking for a gravel parking lot to fix bfast. Just a few blocks further down road. Towns that spring up alongside a major road are usually not very deep and have low traffic dead end side streets.

Drove into Austin to REI. Waited in parking lot until opened. Getting warm but no humidity. REI no tires or shorts to spend sale & dividend on. Drove to big bike shop for tire. Bought for $59 an Maxxis ignitor.

Drove N to georgetown ride. Austin population per sign is 6xx,xxx and suburbs sprawl. Bit of traffic for Sunday.

Parked @ TH. Trail travels along shore of man made lake but almost never in sight of it. Limestone rock. Part to Jim Hogg was not as technical as part to Russel park. 16.42 miles, 1210 vert as out & back. Better at riding rocks. Limestone is soft and tires smear well and when it moves it moves w/ dampening.

Struck up conversation w/ gate keeper couple @ Jim Hogg XG on my ride. Their XG had showers for $3.00 or campsite w/ shower for $18. But primitive xg was $12. Primitive plus shower = 15, save $3. I drove to xg w/ shower & continued convesation w/ same couple. I negotiated a free shower for the husband to tour my van. Score. Gracie says, ” The answer is ‘No’ unless you ask.” Then it was $12 for primitive. Nice sites but all the parking is on the road shoulder & you carry your stuff in. Only camper in XG. Beautiful night: low 60s, gentle breeze, clear sky, no humidity.

Worked on bike, greased pedals & bike bushings after ride in rain. Put on new tire.

Called Gracie. She placed 3rd in her race today. She was pumped & thrilled w/ her place. 2nd place took her down almost @ finish. Told her she needs some motocross skills to block and protect.

I rode from Overlook park to Russel Park. The ride map shows Russel park as the turn around for an out & back from the other side. I might ride here again tomorrow on technical ST.

Most of trail was under juniper & several scrub oak trees. Trail where it was on rocks in shade was hard to follow. Challenging ride. Pasted 2 guys on full suspension wearing shin guards. The 3rd rider was in toe traps, wearing an ipod but wearing no helmet, just a ball cap. Duh.

People w/ Sportsmobile Betty & Les emailed me info about Sportsmobile: small company & Paul, whom I have been in contact is the big squeeze.

Cold, clear, windy day in Texas

Dateline: Giddings, TX

Zags got creamed last night. Local CBS feed had Kansas, saw a few minutes of Zags during kansas halftime. Watched it @ white bread Chiles. Visited w/ young man from Salmon, ID a usfs fire mangement person down here flying in a helicopter dropping incendiary objects onto forest for burn. We shared some common places over our lives.

Drove to bank parking lot across street from apt complex. Quiet night 1/2 block off main drag. Got real cold, temp in AM was 38 degs. Almost turned on heater.

Bought propane. Called LBS, left voice mail.

Drove to Huntsville SP. Paid $4.00 entry included a shower. Some kind of big cub scout outing going on.

Rode trail on low level output. Hiking trail wide, well used over time. Some roots. 6.92 miles & 585′ vert.

Huntsville Lake welcome sign
Huntsville Lake welcome sign

rear tire flatted after yesterday’s ride: side wall blow out & tube abraded. Couldn’t find tube leak. Used only spare tube, no spare in my pack. Gritted my teeth & hoped for no flat. Patched w/ duct tape boot on both sides of tire. Tire shot from rocks cutting the sidewalls. Rear formula brake pads shot.

Bike shop called back left voice mail, no tire but tubes. Drove back into town, found shop, & he was gone.

Headed West towards Austin driving back roads until 290. Stopped @ Giddings, TX for night in a parking lot 1/2 block off main drag. Might be close to police station.

Tomorrow is Austin. 2 REIs in Austin as is Performance Bikes.

Saw another CXT outhouse w of Huntsville. Go Spokane.