I went back to the Donut shop early and got coffee, a fritter, and a kolache. Still managed to get out before 8 am.
The route had a lot of short but steep climbs. It was like doing Wilhelmina Rise in Honolulu, one or two blocks at a time, except with no Sierra Drive option.
By the time lunch was over, my shoes had dried sufficiently, but not the socks. I took the sleeping bag off the bike, opened up the panniers, and got out my other pair of socks. With mostly-dry good shoes again, cycling up the hills was easier. LEARNING: if there is a river crossing, take off the shoes and socks.
Google told me to follow Circle Dr to Thunderbird Rd, but I found that Circle Dr terminates at a church parking lot. It was new construction, so perhaps Google was out of date. I went back and looked for an alternate route to Thunderbird Rd. Actually, I could have stayed on Hwy 290 all along, and that would have got me there.
It was so junk! Like Robitussin poured over crushed ice. I wanted to hurl, but kept eating it because it was $4. Finally, I gave up and threw it away. I felt a little sick from the sickly-sweet taste, and started laughing out loud because it was so bad. I take back what I said about the mis-turn being a blessing.
Now remember, it was in the high 90’s all this time. But at least there was usually a little breeze.
I checked into the Austin Hostel (Lakeside), a bed in a 14-bed men’s dorm for $35 plus tax. And I think they provide breakfast in the morning. The hostel is cold, and so are the sleeping quarters. Unlike when I stay in a motel room, I don’t feel bad about wasting energy, because the institution set the thermostat, not me. I should sleep well tonight.
I decided that it was better to go and get dinner before showering, as the afternoon was still quite warm. I was pleased to find black grapes on sale at HEB for 98 cents a pound. I also got 6 peaches. On this hot day, I just wanted fruit.
Mostly young people at this hostel. I didn’t really socialize much. There was a happy hour, and I visited with my Mango Nectar (I don’t drink, so ignored the free wine and beer. I also set out the remainder of the 3 pounds or so of grapes.
Tomorrow’s goal is Bastrop, just 35 miles away. Were it not for the heat, I might go for La Grange at 71 miles.
Miles: 54.2
(Visited 143 times, 1 visit(s) today)
Thanks for the food truck shot, Rod! That looks about right. We’ve dined from a couple of food trucks, and in each location there were 2-3 different trucks (BBQ A, BBQ B, Tex-Mex) with assorted picnic tables and other seating.
Sorry that the shaved ice was bad. We discovered a shaved ice place (NOT a truck – a small building open half the year) not far from Dear Daughter’s apartment; Dear Daughter and Dear Husband both pronounced it good. (Apart from the food truck culture, Austin has all sorts of small hole-in-the-wall eateries that are really quite good. On one trip Dear Daughter took us out to breakfast at two such places (we don’t normally do breakfast), and the food was fantastic. Who would have thought that bacon, pears, and green onions all work in a pancake?!!)
Thanks for the food truck shot, Rod! That looks about right. We’ve dined from a couple of food trucks, and in each location there were 2-3 different trucks (BBQ A, BBQ B, Tex-Mex) with assorted picnic tables and other seating.
Sorry that the shaved ice was bad. We discovered a shaved ice place (NOT a truck – a small building open half the year) not far from Dear Daughter’s apartment; Dear Daughter and Dear Husband both pronounced it good. (Apart from the food truck culture, Austin has all sorts of small hole-in-the-wall eateries that are really quite good. On one trip Dear Daughter took us out to breakfast at two such places (we don’t normally do breakfast), and the food was fantastic. Who would have thought that bacon, pears, and green onions all work in a pancake?!!)
Yes, there was a BBQ food truck not shown in the picture. Lots of them all over.