Day 23 - 40.5 miles - La Grange, TX

Last night was my second night in a row that I was camping. The problem with last nights camping was that one of my neighboring campers decided to have a campfire and the winds were blowing it right into my tent. Go figure. You really never know what you are going to get at these State Parks. The good news is that they didn't keep the fire going long and it was fairly quiet as far as campgrounds go. Come morning, I broke down camp and was on the road around 7am. I noticed that my route took me from Bastrop State Park to Buescher State Park all on park roads as the two parks are only 12 miles apart. No cars passed me in that 12 miles, but it was very hilly. So much so, that I did my save energy routine and walked the steepest of them. I hate doing that but my legs say thank you. The humidity is severe. I feel gross by 8am if not sooner. I never backtracked this morning, so i still have limited food and water. I'am counting on the tiny town of Winchester to fill my belly. It was 25 miles to Winchester but i made it. I came across the one and only store and restaurant in town. I'am glad I went in, as I sat down for a full stack of buttermilk pancakes and juice. I left Winchester with a full stomach and enough energy to take me into La Grange. Good thing because nothing else stood between the two towns. My plan today is to bike a half day to the town of La Grange and let my body relax and rest all afternoon. I may have to start biking in dark again like I did in the deserts of California. It is just unbearable to ride in the afternoon heat. Beside the heat, it's the humidity and the east winds that are bring tears to my eyes. Or is that just sweat? I think both. It goes to show you, just how small and weak you are compared to Mother Nature. I came across a small Mom & Pop motel and settled in for a lovely afternoon in air conditioning. The owners have a cycling logbook that they ask you to sign. Riders from all over the world have stayed at this very motel and for good reason. It's right on the route of the Southern Tier. I looked to see when the last cyclist had stayed here going east and it was over a week ago. Not much chance of catching that guy. I think the owners felt bad for me as I came in complaining of the heat and the winds. They handed me a ice cold water that I drank instantly and gave me a double sized room to stretch out in. Very nice of the owners of the Oak Motel in downtown La Grange. To top things off, the owner said he would do my laundry in his machines so I didn't have to hunt down a laundromat. Now I am smelling like roses again. That is until tomorrow morning when I start sweating bullets again. The deep south, well you can have it. I'll take the northeast any day. I was barely able to walk about this small downtown because the heat is just to much. "How do I cycle through this everyday", I asked myself. Answer is, I really don't know how. Like I said before, "One day at a time, and take small steps towards a big goal and eventually you will arrive at your destination". It's either that or someone will find me on the side of the road passed out. I'll try my best not to let that happen. I remember all to well how that feels and I don't want to go that route again.

Photos: Bastrop State Park - The park road between the two State Parks - Buescher State Park - Pancake breakfast in the one and only restaurant in Winchester - Downtown Winchester, a church and a restaurant - It's good to be loved - The cycle friendly Oak Motel - The town hall of La Grange - My home away from home, Dairy Queen