Day 19: More Texas

Total: 1339

Cyclist's Observation: If you always go with the wind at your back, you will most likely miss your destination.

Another day of cross winds with some calm in the morning as worked our way toward Ballinger, Texas from Early. We traveled 62 miles at 13.1 mph and made several significant climbs. We might have a better average, but when you travel with a photographer you have unexpected stops. Please refer to the picture of Bill as he assesses the composition of cactus and flowers along a Texas byway.

We stopped and talked to a railroad worker before we arrived in Ballinger and killed about a half hour. Then it was lunchtime and as we were leaving town we met two camping cyclists, Joe from Illinois and Ingrid from Sweden. This combination killed another hour and a half. It was then time to check motels down the road. No answer, so logic told us it was too late to move on and we should get ice cream ASAP. Joe and Ingrid reappeared at the soda fountain! Really they were not hard to spot as you can see from the loaded bikes (see picture). Ingrid was carrying a minimum of six books, can goods, and a Frisbee. I'm pretty sure she might start to reduce her payload as distances and hills increase.

We may not be fast, our baggage is limited, and talk is cheap for the Old Land Cruisers.