Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Road Construction

Kerrville TX to Blanco TX ( 67 miles)

OK going to be brief, I'm tired!

First 20 miles, piece of cake. 1:30 minutes, smooth roads, no hills. Just like you'd hope. Next 20 miles was a fun winding bumpy, hilly where you out ride.

Then at lunch break, I met Ali, she's a going to be in 5th grade. She was helping her newly adopted Grand Mother at her corner store in Waring TX ( Ali just lost her real and last Grand Parent :(. Ali politely listened to my stories and she shared some of hers. Like how she was born with 6 fingers and toes and had them cut off when she was young. And how her Dad was a World Champion Horse trainer. John - "Do you call him The Horse Whisperer?" Ali - "No I call him dad". Of course :).

Then off to the Road Construction lesson. After narrowly missing a new project taking out a bridge ( I got to go over the old one). On to the learning how they make crappy Texas roads! It was a 10 mile long construction project. 1 lane road with a "follow me" vehicle carting traffic from one end to the other. So while we're waiting I'm talking to the signal guy and what appears to be the "boss" ( he was actually #2 man)... John-"Don't you have to take that truck to the other end?". Boss - "Nope, I just gotta stay here Lance Armstrong". John-"Dang, cause it looks pretty brutal". Boss-"Go on ahead just stay on the right, you got some big hills up there".

Gee thanks... Then after riding 2 miles and dodging the traffic line and still 2 miles from the road pavers..here comes the boss. Come on I'll take you through, I just had to clear it Boss #1. John - "Great cause this really sucks, I really appreciate it". Saved me 10 miles and probably 90 minutes and maybe even an accident getting through construction. Anyway, here's how you make bumpy roads, it's easy. 1 spray a bunch of tar ( you'll need semi tanker loads of it). 2) sprinkle on some 1" rock. Eventually it'll flatten out. That's it.

Ralph and Deb are the in keepers, shot the sh*t with them for an hour or so and enjoyed stories about the locals, the area and their Inn.




Stats - 66.7 miles (1,116)
Calories - 3811 ( 61,885 )
Time - 5:23 (92:19)
Total Climb - 2257 ( 42,235 ft )


This is Ali posing for me ( putting up with the creepy bike guy)


Morning goodbyes to Kerrville TX.



The Guadalupe River and I spent some more time together. What a lovely little place if you want something totally different for a vacation. It's hot and dry here if that's what you are looking for.



South Fork or the WhiteHouse, not sure.


Tiny little Vineyard, I think people retire out here and make up something to do.


Bridge that will be closed Monday. Saved me a 5 mile detour cause it was still crossable !!


Yep, I didn't like seeing this pile of rock, but then I did cause I got a ride.


Fresh, brand spanking new BUMPY ROAD!!


Flying through the tar pits in the back of the truck.


Ralph and Deb and their wonderful Country Inn!

Juan Blanco crossing the Blanco River.






2 comments:

  1. Wow, the temps are really terrible this week! Hope you are keeping hydrated. Thankfully, you are not in Arizona where the fire is out of control; looked at the map and you were just south of the forest that is on fire (north of Safford).

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  2. I LOVE that you got schooled by a 5th grader AND a road crew boss all in one day!

    I can practically hear my ten-speed bicycle tires popping on the hot tar. Texas and Indy you do know how to chip and seal!

    I read your last paragraph as "Raph and Deb are keepers" and thought when did he talk to Raph and Deb?

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