Yet another beautiful day. A cold front came thru last night, which meant it only got up to 65 degrees! Also meant a totally blue sky and a big north--cross/head wind. The wild flowers become denser, more varied and brighter by the day too. We learned the orange ones are Indian Paintbrush, and also saw vetch and alysum for the first time today.
My plan this morning was to ride to Navasota, and frankly that 70 miles would have been enough what with unending, if gentler, hills and the wind, but Kathy talked me into riding another 20 miles to a B & B a mile outside tiny Richards, TX.
We decided to check out the only cafe in town--and learned they only serve dinner on weekends!! But the nice ladies in the attached convenience store said they'd made us a sandwich, so we knew we wouldn't starve.
So we rode a mile down a side road to the B & B, the name of which gives away its Target customer base--Check Point Harley! I could easily use a page to describe this totally unique place, but I'm on the Droid. It's part of a farm/ranch, one which raises cattle, like most of them here. Smack in the middle of the hayfield, Ernie (retired armed forces man) and his wife have built four " bunkhouses" with little 11 x 11 rooms, three rooms per bunkhouse. Showers are in another building, and toilets in yet another. Ernie's wife says to watch for coyotes, June bugs and bobcats if we need to go pee at night! More on Ernie in a minute.
First, about dinner. I ate a grilled cheese sandwich, a simple green salad, Doritos, V-8 juice, peanut butter & crackers, chocolate milk, oreos and a big can of Fosters lager, all at the convenience store, then bikes back to our Home on the Range.
We sat on the bunkhouse porch and soon were greeted by Miss Kitty--see the picture. Shortly thereafter the proprietor, Ernie, came over. What a guy. He says he gets far more bicyclists than motorcyclists, and talks nonstop. He is going to put in bike repair facilities. He is a veterinary asst 4 days a week and raises cattle, helps local farmers with problem cattle, runs the B & B, puts on concerts on the property buys and sells property and who knows what else in his spare time. He sleeps 5 hours a day, but looks to be my age. He also restores old trucks and tractors, and is obviously having the time of his life. I think I could learn a lot from Ernie.
Around 1780 miles done now, I think, and 110 hopefully flatter and less windy ones tomorrow.
Doug
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