Today we road to Austin, while surviving two significant hazards. The first being an unfortunate fall by Doug, and next the most congested 2 miles of, not-for-bicycles, highway 290 East in a suburb town 10 miles west of Austin. Other than that, it was a pleasurable, scenic Hill Country ride with more significant rollers. Once we got close enough to Austin we enjoyed a clean frontage road for 290, and then bicycle lanes until we got downtown Austin. There for the first time the three of us parted ways for the evening. I chose a different hotel, the Capital La Quinta, then Doug and Carol chose, while Steve Leibo and Julie headed to stay with friends who live in Austin.
Along the way we had a great break at Lucky Lab Coffee in Dripping Springs, TX, about 20 miles west of Austin. I enjoyed the perfect snack of a basil, strawberry-limeade and a huge moist slice of zucchini bread, perfect for recovering from hill climbing and refueling for more to come.
First the fall. Doug was in the lead when I noticed an extreme “V” shaped hill profile on my Wahoo Roam bicycle computer. When I can upon him, he is at the base of a very abrupt hill transition from downhill to uphill that was filled with standing water above the slickest coating of slippery Texan Slim. He was on the ground and revealed he had a thought that he broke a leg bone, but thankfully it was just a contusion. We got him back on the bicycle and he persevered well on the rest of the ride (about 35 miles).
‘Later we were in a growing-to-fast for city planners of Oak Hill, TX (Austin western suburb). We had no choice because of construction and lack of planning or care for cyclists and pedestrians to be forced to ride a 2 lane Highway 290 with cement barriers and construction zones. Think about a anti-concept of allowing a reasonable cycling route traversing Austin west to east, and these roads were designed with a general hostility or total neglect for cyclists, and likewise pedestrians. Later arriving on frontage roads and bike paths we witnessed Austin’s 2:30 PM rush hour quagmire backup. This is obviously a city that has grown and sprawled too fast with what appears to be a priority to please real estate development interests at the cost of livability and public safety.
After dinner, I decided to walk a few blocks to the state capital grounds and was lucky to take some photos close to dusk.
Hey Steve, great pics and I am glad you’ve all made it safely to Austin, despite the inadequate provisions for cyclists around the city. I always pictured Austin as a big university town catering to younger people that would have more consideration. Sorry to hear about that fall – that river bed crossing, although paved looked pretty slimey … easy to slip. Glad no bones broken.
I took a look at the Lucky Coffee menu; I like what you ordered, but for me I think I would carbo-loaded up with brown sugar maple latte and the Bacon Egg & Cheddar with Sriracha Mayo Sandwich – regardless, you look pretty healthy and glad you are dealing with the hills.
Great pics of Austin – thanks for sharing; it’s always nice to get somewhere before dusk and walk around, get an impression of the place. Hope LaQuinta was good value.
How are you feeling about the second half of the trip? Some more climbing coming? Do you get to the Appalachians or go south of them?
Adrian, thanks for another comment and your continued words of encouragement. Yes, I really can eat all the carbs I want on this trip I actually started this tour with my lowest weight in 20 years, so I need to eat plenty and not lose any more weight. I like Austin, but it is a town best for younger people who like night life (means anything out after 9:00 PM), and of course live music on and around 6th street.
We are excited to be so far into Texas and have a plan to be in Louisiana this Friday! Crossing the entire state of Texas on a bicycle somehow seems as significant as crossing the USA, so we are thinking more of finishing Texas for now. We will be passing south of any mountains and have flatter terrain ahead. Still, I would prefer a big hill over a headwind.
Steve if you are looking for some GREAT barbecue….I highly recommend Salt Lick Barbeque…….I had dinner there about 15 years ago and it was awesome…it’s out in the hill country around Austin. It’s actually in Driftwood Tx 18300 fm 1826, it is worth the trip http://www.saltlickbbq.com check it out if you have time.
Sorry about the fall, unfortunately it is a part of cycling, hope he’s good to go with some rest. As we get older we dont bounce back as quick as wee once did!!!
Bill, thanks for your comment and encouragement. I am afraid we missed that Barbeque.