March 29, 2023: Layover Day in Concan, TX

Not a lot to report today, since this was an assigned “layover day” in Concan. Slept in until around 6:00am, and then headed to breakfast and joined the group for a quick van ride back into Uvalde, traveling the last 35 miles we rode yesterday “in reverse”. Well, not really in reverse, since the van was in “drive” and the headlights were pointed forward, but you probably already knew what I meant! :). It was interesting to see the route under a different set of circumstances, and I was amazed at everything I had missed the day before, probably because I was either staring at the pavement below me, or my tongue was flapping over my eyes, given the intensity of the ride.

Tomorrow is a somewhat “special” day, in that we leave our beloved route 90 and reportedly wander along various country roads. In addition, we are introduced to the Guadalupe River in the afternoon, but even more importantly, the end of tomorrow will mark the halfway point of our Coast 2 Coast ride. It seems like “only” six (6) years ago we left San Diego (only kidding), and here we are, staring at another four weeks of tarmac, exhaust fumes, and an endless array of RV parks and campgrounds. Seriously, it has been a fascinating adventure, and I am sure that one day in the next several years, when feeling returns to my behind, I’ll look back on this time with great fondness. Until then, I suppose that I should appreciate the fact that my “cheeks” are so swollen I no longer require a chair when I sit down for lunch.

A quick word about the group I am riding with. While we have a broad spectrum of people on the tour, the majority of the group is either nearing retirement age, or have been retired for a few years. Of the now 23 remaining riders, we have six (6) medical doctors, another five (5) with doctoral / PhD degrees, and countless others with advanced or master’s degrees. Beyond their educational background, I marvel at the fact that the broad majority of them have been cycling for 15 – 20 years or more, and most have done a number of cycling tours before this one, in all parts of the world. Most our well-versed in the various techniques of cycling in groups, and spend countless hours talking about the dynamics of “pace lines”, and “slip streams”, and “pelotons”, which up until this trip, I thought was only a brand of indoor cycling bike. It’s no wonder that they laugh at the wicker basket attached to my handlebars, and the bulb horn I squeeze when, on the rare occasion, I have enough energy to pass someone. I sure am glad that I didn’t purchase that high wheel bicycle for the trip. (You know, the one with the huge wheel up front and the tiny one in the back).

Tomorrow, it’s off to Kerrville, another 73 mile day with a lot of climbing in the hill country of Texas. I’m sure I’ll have more to write tomorrow. Thanks for reading!