11/25

Oh, Texas! You are consistent in your inconsistent weather! The cold front which was the cause of snow warnings throughout the western part of Texas (of which we ride into today) seems to be on its last leg. It predicts to end by this afternoon. This still means rain all day darn with a high of 41 Fahrenheit and a tonight low of 31. today… we leave Austin.

Our route is HWY 71 and our destination is Llano (pronounced locally as “land-o”). Joey drove us to the Pertinale River where the shoulder finally picks up. He consistently asked if we were sure about what we were doing. We weren’t, but we could not delay our fate any longer. Hero twin power activate; form of regret.

It was soon after that fate meant a rear flat for Thunderdome. And that is when I remember the thing i forgot in Austin… riiiiight… buy more patches. We were on our last one. The chilled air bit my fingers as I went through the procedure… but it did not hold. 6 flats and the last patch won’t hold. I was strong armed into using my spare tube. This meant I was out of extra lives. We hummed the Super Mario tune as we continued through the rain.

But fate was yet again a titty twister when 25 miles later the shoulder gave out. We found ourselves blindly navigating through hill country on a one lane highway… in  the rain. By 35 miles our thumbs beckoned for a savor. We are crazy and all that jive… but heck. This was suicide. And the hero twins are no cutters.

It wasn’t too long before Terry and his red pick-up pulled over to evacuate us the last 14 miles to Llano. The first bumper sticker I noticed said “if you don’t love Jesus then you can just shut-up.” The second image was of Hitler giving hail. I held my breath and read the text; “If you’re for gun control, raise your hand.” I was once again relieved that our company loved guns. I got in and shut-up.

Terry was a classic outback Texan. He was also a chatty cathy who’s hypnotic drawl made his words impossible to follow. It was not until he would break into, “ya know wha I mean? ya know wha I mean?” that I would snap back and be flustered for a response. Something about Willie Nelson’s  town 5 miles past, the scull and bones conspiracy, and the flat lands. “man, ya’ll in fo sum desolate shit!”

i was shocked to find that Terry was anti-bush… although possibly also very racist. but other than that a good guy. salt of the earth. he put on Pamala Nelson’s new album (autographed to Terry) and brother twin and i bobbed our heads to the rhythm. “man, ya’ll can jus download this shit fram the internet.”

Llano (who’s entire economy relies on the hunting season between november through december) was a series of wasting time till it was appropriate to camp under the town bridge. it will reach freezing tonight. fun.

steve eats two deep fried burritos at the gas station were we’ve decided to take up residence. it is here that we learn that the unusually high traffic on the road into town was due to the weekend hunters returning home. the route out will be about the same topographically but fairly vacant of vehicles. we plan on attempting it.

we come to the conclusion to watch “bee movie” at 7:30 at the cinema and close the bar next door in wait (Buds and Lone Stars). Then we ride over to Subway for dinner. it is here that the town congregates to inquire about our journey. here we also meet Melony and Ken; yet another set of benevolent folks that give us a warm home for the night. We watch films and chit chat about Melony (from Paradise, CA like our WSM!) who schools at roller derby. And then there’s Ken who was a bicyclist in Las Vegas (which apparently is ripe with trails!). and the twins listened with great interest until we become too cozy on our respective furniture and fell into tiny bicycle related slumber. hero twin kate signing out.