We've Reached the Half-Way Point!

After riding through the Texas Hill Country for the past two days, this group of strong women has reached the half-way point of our ride. Here we are getting ready for a nice restaurant meal in Kerrville, TX the site of our layover day. The last two days has challenged our hill climbing ability to the max! I am feeling stronger as a result, and less intimidated by the hills. We were informed that the ride we did yesterday from Vanderpool, TX to Kerrville, was over the same hills that Lance Armstrong and the U.S. Olympic Cycling team uses to train. Many of the grades and climbs were over 10 -12% grades, with hills that had sharp hairpin turns and climbed for 1 or more miles!

One of the things that motivated us was the promise of a cute little apple pie shop in Medina, the halfway stop for the day's ride. It was very cute, and had the most wonderful apple pie, strudel, and coffee. We all enjoyed the treat, and the wonderful hospitality. See the picture on top.

When we left Vanderpool yesterday, the sky was dark and cloudy and it was very windy. I was very nervous about the ride, thinking that we were going to get poured on. Although the weather was misty at times, and humid, the rain never did open up on us, and the cloud cover kept the temperatures down. We were all very thankful for that. This morning we found out that just a few hours after we left Vanderpool yesterday, it hailed with ping pong ball sized hail! How thankful we missed that! I continue to be amazed at the "bubble" of good weather that we have gone through--barely missing storm systems, staying dry for the most part. Thanks for all the prayers for safety and good weather that so many of you have been faithful to pray for us.