Today I learned

How to hike with a loaded tandem.
Texas Hill Country involves rollers, lots of them, steep and curvy. It's tough to gain enough momentum to achieve the thrill Of punch pedaling down them and cruising to the crest. Drivers get quite upset when they round a narrow bend and there you are, huffing and puffing and perhaps wobbling a little bit. If there's also oncoming traffic, I am tempted to dive for the ditch.

Walking bike and baggage up the HILL.

So we are not ashamed to say we walked, rather than rode several of the twenty-one miles we made today to Leakey TX. Pronounced with the long "A." You will offend the locals if you pronounce it as Leeky. Trust me.
After abandoning yesterday's short ride plan, going for the gusto and ending up trashed, today we were able to enjoy fewer miles, and the bonus of lower temps at higher elevation and the nicest scenery yet.
Now inhabiting the DRose Inn, a Harley haven that gracefully accepted two roadies for the day and evening.

Is there a resemblance in hair style?

Texas Tandem Takeover

We met a group of six tandems leaving Leakey, members of the Double Dates, a TX club. They're headed, in cars, to a rally in LaGrange TX. After three days of not seeing a single cyclist on the road, it was nice to talk tandem.
Tomorrow is Kerrville. After today's hill thrills, we're content to again abandon the ACA route, more of today's rollers, for a more direct path. Tomorrow is Friday and knowing Texans enjoy their weekends with automotive gusto in these here hills is enough to make us flatlanders for awhile.
Plus, I'm working on a followup to our friend Bill's situation. He's recovering from his injuries, but the process will be long. Stay safe!