Day 33 - October 12, 2017 - 43.73 miles, 3,222 feet ascent, 2,795 feet descent

Camp Wood, TX to Lost Maples State Park, TX

Left the RV Park with Eileen, and we rode together most of the day, into the Texas Hill Country.  Arrived in the quaint town of Leaky right at lunch time, just behind Erwin and Tom C.  After browsing a wood shop and craft store, we were on our way to lunch, where four of us had the special of the day, chicken fried steak.   Seems to be a staple in Texas.  

We also visited a motorcycle shop, where we learned that the three sisters are actually roads in the Texas Hill Country favored by motorcyclists.  Here I thought the RV Park was named after actual sisters!  Some even call these roads the "Twisted Sisters."  The store had many inappropriate tee shirts about riding the three sisters, or the twisted sisters.  I could never wear one of those, but I did purchase a patriotic doo rag, to keep my scalp from getting sunburned under my helmet.

We had three climbs today - the leader notes said 6% grades, but we all experienced upwards of 12% on our Garmins.  Lots of sweat left in the hills of Texas!

My turn to shop and cook today, along with Tom T.  Tom did all the shopping, as he was ahead of me, and we were to meet as a group in Vanderpool to carry the groceries.  By the time I arrived, the groceries had been divided up and carried away.  The only thing they had for dinner at the store was hamburger helper.  I had not had this in over 40 years, and so looked forward to it - NOT!  Tom was creative, though, and added several cans of vegetables to the mix, for 11 people.

Four miles left from the store to the state park, so it was a piece of cake!  But wait, there was a winery a mile up the road, the Lost Maples Winery.  Had to stop and do a tasting with a couple other riders, including a couple from Seattle whom we have been leapfrogging since California.  I last saw them in Glamis.  The wines were xcellent, but alas, I could not carry anything else on my bike.  We did celebrate our halfway point in number of days, as today is day 33 of 66.  I bought a bottle of cheap wine to share after dinner, and everyone was appreciative.  Tomorrow will be the halfway point in miles.

At the State Park, there was no internet or cell service.  As a result, I went to bed early, like veryone else does daily, and read for a while.  Seems strange not to be connected!