Day 20, Leaky to Kerrville, 75 miles

Today we said good-bye to the desert and hello to budding trees and bluebonnets.

We started our ride with a triple-bypass, three major climbs within fifteen miles. And then we hit the big one - "the wall." The grade was between fifteen and twenty percent - moaning with heavy breathing. Remember we are now traveling with our fully loaded panniers.

With the major climbs behind us we entered the Hill Country where there were big rollers, a ribbon of the road, and the living was easy (well compared to the big climbs.)

We gradually came down to the Gaudelupe River and followed the river down to Hunt, passing a fence that had an old cowboy boot on every post. We crisscrossed the river many times seeing a heron and several turtles sunning on a branch.

We ate a hearty lunch with another decadent dessert at Elaine's Table.

We only had fourteen miles to go to arrive at Kerrville. However, along the way we reached THE HALF POINT - 1507.5 miles. We are now on our way to the Atlantic Ocean with still miles and miles of Texas remaining.

On the way into Kerrville we stopped at the Hill Country Bicycle Works where our tires were again pumped up to the correct psi and Evelyn discovered that the spacer was missing on her rear cassette.

Tomorrow we continue riding in the Hill Country and can hardly bear the thought.

"If pain is weakness leaving the body" then we are sure getting strong. The Navy Seals