Ready to Go!
5:43 a.m. 17 April. My wife took this photo in the parking lot after dropping me off. Wearing my glasses and my new Continental Airlines jersey.
Still Sleepy!
5:43 a.m. 17 April. Without my glasses, still looking sleepy but ready to go. The Saris Bones bike rack is visible to the left.
Still dark, waiting to go.
6:28 a.m. 17 April. Waiting in line with my ~300 Continental Airlines teammates whom I have never met before. The Anadarko team is to our left; the 700 member BP team is on the street to the far left out of the photo. You can't see the grand stand.
Looking at the BP balloon.
6:53 a.m. 17 April. The crowd turns as the speaker on the platform points out that the BP hot air balloon is being raised behind us.
The BP balloon rises.
6:54 a.m. 17 April. The BP hot air balloon is being raised up in the parking lot behind our starting chute. There was a huge crowd behind us.
On the Street Waiting to Start.
7:23 a.m. 17 April. After the BP and Anadarko teams got their starts, the Continental Airlines team rolled out to the street and waited for our start. The team raised the third highest amount of money last year.
Ready to go (again)!
7:23 a.m. 17 April. Itching to go!
First Rest Stop
8:24 a.m. 17 April. The riders starting from Tully stadium were pretty spread out on FM 529 and the first rest stop was not very busy, which was great. The bike repair tents were already busy.
Refreshment tents at 1st stop.
8:24 a.m. 17 April. The refreshment tents were at the opposite end of the parking lot of the first rest stop.
Second rest stop
9:26 a.m. 17 April. The second rest stop was packed full of bikers. I had to drop my bike in a patch of red berries.
Second rest stop crowd
9:26 a.m. 17 April. Lots of bikes stacked in the parking lot.
Sleeping Rubys Entertain Us
10:11 a.m. 17 April. The Sleeping Rubys entertained us at the third rest stop. They were good standing out in the field!
Third rest stop.
10:12 a.m. 17 April. The refreshment tents, repair tents, and Port-A-Potties were all aligned along a drive leading back from the road. A few steps off the drive and it was mud and weeds.
Third Rest Stop
9:12 a.m. 17 April. Another view of the Sleeping Rubys entertaining us.
Lunch in Bellville
11:30 a.m. 17 April. Continental Airlines had lunch tents set up in Bellville and served us turkey and cheese wraps. We got to sit down and put ice cold towels on our hot heads and backs.
Fourth Rest Stop
12:37 p.m. 17 April. The fourth rest stop, the one after lunch, was in front of someone's house. People were taking naps on the cool grass under the trees.
Naps under the shade tree.
12:38 p.m. 17 April. Riders took naps under the shade trees at the fourth break point, the first one after lunch.
Fifth rest stop
1:38 p.m. 17 April. You can see the support truck for the South Main Baptist (Houston) team, that was riding for the Glory of God.
Fifth Rest Stop Part Deux
1:38 p.m. 17 April. Each rest stop had shady places to rest.
Fayetteville Break Point
3:22 p.m. 17 April. The surface of the road leading to the sixth break point in Fayetteville was very rough. It made it much more difficult to maintain a good speed. I was getting tired.
Last Break Before La Grange
4:07 p.m. 17 April. We made it to the last break point before the overnight stay at La Grange. Some of us were worn out.
Pedal Partner Lori
6:23 p.m. 17 April. I made it into La Grange at about 5:30 p.m. after 103 miles on the bike. I ate at the Continental Airlines tent, then headed over for our team photo at 6:15. After the team photo I stopped by the beer tent where my Pedal Partner Lori was serving beer. I was beat.
Waiting for the Ride to Austin
6:46 a.m. 18 April. I took a photo of the thousands of bikers in line ahead of us waiting to start the trip to Austin. Turning left out of the park would take you through the Bastrop State Park; turning right would take you down Hwy 71, the "Express" route. I took the Express route.
Tired Legs
6:46 a.m. 18 April. My Continental Airlines teammate pictured in the last photo took this shot of my legs while we were waiting for the ride to Austin to start.
Goin' to Austin!
6:46 a.m. 18 April. I look better than I feel, but I'm goin' to Austin come hell or high water.
1st stop Day Two
9:00 a.m. 18 April, This is the first rest stop after starting in La Grange on Sunday.
Port-A-Potty Lines
9:01 a.m. 18 April. It was not unusual to see long lines at the Port-A-Potties at each break point. Since I was staying well hydrated, I got lots of rest while waiting in line at each stop.
Smithville Rest Stop
10:22 a.m. 18 April. The rest stop in Smithville was the last chance to charge up before the big hills of Bastrop.
Walkin' the dog
10:23 a.m. 18 April. One couple on a tandem bike had their little pooch in a basket on front of their bike. Here you can see the dog being walked.
Lunch in Bastrop
11:38 a.m. 18 April. Continental Airlines fed us Subway sandwiches, chips, soda, cookies, water, and Gatorade in Bastrop. Making it up that last hill in the lowest gear possible was grueling but I did not have to stop. The ride down the hill to the stop light at the bottom was heady.