Day 27, April 1: Camp Wood to Vanderpool, TX

41 of 41 miles

Today and tomorrow were billed as the "Texas hill days". Today certainly didn’t disappoint. There were three big climbs of one to two miles each with 10-12 % grades. At the top of each climb, the road weaved through open range for as few miles before descending into the valley between the ridges.

Marni, Peggy, and Carol

The weather was ideal with the wind a relative non-factor, the road surface acceptable, and the scenery beautiful. It was a typical spring day, with seemingly dozens of shades of green mottled in the landscape and songbirds chirping at every turn.

Near the end of the ride, we stopped at a general store to catch our breath and to watch the resident hummingbirds hovering about. The Texas hills are motorcycle country and, apparently, bikers and religion have a lot in common, as evidenced by this flyer on the store’s bulletin board.

Many of said motorcyclists manage to maim themselves screaming around the hairpin turns of these country roads. Thankfully, today is a Thursday and most of them are otherwise occupied.

Tonight we are staying in the Fox Fire Cabins near the Sabinal River. The cabins are two or three bedroom affairs and quite cute. Linda prepared dinner in the stone-chimneyed lodge, a perfect setting.