I've slowed down the journey over the past month; the result is, conversely, that I've found speed, speed of the exhilarating kind.
Towards the end of January, the Jamboree and I made our way into Texas, two days of full-on driving from New Orleans. Destination: Fredericksburg, the third corner of a triangle between San Antonio and Austin. In this small town in the Texas Hill country, I parked for a week and hauled Betty down from her rest in the bed above the driver's cab in the Jamboree. It was time for some speed on two wheels rather than six.
The hill country has over 20 cycling routes well laid out online www.cycletexas.com. The routes roam up and down and around gently rolling hills, past cattle ranches boasting Texas longhorns and Texas gates. And wineries! This region produces the second largest output of wine (and good wine, to my delight!) next to Napa in the US.
More than cycle-friendly, this is the first really cycling-enthusiastic place I've discovered in North America. It's a mecca, drawing hundreds of cyclists every year for individual pleasure and training, or for various events held by the local bike shop. The residents who pass by in their cars and, more commonly since we're in Texas, trucks, not only watch out for cyclists on the road, but actually smile and wave!
Why is there so much cycling in the region? Um, might have a wee bit to do with the fact that Lance has a ranch just down the road. When I stopped into the bike shop to pick up a few bobs and bits before trying out my first route, the guy at the shop mentioned that Lance sometimes shows up for the Tuesday or Thursday night group cycles, carries everyone for a while, and then drops off when he's done. As much as I'd love to be on one of those group rides, he'd leave me so far in the dust that I'd probably just end up out there alone and lost.
Not that I didn't discover some decent speed for my own cycling record! I sped along under normal conditions, which are not too scorchingly hot in January. A couple of days were incredibly windy, though, rendering me and Betty nearly motionless and pumping hard against the wind, but with it in our backs we sailed along at nearly 40 miles an hour! (MILES, people, not KMs!! That's fast!!)
After a week of speed on Betty's two wheels, I parked the Jamboree again, this time at the Austin airport, and flew back to my northern home. February in Calgary and Banff is prime skiing time, so I arranged to stay for a month and get some good use out of my Lake Louise ski pass www.skilouise.com.
This time, the speed was induced by steep downhills, snow, and freshly waxed skis. The beauty of the Canadian Rockies from the top of the mountain is about the only thing that could slow me down when I'm out on the hills, and I've now already spent several days barrelling my way across and down our alpine terrain.
To stop driving for a while. To park. To live in one spot for more than one or two nights. Fredericksburg, one week, Calgary-Banff, one month. To get out on my gear and play, challenge myself to go, hard, fast, feel that wind, love that speed, build that strength. Makes me wish winter would never end.
Soon, I will return to both places. And I will return to the blog about both places in more detail. Until then, here are some preliminary pictures of both for you:
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| Texas, Jan 2010 |
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| Skiing at Louise, Feb 2010 |
