Austin, Texas

I woke up to a very clear, crisp, and chilly morning at the campsite
on the Blanco River. There was no rain in site, but my tent's rain fly
was all wet from condensation of the moisture I exhaled while
sleeping; it's amazing how much water we lose simply through
breathing. Packing up camp, I headed through the edge of the Hill
Country, where the hills were smaller, and the cycling easier (not to
mention the headwind had died down). The roads through ranch and farm
country and quaint towns were scenic, and the drivers courteous to me,
but the frequent roadkill tempered the pleasant day with the stench of
death; deer, skunks, squirrels, and even a porcurine met their sad
fates on these roads. I saw some deer dart across the road and they
just missed being hit; they were luckier than that dog that darted out
of its yard back in Arizona. Leaving the rural hills behind, my course
has now taken me into the heart of Austin, the political, educational,
and cultural capital of Texas. Cycling here has generally been easy,
thanks to a wide network of bike lanes, which I'm thankful for since
there is a lot of traffic here. Now I'm in a motel on I-35's motel
row, and will call it an early night. Tomorrow morning, my buddy Ivan
from my Jersey childhood will meet me here, and we will see the sights
of downtown Austin. He lives in Dallas now, so I've not seen him in a
few years; I'm psyched that I get to take a rest day and chill with
him!