Day 7: Brackettville to Leakey (70 miles; 2,100 vertical ft)

The cold front that dumped snow on Denver reached us last night and we bundled up to start cycling in a chilly 39 degrees, and then battle a fierce headwind for the 18-mile stretch before lunch. 

Kathleen elevated the day, though, by greeting us at lunch with the newest sag queen garb, which she had devised after both tour leaders, Jerry Bakke and Steve Parker, missed the lunch stop entirely two days ago.  She thought her new garb would be more attention grabbing.

Kathleen signals Jerry into the lunch stop while Charlotte munches close by

After lunch we pulled ourselves up a winding steep hill that finally lifted us out of the Big Bend desert region into the Texas Hill Country.  The Hill Country consists of broad live oak trees scattered across grassy fields, all cut by shallow, aqua colored creeks and streams.

The Nueces River

After the short post-lunch climb, we sailed down into a motorcycle swarming Leakey.  Turns out: motorcycling is such a popular pastime around Leakey that the D’Rose Hotel where we stayed is a motorcycle (and occasional bicycle) only hotel.  Drive up in a car and you don’t get a room.

Hundreds of motorcyclists were rockin’ to live music in town, so after our ride, we settled ourselves under the pavilion at the hotel and master chef Chris Matthews grilled burgers for all on a steel drum barbeque (including two veggies burgers for our vegan and vegetarian). 

YUM!!!!!!

Chris and Jerry waiting for the coals