Brenham, Tx. ZERO DAY #2

I woke during the night, listening to the wind whistling outside our PLUM and feeling the vehicle rocking. I thought to myself, "There is no way I'm going to ride in the morning." I was right—I didn’t. All day, the wind was whipping consistently at 17–18 mph, with gusts reaching at least 30+ mph. At some point, one just has to call it a day, before even starting the day.

In addition to fighting the wind, it would have been coming from my right side; a strong gust combined with a passing truck could have resulted in an accident with tragic consequences. I think I made the right decision.

I’ve been reflecting on this trip and comparing it to other adventures in my life. When we started this journey, we talked about having fun and making it memorable. Fun, I believe, should be defined as fulfilling and life-giving. However, I’ve found myself tempted to be driven—to "conquer" the miles. I realize that this approach often takes the joy out of the day and the journey. Sitting here over the last few days has reminded me that riding today would have reduced the experience to "conquering" rather than "having fun." I also realized that I have been starting to "conquer" during the past several weeks and this was a good reminder to stop and smell the Bluebonnets.

We got up this morning rather late. It was a brisk 44 degrees with 17 mph winds—it felt cold, even for us northerners. We headed out to the only coffee shop in town, Mescalita Coffee. We ordered coffee and decided to order food a bit later. We weren’t in a hurry, and the place felt comforting, almost like home. After a while, a mid-40s couple sat down with their daughter and granddaughter. The granddaughter, only three weeks old, was simply adorable. You could tell the mother and grandparents were proud and had already mastered the art of doting on their precious baby. We spent some time conversing—they seemed like a lovely family. Their second daughter is also expecting, due in about six months. After they headed out, we finished our breakfast and went to Lowe's to purchase supplies to repair part of the interior wall of our PLUM. By then, I was tired after a long, busy day. :-)

Later, we returned to Walmart and settled in for the overnight stay. After a nap, we watched the NCAA Women’s Championship. For dinner, we found a BBQ carryout spot and enjoyed some delicious brisket and mac and cheese. Now we are chilling—literally—as we wind down for the evening.

Plans are set for a 40-mile ride tomorrow. In two days, the temperatures will begin to climb, and within a week, we’ll be dealing with 90-degree weather. It’s hard to imagine right now, but I suspect the forecast is fairly accurate.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”もっと詳しく