Ups and Downs (April 22, 2015)

After leaving the comfort of Kim's place in Austin, I have spent four days experiencing a variety of "ups and downs".  Naturally, with Austin being located in the "Hill Country", there were a number of geological ups and downs.

The "ups and downs" that affected me the most were mental.

Location-wise, I have been riding eastward about 40 miles north of Houston ... and Houston is north of the Gulf of Mexico.  A tremendous weather pattern emerged from the Gulf producing extreme weather warnings and much flooding.  The nightly thunderstorms have been overwhelming to this "but it is a dry heat" guy.

This past weekend there was to be a MS 150 charity bike ride from Houston to Austin.  The plan was for the riders to ride from Houston to La Grange on Saturday, then on to Austin on Sunday.  The fairgrounds in La Grange were set up to accommodate the 13,000 riders (yes, that is correct ... thirteen thousand!!).  Friday night the storms brought over two inches of rain which resulted in the fairgrounds being flooded.  They ended up cancelling the Houston/La Grange leg, and just had the Sunday ride into Austin.  I was fortunate to ease into La Grange just prior to the rain falling (all night, I might add), and got into one of the few motel rooms available in town.

The next day I rode on to Navasota, TX, and camped in the city park.  Hurricane force winds (I thought I was going to be airlifted in my tent) and a huge downpour for most of the night.  Very disconcerting to be in such a storm with the thinnest of materials  protecting me from the elements. 
Sometimes a trite phrase really applies ... I was not a happy camper.

Due to this unhappy experience, I decided to overnight the next evening in a nice motel.  Unfortunately, my bad attitude and tiredness led me to have a few too many beers ... not a pleasant episode.  Riding with a hangover is not fun either.

So that is the mental "down side" ... what followed the next overnight was heaven sent.

About three miles east of the Texas town of Shepherd, there is a small retreat center/campground called Shepherd Sanctuary.  The lady who owns/runs the place, (Connie) is one of the gentlest people one could meet.  She and her family had been flooded out in Houston during the Katrina storm.  They had previously bought property near Shepherd, and decided to leave Houston and develop this facility.  To try to describe it would be futile, other than to say the rental cabins, the thousands of eclectic antique items scattered in and around the place is highly amusing ... and surprisingly peaceful.  The Venus de Milo-like statue pictured above goes almost unnoticed due to all the other items that catch the eye.  (Google "Shepherd Sanctuary Shepherd, TX for a look at the facility.)

We did not discuss religion, but I am sure she has followed the teaching of Buddha.  As seemingly cluttered as the entire place is, there is a very strong calming element. 

So I am mentally up this morning having put in a strong 65 miles yesterday (did I mention the roads have now flattened??), and will be exiting the great state of Texas today or tomorrow.  I have been riding across (and across, and across, and across) Texas for the past 21 days, and have logged just over 1300 miles since leaving Globe, AZ on March 24.

Much like everyday life, there are many "ups and downs" out here on the road.  For now ... dare I say it ... life is good.