After breakfast we all said our good-byes to our family and friends that came to see us at the half-way point. We left Fredericksburg in a foggy drizzle/mist all morning that left us soaked! Well, it was good for all the flowers along the roadsides.
Unfortunately all that wetness caused an accident for one of our riders. Laura P., Wendy and I were riding together when we came over a short but steep hill. At the bottom of the hill a river was covering the road - about 6 inches deep. The three of us tried to stop, but the road surface was gooey slippery. Wendy and I were able to stop, but Laura went down before the water, but ended up with a cracked collar bone and a concussion. She was taken to an Austin hospital.
Riding a bicycle across country involves a calculated risk, and even being careful, accidents can happen. This one had nothing to do with "operator error," just the conditions of the moment. We have ridden through many of these "water may gather at the bottom" signs with two short steep hills, and this was the first time there actually was water. The cars that were driving through dropped water on each of the hills. Fortunately Laura's injuries were not life-threatening, just ride-ending. This could have happened a block from home or on a cross-country ride she loves.
Dave finally arrived around 1 am after over 18 hours of driving from Andover, MN! It was really good to see him, especially after the trying day of mine the day before. After cleaning the chain/gears, and getting my bike set up, we did some shopping, went to the local bike shop, and met friends Shannon and Mike with their children Samantha and John. We became friends with them through Mike and Jenny while skiing in Colorado. We went out to dinner at one of the German Restaurants (Fredericksburg is like a little Germany).
This was the day I was most anxious to get in early. Dave was driving 18 hours from Minneapolis to see me at our half-way mark and rest day! My computer was not working, and those I was riding with got too far ahead for me to follow, so when I got near Kerrville and got a cell signal I used Google maps to find the Kerrville bike shop. Ninety minutes and $75 later, it was fixed, so I headed out alone for the second 45 miles. Of course a 35-mph head wind had come up, and between the hills and the chip seal roads, I was not sure how I was going to make it. Much of the time I was only able to move at 8 mph. Our Sag that day, Therese, came back a couple of times to make sure I was all right, but I was determined to finish. I finally did make it, but this day was probably the most difficult for me, not only physically, but more mentally. Not too many photos the second half of this ride.
Dave finally rolled in at 1:00 AM - sure was happy to see him!!
