Sunset at Camp Chap - Junction

The evening festivities consisted of camp set-up, a quick run into town for BBQ (fair), a bit more set-up, a walk down to the Ranger talk, route planning for tomorrow, checking e-mail for emergencies, a shower and getting tucked in for bed. Pretty nice.
The Ranger talk was sweet. He opened with a 1956 Disney cartoon about park littering...directed by a Mr Hannah, I noticed. One of the lead characters looked a lot like a precursor to Yogi Bear. The talk itself covered all the park mammals...quite a list. Jan would have felt vindicated, as he introduced the various fuzzy-tailed rats (squirrels). I learn one brand new fact. Porcupines live in trees! In the tops of trees, to be precise. Who knew? The list of park mammals was really long. He covered a few of the animals no longer in the park too. Too bad Texas bears have been gone for about 100 years now.

South Llano River State Park

Despite being told repeatedly that all sites were full, I made the trek anyway and...found several open when I got here! Yea!
The ride in was not as hot as yesterday's ride to Lubbock...it peaked at 104 near San Angelo but was soon down to 102 and was a brisk 100 by the time I rolled into Junction.
Napping is next on my shady picnic table. It has a great view.

Hot as Hell

Departed Austin 11am. Warm.
Approaching Eden: 104 - 106
Approaching San Angelo: 106 - 108
Approaching Bronte: 108 - 111
Whew!

Politics in Bronte

Stripes is the local gas station and cafe. As such it is equipped with tables, chairs and talk. It is sadly, predictably, racist and right wing. I wish I could find something optimistic to say about it besides "At least they are old..."

The Great Shrinking Adventure

The Great Northwest Adventure is off...for now. Duty calls at work. Vacation is not in the stars just now... But the Good West Texas Adventure is on. North to Lubbock, south to Junction and back to Austin. It will be a great dress rehearsal. Long weekend Ho!

Five Days to Go

More prep today. Grocery shopping...waterproofed the tent fly...more packing.... The food bag is ready to go. All dried stuff. The First Aid kit is done after the addition of a pouch of QuickClot. It goes in the Camelback...along with other essentials. It looks it is all going to fit. Clothes are in plastic bags...as is bedding...and food. As soon as I get the bike washed it will be time to try loading again.

Countdown

With my scheduled departure now less than 12 days away, final preparations are becoming urgent...and competing interests are becoming more acute. Is it always this way with big adventures? Perhaps not. I suppose the out of work cowboy who got on his horse with a sack of beans, a box of shells and a bedroll may have found departure a little cleaner. Well, that's not me. Grocery shopping and assembling my kitchen and first aid gear are now at the head of the list...along with getting work down to a dull roar. Working both days this weekend made a dent in it. Let's hope it holds.