According to Katherine: Day 30

We began the day at 7:00 a.m. for our 65-mile ride to Blanco. It was 65 degrees and overcast. I felt bright and bold in my new Hill Country cycling shirt. I ate some scrambled eggs and yogurt, and made my PB&J sandwich for lunch.

Jack, my brother and his wife came for the map meeting, and to send us off with good wishes. John gave me another fabulous gift, an elegant gold necklace with a bicycle pendant designed by James Avery in Kerrville. As we were cycling out of Kerrville towards Comfort, the drone of a small plane alerted me that John and Marty were doing a parting fly over. I wept with appreciation.

John, Marty, and Jack are up early to say good-bye.  

At lunch, we stopped in Waring for our PB&J sandwiches and energy drinks, and encountered a troop of Brownie Scouts. We told them what we were doing and encouraged them to eat healthy foods and stay fit, so they could do fun stuff when they get older! One little girl asked, "Do you ever sleep?"

Cute young Brownie Scouts in Waring.  Their leader showed them a map of the US and our route on her iPad. 

We saw some wildflowers, goats and longhorns -- all Texas icons -- and finished strong in Blanco. The weather had stayed cloudy and cool for the first 50 miles, but heated on up to the 80s when the sun came out the last 15 miles.

A Texas-style howdy!

Barbed wire and blossoms in purple profusion.

Chef Linda delighted us with moussaka and brown rice, a salad of cucumber, onions, peppers and tomatoes, and little bunches of grapes. Yummy! We also had a surprise visit from two other WomanTours guides. They will be leading a one-week trip through the Texas Hill country beginning tomorrow. We had met and loved both of the women on our trips to Moab, UT and Pennsylvania Dutch Country with WomanTours. They had supper with us, and went on their way.

We had to share a bed in the quaint little 1960s motel -- but were both so tired, we didn't move! The shower was strong and hot and so was the coffee, so we were pleased with our accommodations!

1,618 miles behind us. 1,482 miles to pedal. 28 days to go.

Dr. Jeter Day 30 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 29 Recap

A day of gratitude, joy, and wonder. I was so grateful to wake up in my own bed in our little summer cabin next to my dear man. Marge enjoyed the privacy of our guest room. We eased into the morning with coffee and our devotionals and a brief visit with next door cousins, Anne and Dick.

I grabbed a banana and Marge and I were off to Kerrville for long planned haircuts and a trip to the Verizon store, this time for her needs! While we were gone the party hosts were busy preparing for the guests. When we returned there were pans of vegetable lasagna, BBQ heating, salads, beans, fresh fruit, cakes, key lime pie, iced tea and lemonade laid out on picnic tables. Bouquets of flowers added such a festive air.

The hosts with the most: Jack and my brother, John.

Dear friends, family, neighbors, and old friends from my childhood came to celebrate. Three classmates from my school days in San Antonio drove up. One brought her daughter and granddaughter, both of whom are very special to me. A couple we have adored since he was a football star at West Point decades ago drove over too.

Three high school classmates, with the daughter and granddaughter of one, surprised me completely by driving 65 miles from San Antonio.

The GRATITUDE I felt for the party planners and the celebrants who came touched my soul. I was so honored and appreciative of everyone's attention and interest and of the sweet friends who brought most of the good food.

High school classmate Linda Williams, her daughter and granddaughter.

One cute childhood chum couldn't come but amplified our menu with treats brought by the caterer. Thank you, Maria! My long time friend Anne Glenn and my cousin Clare contributed very generously to the WOCN Scholarship Fund.

Anne Glenn and I played with Toni Dolls when we were little girls during the summers in Hill Country.

It is impossible to describe the JOY of those three hours of fun and fellowship with people for whom I care so deeply.

My sweet brother presented me with a colorful Hill Country bike shirt. I'll wear it so proudly for years to come.

Adam & Lisa at Hill Country Bicycle Works are working on my bike on our rest day.

We packed up and drove to the hotel where the rest of our group was ensconced. We had arranged for a private tour of an imposing cross that has been erected on I-10. The artist and several of his Foundation Board members picked us up and took us to the hill outside of Kerrville where we gathered at the base of the cross for an explanation of the project and mighty prayers. I was filled with WONDER that this opportunity presented itself at the exact halfway point of our trip.

The Empty Cross on I-10 was envisioned and designed by artist Max Greiner, Jr. We were fortunate to have a private presentation and prayers by Max and his staff. The cross is 77'7" tall. What a perfect way to celebrate the mid-point of this journey.

I'm filled with WONDER that we are going to be embarking on the second half of our journey tomorrow. After a quiet dinner with Jack, Marge, my brother and his wife, Marty, who had just arrived from Sun Valley, Idaho. Marge and I went to our hotel room to resume the rhythm of the ride and the schedule.

What a day of gratitude, joy, and wonder!

Dr. Jeter Day 29 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 28 Recap

It was a chilly 44 degrees this morning. Linda got us started with gorgeous French toast with peaches and pecans on top, made in large pans and served in generous warm helpings.

The 49-mile ride promised to be very demanding, with lots of climbing and one very big mile-long steep hill -- and an equally-challenging descent with numerous hairpin turns. Since my beloved Jack and brother John were going to be waiting at the bike shop, and I was anxious to see them both and get my bike in for the gears to be repaired, Marge and I bumped up 24 miles in the WomanTours van.

We started our ride in Medina, the apple capital of the world -- or at least Texas! The aroma of apple pies and BBQ tempted us to linger, but we had 25 miles to ride to get to my men.

9.4 miles out, we began the really steep hill we had been told to expect. Marge and I were ready for it, but we were not ready for the three motorcycles passing us in our narrow curvy lane, and a vehicle coming from the opposite direction on this road with no shoulders. We couldn't see each other, because of the sharp curves, but we apparently got off our bikes at the same time and walked up a few hundred yards before getting back on and finishing the climb.

Imagine my surprise and delight, when we crested the hill to see my Jack and John waiting with cameras poised at the SAG Wagon. We got off the bikes, hugged and kissed, transferred our luggage into their car, and continued the 16 mile ride to the bike shop. The descent around those sharp curves was harrowing!

After giving my bike to Adam at Hill Country Bikeworks, we went across the street for a superb lunch at Mamacita's, our favorite Mexican restaurant in Kerrville. I had shrimp enchiladas and rice.

We made a quick stop at a pawn shop that also changes watch batteries, to get my Timex ticking again and finally, we drove the 13 miles to our little summer cabin on the Guadalupe River. It was 85 degrees when we arrived.

Jack had the house sparkling clean, and dressed with flowers and a welcome sign. While Marge and I did our laundry, we enjoyed the afternoon coffee Jack made for us. My cousin Anne drove up from San Antonio with a delicious supper of shrimp salad, chicken salad, tossed salad and hearty bread for us all. My brother presented us with a sinfully good chocolate cake with "Great Ride" written on top. My cousin Dick arrived from Austin with a special treat called "Miles of Chocolate" and ginger snaps in the shape of Texas. We chatted briefly before going to bed.

My cousins Anne and Dick, whose little summer cabin is next to ours, drove in for the evening -- and the party!   

Tomorrow will be a busy rest day with haircuts for Marge and me, and a big party with all sorts of friends and family at our cabin. Today, we officially marked the midpoint of the trip, with fewer miles ahead than behind us. It is hard to believe we've ridden so far!

1,553 miles behind us. 1,547 to pedal. 30 days to go.

Dr. Jeter Day 28 on Polyvore