SWTR-Southwest Tandem Rally Sunday April 26th

This morning we are headed to the Wildflower Ridge Alpaca Farm. Along the way we rode by way too many thistles. I have a story about that,let me indulge. Many years ago we re riding down in the Hill Country. We had some friends that had had a bad crash on a descent. We were getting ready to go to New Zealand. I had to ask Jim what he would do if a descent got too fast. He said "Well, I would never let it get that fast, I would take it down in the bar ditch. About that time we're riding by some really tall thistles. After a moment digesting what he said. I asked do thistles hurt worse that road rash. 

Fortunately we have never had to find the answer for that.

At the alpaca ranch there was coffe and hot cinnamon rolls (with lots of icing) us. 

Up the hill these little guys were waiting for us. They were not keen on getting petted.

However they were looking for some handouts.

Everyone found out that farther up the hill there were more alpacas and a fellow talking about them.

These alpacas seemed sad that everyone left. 

Here we are full of coffee and cinnamon rolls ready to work it off. 

I made Jim hunker down to get this shot. The side of the road was filled with wild flowers 

Cheering us home. We make our way back to the house and said our goodbyes and head home. 

For those who ride bicycles this was the perfect weekend. Good weather, great friends and mile of

Awesome roads to ride. If you have not ridden the Hill Country figure out a way to get down there.

You will be like us and smile all the way homes when you leave.

2015 SWTR-Southwest Tandem Rally Saturday SaturdayApril 25th

Saturday morning and everyone is getting ready to ride!

Sargent Phillips is going to escort us out of town.

This armadillo I would like to think is just taking a nap in the road. But like most armadillos you happen on have usually come into contact with the undercarriage of a vehicle. It's been told and I truly don't know if it is a fact, that armadillos don't get hit when a vehicle runs over them. It startles them and

they jump straight up. Consequently hit the underside of the vehicle and kill themselves.

Blackeyed Susans

There are a lot of goats in the hill country. The baby goats are soooo cute!

This is the Gypsum Mine on the famous Gypsum Loop. I have looked up history about the mine.

The best I have found out about it is it called the Cherry Hill Gypsum Mine. The reason gypsum is mined, it's used in plaster, drywall, forms sculptures. The last statistic on the mine is it employees 12 people as of 2007.

The roads get long and rolly here..

Finally lunch! With the shade of the old Liveoaks you didn't realize the temperature was getting up 

Into the high 80's.

Charley and Rhonda Pummill. Jim and I have know them for many years. We caught up with them at lunch. Rhonda and I discussed that there was another Rhonda on the tour. We have always been the only two. Fortunately we met the third Rhonda. She met our expectations. She is really awesome as well!

The tandems are like horses resting along the fence waiting to get saddled up 

while we all enjoy our lunches.

Nearly back home we rode by this field in the city. The flowers are given their space in the city.

You can't help but smile as you go by.

We have stayed many years at the Ressmann Haus. It much the same as the our first visit only subtle 

Improvements that time brings. Possibly one of the favorite things about this area are the morning doves. You will hear them along with cardinals, bluejays, wrens and sparrows. It's nice Sitting on the porch watching all the activity going on in that small front yard.

Here is Mr.Jimmy enjoying the cool breeze that blows up on the porch on an otherwise hot 

Sunny afternoon. Gosh I love the sun and the warmth of it.

If any of you reading this do not ride a tandem you might consider it, if only for the happy hour happenings at a tandem rally. There are people from all over the country here. Happy hour is a great time to get to meet others and enjoy their stories. Riding together is an added feature too. Now I will have to say the SWTR is known for it's happy hour. So when you get your tandem be sure to sign up for the SWTR. Tomorrow we ride to an Alpaca farm!

2015 SWTR-Southwest Tandem Rally

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Friday the 24 th of April finds us headed out of town back to Fredericksburg.

This time without the fifth wheel and no Diggity and Doogie. However we have our tandem with us.

We haven't been on the tandem since we rode it a few days on our ride across the country in 2013.

This is the 25th year for the rally. There will be 92 tandems at this rally.

Temple Texas has a new Buc-ee's. This is not your regular truck stop. In fact big rigs are not allowed there. It is amazing. They have 112 pumps and the restrooms beat out some of the fancy hotels we've stayed in. So next time your through Temple check out Buc-ee's"

The blue bonnets are starting to fade away. So now the coreopsis, Black-eyed Susans, Indian paintbrush and Indian blankets are starting their show.

John and Brenda on the roads. Long time friends we enjoy riding with them. Our pace on the tandem are about the same.

So this is view from the back of the tandem. Well not totally. The advantage from this position is you can see the vistas all around and not have to worry what's happening on the road. Picutre taking is much more spontaneous too.

Another field of flowers.

If you look closely you can catch the bluebonnets still putting on a great display.

Happy hour that evening was at the Perdenales brewing company. Hugh Reeves part of the planning 

Committee for the rally owns this brewery.

Pulling beers is hard work at the brewery.

Outside everyone is taking in brews,wine,munchies and good conversation.

Susie Mumby and John Harvey getting some hugs from Jim.

Jim and Melody Yuhn along with Lee & Becky Wilson surrounding Pete Holverson 

This is Jeff Lingo, with Mike Baker, Nannette and Ronnie Bryant

Jeff and Laura Hollingswortj are awesome tandem riders. They rode the Leadville 100 this last year on a tandem mountain bike. Unfortunately they did not finish. However it didn't diminish their awesomeness in our eyes.

Mindy Mashburn and Laura Roberts put together the wine and appetizers for the happy hour.

Back at the house Brenda put together a dinner of roasted chicken and salad. Ronnie and Nannette 

Brought some wonderful deserts including a peach pie to top off the evening.

Fortunately the weather cooperated and we were able to dine outside as well. This made for a perfect evening with good friends.