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The Weekly Newsletter |
Menus and Stories for April 6 - 10, 2009
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| The Edwards Plateau |
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Welcome, once again, to a remote edition of the Laurey's Newsletter. This week we crossed the halfway mark on the cross-the-country bike ride. I write to you from Kerrville, Texas where I am enjoying a rest day. Ya-hoo!
This snap is the top of the Texas Hill Country. It's a thick layer of hard limestone which lays on top of a softer layer. The softer layer has been eroded over the years (the hard stuff is from the age of the dinosaurs) which means that the road follows these eroded cuts up to the top and down to the bottom. It provides some arduous ascents and some thriller whizzes back down.
For the past two days we rode up and down this bluff, in and out of, in front of and behind the wind, which has been unusually strong, gusting up to 50 miles and hour on occasion. Whewf!!! |
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You just never know |
We're in ranch country these days. The ranches are home to exotic animals which people come to see, photograph and, sadly, hunt. Apparently a multitude of wild hogs enjoy the exotic game offspring so the ranches trap them.
I got a close up of this sign for you so you could call and order some in case you ever need one. The area code is the one for Kerrville, so you can look that part up, okay? Somebody we met told us that his brother got a trophy for the biggest hog last year "field-dressed at 200 pounds," he said.
We asked if they ate them.
"Some do," he replied.
Apparently not him.
Well, here's your information. It's up to you to decide what to do with it.
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| Chip Seal |
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If you have been reading my blog (www.laureybikes.blogspot.com) you will have heard about Chip Seal. It is the bane of our existence. ROUGH roads, very rough. I guess they do it to make the roads last longer, but the experience is like riding on a washboard that has ridges going in both directions.
Every once in a while the chip seal runs out and we get a blissful ride on SMOOTH pavement. Here is one of the chip seal -to-pavement transitions. This was such a remarkable point that I stopped my bike to document the place.
Now you know. |
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Dinners to go for this week |
Dinners come with a freshly-made green salad, salad dressing of the day,
and made-right-here bread of the day. We take reservations until noon or so.
Please order by phone (252-1500), by fax (252-0200)
or stop in to speak to one of us in person.
Monday, April 6 Elsie's Chicken Baked in Wine 10.25
Tuesday, April 7 Greek Spinach Pie w/Sesame Tabouli 9.95
Wednesday, April 8 Grilled Flank Steak & Red Cabbage w/Cranberries 11.75
Thursday, April 9 BBQ Pork ribs w/Baked Beans 10.25
Friday, April 10 Garlic-Butter Tilapia w/Lemon Risotto 12.25
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Our website |
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| Special casserole of the week |
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We make a special casserole each Wednesday.
Give us a call on Tuesday before we close and we'll fix you up.
Order a half if you have around 4 folks, or, if you have a bigger group,
Or just like leftovers, order a full sized one.
Then come pick up between 4:30 and 6:00 on Wednesday.
This week's special casserole is for April 8:
Layered Greek Vegetable Pastitsio
Full 29.75/Half 15.00
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Deep Water Warning |
We're now in Hill Country. The water, when it comes, COMES. Bridges are expensive and, really, the water isn't here all the time so, well, it makes sense that a bridge would be unnecessarily expensive. Instead they mark the bottom of the low water spot. If you come across one of these with water up to the "5," stay away.
This really is a marvelous way to see the country. And the weather has been terrific, albeit a bit windy (I'll say!) But I continue to be enamored with much of the countryside. Beauty abounds. |
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| Whatever it takes |
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Lunch is on our own on this trip. Lunch makings are provided in the morning. Well, really, snack makings are provided. This is NOT my sandwich. Marci is another rider and here is one of her snacks. Peanut Butter, Jelly, and, why not, m+m's.
I usually make a peanut butter and raisin sandwich, not that that is any more sophisticated. We also consume power bars, candy bars (Pay Day is the bar of choice), gallons of Gatorade and other electrolyte replacement drinks, not to mention energy bars, jelly beans and gel packs of instant carbohydrates. It's kind of amazing. We're eating, eating, eating all the time. And losing weight.
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Windy Helmet Head |
This one doesn't need a whole lot of explanation.
I wear a helmet all day long.
I don't wear a hat.
The wind blows.
My hair sticks up through the ventilation holes.
This is what you get.
Nice, yes?
(This snap was taken in a restaurant and has been named the "Tri-hawk")
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| A Note from Laurey |
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April 3, 2009
Howdy from the Lone Star State.
It’s amazing to me that we’re now, as of yesterday, halfway through the trip.
We crossed that point yesterday and now, here we go into the second part. We’re still in Texas. We were in Texas last week. And we’ll still be in Texas next week too. Texas is a big state. A BIG state.
We’ve moved from West Texas into Central Texas. Last week we had the biggest day of our ride. 111 miles. On rough pavement (see the Chip Seal picture), and into a very strong headwind of 15 - 20 miles, gusting, at times, to 40 miles an hour. Straight into the face. That day, heretofore known as “Del Rio” was a bear. I rode for 12 ½ hours. 7:30 in the morning, in very chilly conditions, all the way until 8:00 that night. I was one of 6 people who managed to ride all the miles that day. 111 miles is a lot of miles, more that I have ever ridden in one day. And then, adding the wind and the road, well, I’m told it counts as 130 miles. Whatever you say, it was a BIG day.
And then the next day we got up and rode again. As we did the next day and the next day too. I’ve ridden all the miles. Summoning the strength from some deep well that seems to remain filled with health and excitement.
Today is a rest day. I am in Kerrville, Texas. This is the heart of the Hill Country and is really a beautiful place. The hills roll on and on and on and on. The air is clear, comfortable.
This afternoon four of us went on a little excursion to Luckenbach. You know, the place of the song. Oh my, what a hoot. A guy bought the town a while ago when it had a population of 3. It now has a bar, a stage or two, a couple of places to dance, and a bunch of characters. I fell in love, once again, with a place, a group of people, an experience. I bought a t-shirt and came very close to buying a cowboy hat. I talked to Ron, a guy who posed for pictures with his Longhorn, “Shotgun.” Ron also rides Shotgun and THAT is a sight. Shotgun is a big boy. Ron is a funny fellow. And he gave me a contribution to my ride and blessed me. We get blessed a lot here. I like it.
So this continues to be a good thing. Today I was interviewed by a writer from the San Antonio Express-News. That story will be in the paper on April 13, if you’re in town. The story, about surviving and riding and spreading this word, is a good one and I tell it and can hardly believe that it is MY story and that it is ME who is on this ride and that I am the one who gets to have all these amazing experiences.
In a bit of a work note, I told you about having Jon play in our café this Sunday (go hear him!) and on the 12th. Well, the 12th is Easter Sunday and the gang is going to take the day off to spend time with their families. We’ll be serving Gourmet Comfort Food this Sunday and the Sunday after, but not on Easter.
So thanks, friends.
I know its kind of early to think about this, but put May 14th on your calendar if you would like to. I’ll be back. I’ll have caught my breath. That day is my birthday. And we’re going to have a party. Details will follow.
Until next week.
Happy Trails.
Laurey
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Laurey Bikes - the blog |
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Just take a left |
This is a wonderful trip for me.
Thank you for letting me be away for this length of time.
And the biggest thanks goes to everyone at Laurey's for keeping it all going.
I'll be in touch next week - still in Texas but almost into Louisiana. Whee! |
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