09 April 2014
Johnson City to Austin, TX
50 miles (Total Miles = 1,575)

“You know why they [our Moms] aren’t out here riding bikes across the country?” says Candy at today’s lunch stop. “Because they’re smart!” she finishes. We have determined while lunching at this fine gas station that Candy is the same age as Gina’s mom, that Gina is the same age as Candy’s daughter, and that I’m the same age as Candy’s son. It’s like we are our own little family on the road. This is one of the reasons why Candy always refers to us as “you kids” and we try to make sure she doesn’t spend windy nights sleeping in the campground bathroom.

Today we arrive in Austin, having not been in a true city since Phoenix all those many weeks ago. We marvel at all of the shiny lights and restaurants and services and people, like bewildered survivors of a wreckage at sea who have finally been rescued and brought home after years of living on a deserted island. We are staying at a SUPER CUTE hotel across the river from the downtown core, and we are already wishing we were staying longer. At least we have tomorrow as a rest day to do a little bit of exploring and to re-connect with Darcy, one of my closest friends growing up who I haven’t seen in far too long. Maybe not a lot of resting in store but as we’ve made clear by now, that’s not necessarily what Rest Days are for.