Today the landscape changed dramatically as I made my way beween Navasota and LaGrange, TX. During yesterday's treck I passed the town of Coldspring. To my eye, Coldspring is the unofficial gateway to the west, at least on this route. Starting there, towns have that somewhat undefinable western feel to them. The center of town is often a feed store, and storefronts tend to have a barnboard facade. Twenty miles west of Navasota the landscape became much more rolling. Apparently the bona-fide "Hill Country" doesn't begin until I get west of Austin. But today's ride was a good warm up.
One photo below shows how the landscape is opening up, near Independence, TX. This landcape characteristic prompted one person I knew to comment that they thought people's personalities follow the landscape. They found westerners to be open, available, and willing to show their hands. Conversely they felt easterners tended to be more closed, cautious, and somewhat secretive like the landscape we live in. Interesting...
The prospects of renting a room in Roundtop, TX for $150/night prompted me to push to LaGrange, TX where I found a perfectly good room for $49, and a very kind motel owner who gave me lots of fruit and water. Seventy miles was today's total. Tomorrow looks like hard rain and 44 degrees. I won't be surprised if I post a goose egg for mileage.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Approaching the "Texas Hill Country"
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Interesting the relationship between landscape and people...I always thought that there is a direct effect on human characteristic versus the climate, landscape, whereabout you live on this globe. I can see and feel it when I listen to music or see art of different part of this world.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the Universe is inviting you to relax! Enjoy whatever your heart tells you to do!
Thanks Diane, My heart is telling me to mosey on downtown to LaGrange and scare up a little breakfast. Oh, that's my belly. Sometimes hard to tell the difference. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's why I keep cooking.... for sure love!!!!
ReplyDeleteChef "D"
Carl,
ReplyDeleteRay told the guys at Gove about your trip. Cool, man. Don't go tilting at any windmills.
Keith
Kieth, great to get a message from you. I was hoping I would have a friend at Gove that would remember me. I would have gone this past retreat, but life circumstances alligned themselves such that I could get this trip in.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well with you. I'm sure Gove Hill was a rewarding experience. Hi to Craig. And I won't tilt at those mills unless they tilt at me first.