Day 36 April 4, 2011 Monday Total Mileage: 1458 Today: 55 Miles

 

The temperature was hot last night in the “wagon,” so David put in the screens and with the breeze the temperature was perfect for sleeping. We woke to tapping on the roof and some thunder.  It rained for about 5 minutes, and then it was over. It was humid and warm when I left camp, but cool and beautiful as the elevation increased.  The wind increased to 20-25 mph, gusting to 35 mph from the North.  Lucky for me I was on back roads and the headed Southwest!  There was a couple of time I experienced the full force head-on… enough said… I’ve decided not to complain about the wind anymore.  I like wind, it makes my sailboard go; I should have brought my equipment with me…

We saw a van-supported women’s cycling tour group headed East, not sure where they started or how far they are going; did not have a chance to speak with anyone.

Also saw a wild turkey (hen) and a roadrunner.

Longaberger baskets of the 1900’s –

In the late 1890’s Charles Apelt opened a unique commercial enterprise… using the armadillo’s shell for baskets.  The novelty of the armadillo baskets was a quick success; within the first six years Apelt shipped 40,000 orders throughout the US and the World.  Apelt displayed the armadillo baskets at the 1904 Worlds Fair.  He also came up with other ingenious uses for the armadillo’s shell – lamps, desk sets, and ashtrays.  By the 1920’s, Apelt Armadillo Farm was a major employer in the Comfort, Texas area through 1971.

Apelt Homestead



If you're not going to ride it, you can use it for yard art!





Guadalupe River



Tonight we are at Kerrville-Schreiner Texas State Park it feels very remote and yet it is across the Guadalupe River from the City of Kerrville, population of +20,000.  They are in between seasons, so we are one of only a few campers in a very large campground.  They also let the grass grow up between sites so that helps with the feeling of remoteness.

Camp 35