Last night on Facebook I made an announcement to my friends and family. I told them that I was ending my trip prematurely and that I would be heading home with my parents. While I didn't complete my trip, I was immensely proud of what I had accomplished so far. I was ready to come home.
Zero percent of that is true.
As the storm outside was raging, I was sitting in my tent having a riot of a time. I submitted the post and within minutes I started getting Facebook comments and messages, texts, and even a phone call or two. People wanted to know what the hell was going on. I told everyone that I was fine physically and mentally, that I was just ready to call it good and head home. Everyone was so incredulous, but accepted what they were reading. To me, it was hysterical. I laid in my tent giggling every time my phone vibrated. Around midnight I tuned my phone off and fell asleep listening to the storm wail into the night.
This morning I made this announcement.
Most people saw the humor in my harmless fun. Plus, it was a good way to kick off the day and beginning of my extended break from cycling. It put me in good spirits as I broke down camp and headed towards the city of Bastrop, Texas. The overcast skies threatened rain at any moment but the rolling hills and strong tailwind kept me at a good pace to outrun the storm. Then I received a call. Unusual for this early in the morning. It was Buescher State Park. One of the ranger's had found a cell phone in the bathrooms that were near my campsite. They were worried that it was mine, so they called me up--on my cell phone--to make sure I returned and got the phone--that was in my hands--from their office. They were so damn polite I just mentioned that I had mine and thanked them for looking out for me though. I hung up and chuckled as I rolled into Bastrop looking for some breakfast. And I rolled in at the perfect time.
After some breakfast, I chose to wait the storm out in the only other open business in the city that was open at ten in the morning: a bar. I patiently waited for my parents while talking to the bar tenders about my trip. After a few free beers, and a shot from an overzealous patron, my parents found me in the bar among my new friends. I paid for my food, eager to start a few days off the bike and to see my lovely parents.
