Yesterday was in the top 5 of all time longest drives in one day. I’ve done some all nighters before from Topeka to the West and East coasts, but the drive from San Diego to Austin seemed to go on forever. It took me a little under 17 1/2 hours, which is averaging 76 mph with stops. Luckily the speed limits in Texas are 80 on the Interstates. I kind of lost it about 2 am Midwest time, but only had less than an hour left at that point.

So, with a super short nights sleep, I’m getting on my bike and riding the 20 miles over to the Austin Airport to pick up a rental car. I’m driving it back to Ann’s house, loading up my stuff, air mattress, clothes etc., that I need for the MS 150 this weekend, and then heading off to Houston. I need to go to the Marriott, drop off my stuff, then take the car back and ride back to the hotel. I don’t think I’m going to have any time to catch up on sleep today.

The ride is supposed to start at 6:45 am tomorrow. I don’t really see a great reason to head out that early if we have to ride less than 100 miles, but I guess I’ll go when everyone else takes off. I hope I don’t get sick from this hectic schedule. I know my body needed yesterday “off”, but it really wasn’t that off.

Okay, sorry about the boring day to day life posts recently, but that is all I got right now. I have to get riding. The ride to the Austin Airport is not a good one.

The drive from San DIego to Austin goes through Arizona, New Mexico and then Texas. When you get to Texas, you’re half way there. There are lots and lots of rocks along the way.

I saw lots of wind farms along the route.

And lots of dust devils.

The speed limit in Texas is 80. I usually drive just 9 over.

Arizona and Texas both had border stops with dogs. For some reason, it made me a little nervous, even though I had nothing to hide.

And Bromont’s different postions during the drive. He only got out a couple times. He is a very seasoned traveller.

Finally at Ann’s house in Austin.

Okay, I’m posting this on my iPhone because all my bags left me at the crack of dawn for the real start of the Houston MS150.

We, my TradeWind Energy guys, had an “official team meeting” and it was decided that since I slept so little on Thursday night, 4 hours, that it was nearly impossible for me to make it to the packet pick-up at 5:30 am this morning, so we might as well start at a reasonable hour. We’re meeting for breakfast at 8, all ready to ride, and then just riding from the hotel. It’s an extra 20 miles, but that’s better.

So, I don’t have any numbers or MS packet stuff. I hope that isn’t a big issue. I was my surprised to hear, at the end of the meeting of course, that there are 13,000 people riding this. That is a lot. It might be sort of slow going initially.

I rode over to a meal with my Clean Line Energy Team last night. We’re staying with them tonight on a ranch somewhere between Houston and Austin. All the guys are somehow affiliated with wind energy somehow. Clean Line lays the transmission lines for wind farms I think. All nice people.

Okay, it we’ll be fun riding with Bill, Brian and Nick for two days. Low key I hope. I’m a little tattered.

Okay, I hate eating in a cycling kit, but I hate not sleeping enough more. I’d better suit up and get down there. I bet Bromont missed me last night.

brian not be elevator last night taking his bag to the car. All we have is what we’re riding in.

my buddy from the dinner last night. He doesn’t get to do the ride.

Houston has some crazy interchanges.

And really bad traffic on Friday afternoons.

Luxury last night. Just me, a king size bed and my bike.