We made it to Austin!

Yes, that's right, we successfully cycled to Austin and completed the BPMS15o. Yippee! So here is what actually happened...

Saturday

0330 Alarm clocks bleeping we crawl out of bed and into our gear.

0400 We drive to the team meeting point to load bikes, gear and ourselves onto and into trucks and trailers. Time to eat breakfast.

0515 Everything loaded we drive to our start point on the west side of Houston.

0600 We arrive at our start point.With 13,000 riders we're not at the main start but a much less congested location.

0640 Bikes ready, people ready and we're off. We enjoy the comfortably cool temperature knowing it will warm up later in the day.

0800 First rest stop. Speed is the essence so it's eat, drink, bathroom and off.

1000 Wind, wind, wind. It's a constant headwind. Combined with hills we're working quite hard. In need of more energy so we have a two minute roadside picnic. Further along the route we are cheered on by cheering, singing, bands and banter.

1230 Ninety miles done. One last push to get us to La Grange. Why can't that wind just move to our tails. Hey ho!

1315 One hundred miles after we started we arrive in La Grange. We're over half way to Austin. Tired but happy. Showers, food, rest and relaxation follow in the team tent. We feel very well looked after.

1600 Feeling sleepy but no shut-eye yet as supper is ready. Time to refuel for tomorrow's ride.

1830 Re-loading of trucks and trailers and off to find our lodgings for the night.

2000 Water, ibruprofen and lights out................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...........................

Sunday

0430 Bleep-bleep. Time to rise and shine!

0500 Breakfast.

0630 Cold and dark we start cycling. It is mighty chilly.

0715 Sunshine is starting to appear and we ride up and down rolling hills. One way of warming up for sure! Lovely scenery so we must return one day for a proper visit. We even pass through a settlement called Winchester!

0800 Quick eat and drink.

0810 Bigger hills....we enjoy the steep (but short) hills through Bastrop State Park. Great fun.

0930 Out of the park we now have more distance behind us than infront and the terrain is much flatter.

1115 Not far to go but the last few miles into Austin are getting slower. The hills seem to keep on appearing!

1215 One hundred and eighty miles of pedalling completed we arrive, elated, at the Capitol in Austin. We made it! And in doing so have raised over $700 for the National MS Society. Thank you to those of you who have supported this cause.

So there you go, that was our weekend. It was the first such ride we have done but we really did have a fantastic time. Much of our enjoyment is down to our friends who organised and provided the logistics support and to our pedaling pals who kept us company along the way. Thank you!

Adam & Claire xxx

The BPMS150 is this weekend!

The weekend of the BPMS150 is (almost) here! We have been training hard to get ourselves used to both the distance and the climate. The packing is done and detailed logistics planned. Today we need to rest, eat well and get plenty of sleep. Tomorrow will be an early start as we need to leave our house at 0400! We are both excited and nervous. However, this is all in a good cause to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Wish us luck!

Adam & Claire xxx