When we took our coffee out to the patio at 7 am it was a pleasant 74 degrees. I knew it wouldn't last; by the time I was all packed up and suited up it was mid-80s and rising. Edward said it would cool off some as I headed south, and he was right—but not very. And then it heated up again.

The first couple of hours I didn't seem to be making much progress—seemed I was always slowing down to roll through a town. And Waco took a lo-o-o-ng time to get through. But eventually I needed fuel, and a break, in Belton. (I'm not very tempted to push the gas thing this trip—either I'm maturing or the concept of stopping and dumping in the spare fuel in this heat is too unattractive.)

Lousy mileage everywhere these days. Used to be, as soon as I left California I could count on a 10% boost, but 'most everybody is adding alcohol now, so that's not true. I haven't got as much as 200 miles on a tank yet this trip.

I zipped west out of Belton, then mostly south on 281 to Johnson City. Heading west then, I saw a sign for the LBJ Ranch, and thought it said "National Historic Park" or some such. I'm not still on a stamp quest, but I had my passport with me, so I pulled in. And actually found some shade to park in, which was nice. Got my stamp, and a cool drink of water, and even took a couple of pictures.

The computer had routed me south of Fredricksburg, but the GPS took me right through town, another bit I could have done without. And although I thought I'd need gas before the end of the day, the light still hadn't come on when I got to Kerrville.

Wended my way though town, along a lake, and into the gated community (!) where I found Bill's "Little House on the Prairie." And Bill, watering his trees in the heat.

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