The springs of San Marcos were all I envisioned and the mariposas in my stomach fluttered excitedly. I dabbed my toe in the water, "perfect"! What a great day. We recharged and snacked for a bit and then got on our bikes to head back to Austin. I hopped on Rooster and rode no more that 20 yds when I realized I had a flat tire. "Uh, Robby, I think I have a flat." I blurt out hoping that what I'm saying really isn't so. We pull into the parking lot to discover it is a reality. I stare for a second and then get to work. I open my pouch, discover I don't have the spare tube that I thought was in there, but I do have patches and that should work just fine. I take out the tube and search for the hole, all I can find is a little piece of metal sticking out and I pull it and patch the hole that is left. I replace the tube, read how to use the CO2 cartridge that neither of us has used before. and voila. We head back out like a movie where the music just starts stops and then starts again. I ride for a while head into the wind and then begin to feel the pebbles we are riding over. "Um, Robby, I hate to say it, but does my tire look low to you." "Yeah, I was looking at it and thought so." He retorts. I pull over again and go through the same ritual. We find another hole patch it and I begin again. We ride about 10 miles and again my tire is flat. "Why don't we just keep shooting it up with CO2 and see if we can make it to a bike shop in Buda?" Robby suggests. Sounds like a good idea to me. So that is how we hobble along until Buda, ride, tire gets low, shoot up some CO2, ride, you get the picture. By the time, we hit Buda we were on our last canister of CO2 and discover no bike shops. We tried calling Cabella's which FYI does not carry bike tubes. After calling numerous people many who were attending SXSW, Johan and Monica said they could get us tubes and CO2 and would meet us wherever. We decided to make it as far as we could on our last cartridge and then I would call them. Back again to the 'ol pump and ride tango. We made it back by Southpark Meadows in Austin when I needed to refill again, at this point our stomaches needed refilling too and we needed to evaluate where we would stop. We contemplated just going somewhere nearby and waiting for the rescue team, but after some peanuts and mention of Polvos (Austin Mexican Restaurant, YUM) I felt a new goal and drive. If I pump the bike up on what I think will be the last fill, I think I can make it. I charged it up and started pedaling. Whoosh, I went flying through the streets, if those street lights would stop making me stop, I was sure I could make it. I could feel the tires getting low, but not to the rim yet, I can ride a bit more, and just on the horizon, there was the sign for POLVOs, hah we had made it. I called Johan and Monica and they came with the supplies, KB and Nathan came home (they live nearby) and gave us water and a place to cool down. The bike ride ended up being a lot longer timewise than we expected and the lesson burned into me. Make sure you have a spare tube BEFORE you leave.
Yesterday: ~5 mile run
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