Wildflower Wandering aka Willie's Birthday 2003

by Jean Marie Linhart

In the spring of 2003, Willie Allen ran a series of rides in the environs of College Station, TX. The rides were intended as a spring training series for those planning on doing the MS150 or in racing during the spring and summer. The rides took place on Sunday afternoons in February and March. The first was a little bit before spring started, but the last two were really beautiful. Willie's birthday happened to coincide with the third ride. Lenae brought him a birthday cookie. The day was grey, but no rain bothered us and we saw some really pretty flowers. Thanks for organizing the training series, Willie!

	Registration for Wildflower Wandering took place in the Snook Post Office parking lot.
	More people show up.
	Willie's birthday cookie. I think the guy in orange is Tom. Willie Allen and Lenae Huebner flank the cookie.

The wildflowers were in bloom all along the roads.

Hayes Glover wearing my favorite cycling jersey.

I got tired after a while and decided to take a short cut. I also stopped to photograph the flowers. Texas's spring bounty surrounded me.

The route took us along the La Bahia Scenic Highway (FM 390), where there are a number of big Texas ranch houses like this one.

Some of the houses were surrounded by wildflowers.

The La Bahia Scenic Highway has many historic markers. This is for the La Bahia Road itself,	The birthplace of Texas is in Independence, near where FM 390 meets FM 50. Full disclosure notice: this and the next two pictures weren't taken on the Wildflower Wandering ride, I took them over Memorial day when I went bikepacking from College Station to Austin.
	Baylor University was originally located in Independence.

This is in the historic site near the Baylor ruins in Independence.

Historic buildings in Independence.

Independence has a flock of historic Markers. This one is about Independence, TX itself.	This historic marker concerns the postal service.
Hood's Texas Brigade Marker.	The Independence School Marker. It mentions there was a black school and a white school, then goes on to talk about the white school. Aaaah, the bad old days...doesn't the black school have a history too?

	The Independence Store.
	Chris Gruesendorf and Willie Allen take a break at the Independence Store.
	Claire Brown (and someone I don't know) take a break at the Independence Store.
	A museum in Independence, TX.
	Flowers are prettier when the sun is out.
	Exuberant no-handed riding back into Snook. Mat Barringer and Tom.

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