​For all those who are avid sports participants, for all those who are dedicated spectators of those sports, this is a commendation.  It is truly amazing, the effort, the dedication, the knowledge, the courage, that it takes to enter and compete in a long distance event; not to mention what it takes to plan one and, much less, to support those who are involved.  As a spectator, I most admire this and am in awe of those bicyclists, runners, walkers, swimmers and any other sports persons who utilize their talents, their bodies for both personal achievement and the “greater” good.

During the first weekend of May 2010, I was lucky enough to be a spectator to a MS bicycling event (MS=Multiple Sclerosis).  I had long known about “The MS 150” from Houston to Austin (which really is about 180 miles), and knew a few folks who had participated from time to time.  However, I became more personally involved, and much more enlightened, when my own daughter decided to enter the MS 150 Bike Ride from Frisco, TX to Fort Worth, TX - a 2-day event.  It is a matter of logistics, planning in advance, practice and following through.  The big teams with the big sponsors have less worry about cost and logistics; they have big trucks to carry things and motor homes in which to camp out.  Of course, the individuals as part of those teams must practice and get ready for the 2-day, 164 mile ride – and that is no small task.  The smaller teams, though, depend only on a few individuals to help them carry out their goal (which is to finish the course after also raising some money for MS research).
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In addition to figuring out how I would get my car from Frisco (I was in Frisco so I could watch the 7:00 a.m. start) to where I would then stay in Euless, and then drive my car and then my daughter’s car from Frisco to Euless and to Ft. Worth (my brain was mush), I also volunteered myself and two friends to help set up tents for the overnight stay of the riders at Texas Motor Speedway.  What did we know about setting up tents?  Fortunately the person with the rider’s gear was a pro at tent setting up!  We were there for support, and we were there when the riders came across the Finish Line at Texas Motor Speedway.  Waiting/working in the sun and warmth for four hours cannot be compared to 84 miles of sitting on a very small seat on top of a light-weight frame with only two wheels, pedaling and pedaling (not to mention encountering flat tires.) Seeing that our riders were safe and settled into their camp, my friends and I returned to our comfortable abodes.
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The next morning, all the riders took a lap around the speedway, and then headed out for another 80 mile trek north of Ft. Worth (the 6:00am start call was not on my agenda that day).  There were some more mechanical issues and some hills on this route, but no accidents.  Our team, Tyler Bike Club (eight in number, with the only tandem entered in the ride), came into Sundance Square around 2:00pm with fanfare and big welcoming arms (mine and some long-time friends included.)  What a sight, each rider that crossed that Finish Line was so proud (and I think I saw most of them!)  It was an accomplishment and we, as spectators, recognized and acknowledged it.  YAY! (White poster with green printing.) The National Multiple Sclerosis Society had the planning “down pat.”  Things were so well organized on the course with many ride marshals to assist with mechanical problems, EMS, and police presence to monitor traffic at each of the towns; the streets were fenced off in Fort Worth and there was music in the square. 
 
So, hats off, and much applause, to the MS Society, the multitude of volunteers, and to all of those 3,200 riders for a spectacular event!   Continued applause for all of those who keep this type of event in the forefront – all are awesome!

A very good friend invited me to go with her to the west Texas area – her sister had a condo in Lubbock and had offered to let us use it for a weekend.  This was a lovely offer, and one I couldn’t refuse.  So, on the 1st of July, she and I left for Lubbock.  I had driven up from Houston to her place in the D/FW area.  Taking my fairly new car, we drove through Ft. Worth, then Weatherford; memories flooded back – I hadn’t been in this part of Texas in a long time.  We continued on I20 to west of Abilene then headed north on Hwy. 84.  Much of the terrain on I20 was still the semi-arid ranch country I remembered.  In July, it was a little on the wilted side, but still engaging.  Once we left the I20 area, the invasion of the wind turbines soon became visible.  This was not the west Texas in my memory.  White giants flailing their propeller arms, it often looked as if the turbines were marching in undulating fashion.  These white towers represent the northern tip of many wind farms now in Texas.  By the time we had passed the wind farms, hunger became obvious.  Wanting a smaller town experience, we decided to stop in Post, TX.  The main street is an attractive boulevard and we found a small restaurant – one neither of us had been to before.  The lunch was spartan, but palatable.  Hunger abated, we continued on to Lubbock.

This was the first time Lubbock had been on my venue; I’d been quite a bit north of the city – to Palo Duro Canyon - years ago.   The city that greeted me appeared pleasant, charming, and clean.  Lubbock is in the heart of the largest contiguous cotton growing region in the world; and, is considered the home of rock and roll – Buddy Holly was born here.  I’m glad my friend was with me – she navigated the streets (she grew up in a small town just south west of Lubbock.)  The condo was near Texas Tech University and within walking distance of a lovely older area with several restaurants.  It was a great place to call home for a couple of days.  After arrival, we mapped out our plans.  One of the reasons for my friend’s invitation was to acquaint me with the wine industry in that area – the Texas High Plains AVA (American Viticultural Area) is one of eight in the state and has the highest concentration of grape growers in Texas.  I was eager to get started.  Although there are many vineyards in the AVA, only a few wineries existed at that time.  We visited one the day of our arrival and three the following day.

Thus, to my delight we headed to our first tasting experience locating McPherson Cellars in the city.  McPherson Cellars was created to honor one of the pioneers in the Texas wine industry – Dr. Clinton McPherson.  The McPherson family has long been in the winemaking business in this area; their current facility is in a renovated Coca-Cola building in the Depot Entertainment area.  At the time we visited, there was still quite a bit of work to be done on the renovation.  But, the wines were excellent, and the staff friendly and enlightening.  I especially liked their Sangiovese and rosé wines – in summer, the style of a fresh cool, dry rosé is most pleasant.  Ever since then, I have been purchasing these wines and their quality has not changed.  Their source vineyards are from Texas.  We finished the day at a restaurant near the condo.
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The next day we had a leisure start and gradually began our wine tasting journey.  Let me add that my friend doesn’t imbibe; she delights in accompanying me and enjoys being an additional “nose” to my tasting palate.  She is a great sport!  The first wineries of the day were south of the city.  Driving that direction and a little west, the first one on the list stood behind an imposing gated entry to a mission style building encompassing a lovely modern facility – Cap Rock Winery.  Made in the Italian fashion, their wines, at that time, had won many awards.  And, they were quite good utilizing the endeavors of the grape growers in the region with a pleasant result.  I enjoyed visiting with the winery dog, a lovely Weimaraner.  Cap Rock has undergone several ownership changes in the last several years – it has been a long time since I’ve tasted any of their wines.

After Cap Rock, we visited Llano Estacado.  Llano was established in 1976 and is one of the largest producers of wine in the state.  Their wine menu is extensive – from reserve, to every day, from sweet to dry, from white to red – all Texas grapes.  One could find anything to please the palate.  One of the first times I had tasted a Viognier (a white,) was here – and I was most impressed – it was rich, full bodied with hints of citrus and honey.  They were busy that day, their tastings were complimentary.  One more was on the schedule.   So, we drove through Lubbock, then a short way north on Hwy. 84, exited and headed east on country roads.  In the middle of almost nowhere, we finally arrived at Pheasant Ridge Winery – named for the wild pheasants that roam the property.  At the time, the winery was still in the Gipson family having been established in 1979.  Wines made in the French tradition, their Cabernet Sauvignon was wonderful.  Since that visit, the winery has sold to another industrious grape grower – and the intentions are to continue in the wine making tradition.  This winery sits on land with 50 acres of vines.  Upon finishing this lovely visit, we returned to Lubbock.   Before we headed back to the condo, we stopped off at a bistro in the entertainment area called LaDiosa Cellars – tapas were on the menu.

On the way back to the D/FW area, we stopped for a short visit with my friend’s sister at her vacation place near Lake Brownwood.  After we left the lake area, we managed to find a small winery in Rising Star.  They hadn’t been in business too long – they had started as grape growers supplying other wineries – and, they didn’t stay in the wine making business very long either, it is now closed.  Although it was a bit of a long drive during summer days, we made it back to the D/FW area safe and sound.  A good trip!