#4: [23-Jan-10]

#2: [04-Jan-02]

#1: [04-Jul-01] (incomplete)

04-Feb-2002 -- Continued from 31N 99W.

This will be the last confluence point of this trip; I fly out of Texas at lunchtime for Chicago and an onwards connection to London and home. Just time to squeeze one more in if I'm quick.

I left Burnet and took 243N to 183N; following this on I passed a turn off for Oakalla until I found the entrance to CR224. Turning east onto this track, after a couple of miles I found it blocked. The Miller Ranch to the left (north) and a simple gate to the east - the apparent other end of the CR224E Spur. Hmmmm - I debated walking in, but with more than two miles to go and time being tight decided against it. Besides the previous report mentioned getting within a quarter mile by road.

I did however leave a memento at 30D 58M 7.4S / 98D 0M 14.9S; it is sealed in a plastic bag; if anyone claims it then write and let me know.

Turning right onto what I thought may have still been CR224 but in fact turned out to be CR225 took me down to Ranch Road 963; left towards Oakalla and I came to CR223. Left here and I came to the split where the other end of CR224 started. It certainly does look like a private drive, but closer inspection reveals that all the "Posted No Trespassing" signs are on the SIDES of the road fronting parcels of land.

I quickly came to the CR224E spur and about half a mile along it came to within 0.14 miles of the point. I parked up and not seeing any "keep out" signs I hopped over the fence. Arriving at the point I saw the house (Pic 4) referred to, though whether you call about 500 yds "distant" I'm not so sure.

What I am sure of though is that nobody was in - I went and knocked on the door! Going back to the point which was just under the stand of trees I clicked off the looking north (Pic 1) and GPS shots, presented here as a montage (Pic 2). (Pic 3) is a South to North panorama.

I had noticed a path down from the house and followed this to a gate...hopping over that I saw (Pic 5), maybe I should turn myself in and claim the reward! Presumably the other visitors never saw this either until it was too late.

I left and on my way back to Austin's Bergstrom airport (named after the first Austinite to die in WW2), I saw this sign (Pic 6) - which I found was definitely NOT typical of Texan hospitality. I am writing this up sitting in the British Airways lounge; today I covered 180 miles and the end of my American tour. Two states, four and a bit days, 1686 miles, six successes and three attempts.

Not a bad effort, back to the UK now and carry on working through the points I haven't visited there yet.