Nancy's Travel Journal

Last night, there were predictions of bad weather, including tornado warnings for the Kountze area.  Whether it was anxiety about that or anticipation of the 92-mile ride today, I was not able to get much rest.  I kept waking up, thinking I was hearing tornado warnings.  So when daylight came, it was almost a relief to get up and start the morning routine.
While there was a chance of rain, it seemed that we might have missed the worst of the storm and maybe we would only see cloudy, cool weather.  We left the motel around 7:30 AM.  The road was quiet, except for the occasional frog voices, as we rode the first 20 miles.  The SAG was supposed to meet us about mile 20, but she was nowhere to be seen at mile 22 (in the town of Fred).  So, we made our own SAG stop at a convenience store.  It was there that I had my first Yoohoo of the trip.  I have been missing those since I left Georgia.  The woman at the store said she wished she had a "composition book" for us to register our names and where we lived.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We found out later that someone had a flat, so the SAG had to turn around and help her fix it.  That happens sometimes, so we have to stay prepared. The cue sheet suggested that we have lunch at Elijah’s in Kirbyville.  It featured lots of real home cooking.  From the looks of things, it seems the majority of riders stopped there to enjoy fried okra, butter beans, and Texas corn chowder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 As we paid our bills, I began to get really cold.  It may have been related to the 2-3 glasses of ice water I consumed with my meal and the still-cloudy weather.  In order to warm up, I hopped on my bike and rode fast (for me) for several miles.  As I rode, I kept looking for wild flowers.  This thistle was the day’s highlight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mile 71 of this day was a real highlight.  After three weeks in Texas, we crossed the Sabine River into Louisiana.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had our own celebration there, despite the fact that there was not even a sign marking our entering another state. I really think we felt a renewed energy for the day after that event, even though we had more than 20 miles left to ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the riders lives in Louisiana, not too far from DeRidder.  She had arranged for several massage therapists to meet us at the motel.  As I rode in, I saw the therapists setting up their tables in some of the rooms.  Just by chance I walked up to one of them and asked about my appointment.  He said that I was on his schedule and could see me right away.  So, I changed clothes and returned to his designated place.  Things always have a way of working out, even when they are not planned.  While I would never say that anyone could top Gary, Kathy, Sean, etc. at Power of Touch, the therapist sure did a great job.  I feel so much better tonight, even though it was a 92-mile day! At dinner, we continued the tradition of Margaritas as a celebration when crossing a state line.  The same friend who had arranged the massages handed out Mardi Gras beads as a welcome.  We all returned to our rooms early, in anticipation of another long day tomorrow.  As I think back over the past week, I really feel that I am becoming a stronger rider.  Now, if I can just stay in good shape for BRAG.

In an unusual move, the staff called a meeting of the group after breakfast this morning.  One issue was about one of our group who had decided to leave last night.  She was having some personal issues that she could not overcome.  The other issue was that it was in Cleveland last year where one of the riders was killed.  She had missed the turn into the motel, stopped at another place to ask directions, then, rode out in front of an on-coming car.  Both issues created a rather somber mood as we left this town.  For the first 15 miles, I managed to keep up a 16-mph ride with two of the better riders.  It felt good to be among the leaders, if only for a short while.
We were warned about log trucks this morning.  Visions of log trucks in South Georgia came to my mind.  They looked the same, but there were not nearly as many has I had perceived.  Once again, I think of Churchill’s quote.  “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” 
Then, there were the wildflowers.  As we made a turn from a very bumpy road onto a smooth blacktop and stopped briefly to rest, I looked over into a ditch and saw these flowers, some sot of iris, I think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bit further down the road these red clovers were standing like little soldiers guarding the side of the road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, of course, there is the ever-present humor we see when stopping to rest at the SAG.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Watching the Weather Channel this morning, we were anticipating possible rain.  It came in the form of a mist about 46 miles into the ride, not too bad.  The road was quiet, smooth and with a wide shoulder.  So the ride was okay, even when the rain became harder.  At least it was not cold, like last week.  Just so happened that we reached Kountze about lunchtime.  Mama Jack’s Restaurant seemed to be a local favorite.  So most of us stopped for some etouffee and muffallatas before checking into the motel.  After all, we are 70 miles from the Louisiana line!  We are in the Big Thicket area. http://www.nps.gov/bith/  It sounds a bit like the Okefenokee Swamp.  Unfortunately there is no time to see the Visitor’s Center since we have 90 miles to ride! Good news tonight!  The woman who left this morning has decided to return.  I think that is a good thing.  Most of us have had or will have meltdowns on this tour.  But, we are all strong women and we will prevail!  Speaking of prevailing, the weather forecast for the morning is not very good, thunderstorms, etc.  We will watch the Weather Channel in the morning and do what is safe.  If you read this post on Saturday, say a little prayer for safely.

Other than knowing I had to ride 73 miles, the hardest thing about leaving Navasota was leaving Bill.  Knowing I would see him in just three weeks made it a bit easier.  He did get the truck repaired and was on the road after lunch.  He spent last night in Mississippi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We rode for a while on a busy road, but it had a big shoulder.  From now on, “big shoulders” will have a new meaning!.  Then we turned onto a calmer road (a lot less traffic) and began to see the beautiful wildflowers again. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For some reason, courthouses fascinate me.  Just off the route I found this one in Anderson, TX.  Matt and I talked one time about documenting all of the courthouses in Georgia.  I wonder if anyone has done that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we rode past Anderson and into the Sam Houston National Forest, the sights began to look more like home.  There were lots of pine trees, live oak trees with Spanish moss, azaleas in a yard, bayonet plants, and FIRE ANTS!  Hopefully, none of the riders will get into to fire ants when they take to the woods to answer “the call of nature”.  The forest is also home to the red-cockaded woodpecker, designated an endangered species in 1970, who makes a home by pecking cavities in the pine trees.  On a bicycle, you can look and listen more closely for wildlife.  But, I just couldn’t see or hear any of those fellows.  During the winter months, the bald eagle is not an uncommon site on Lake Conroe.  Unfortunately, I didn’t see an eagle.  About the only “wildlife” I spotted was a puppy and some crazy women riding across the United States!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stopping at interesting stores (especially those with food) is a favorite past time of cyclists.  The Nut House was no exception.  We found ice cream, candy, and of course, nuts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Hille tried the tractor, but decided to stick with her bicycle for the rest of the trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The closer we got to Cleveland, the flatter the road became and the more frequently log trucks came by (more scenes like home).  But, there were some distractions along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Cleveland, a little larger than Metter, we stayed at the Super 8.  The owner had a welcome sign there to greet us.  Or maybe his daughter is a Womantours girl in training!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone has been asking for Texas BBQ, and we were almost out of Texas.  So Ramsey arranged with a friend she knew (Robert, a prison warden) there to take us to a “The Shack” for dinner.  Normally closed in the evening, the owner opened especially for us.  Not only did he have “the best BBQ in Texas” (ribs and beef) he also treated us to the story of how Texas BBQ originated.  And, he had sweet tea!  But, it wasn’t as good as Polly’s!  At the end of the meal we found out that Robert was treating us!  Nothing like Southern hospitality!  Thank you, Robert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leaving LaGrange was a bit difficult, since the cue sheet was not quite accurate.  The only consequence was that I rode an extra 4 miles that day.  The night before Bill had told us about an antique fair in Round Top.  When we reached Round Top, we must have ridden for five or six miles with tents on both sides of the road.  The fair was bigger than the town.  I have never seen such a big antique fair, even in Mt. Dora, FL!  At about mile 25, we took Texas Scenic Route 390 and stayed on it for about 25 miles.  While there were rolling hills, the beauty of the countryside made cycling up and down well worth the ride.  The fields looked as though someone had taken a paintbrush and made broad sweeps of red, purple, yellow, and blue across the landscape.  This picture could never capture what we saw, but it does give an idea of God’s beauty in Texas wildflowers at their peak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ride gave us a chance to see two types of cattle raised in Texas.  The Longhorn was brought by the Spaniards, and has been bred with other cattle in the area.  This fellow was standing beside the fence, looking like he was posing and creating quite a traffic jam for a brief time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Brahman is another popular breed in Texas.  We found this fellow in a pasture with a dozen or more of his “women-friends”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At one of the SAG stops, my puppy, Pasha, found the "Peeps" to be quite enjoyable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found Independence, Texas filled with history. It was first called Coles Settlement, but was renamed Independence after the founding of an academy in the town by that name.  This is the restored home of John P. Coles for whom the town was first named.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Baptist church was founded here in 1839 and soon (1846), Baylor University was founded on this site.  The school was separated by gender.  These columns are all that remain of the original female academy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information on Independence, TX, see http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Independence/IndependenceTexas.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After some lunch at the local country store we headed toward the Antique Rose Emporium.  It is billed as a combination plant nursery, gift shop, and theme gardens.  The roses at the Emporium are “living antiques” from the past, actual descendants of plants from more than 2000 years ago.  It was hard to pull ourselves away from such a place of beauty. http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we did not go there, Washington on the Brazos is not far from this area.  It is regarded as one of the most significant historic sites in Texas.  It was here that a group of Texas settlers met and declared their independence from Spain in 1836.

From our easy ride in the country we turned onto a busy highway for the last few miles into Navasota.  Crossing bridges on this highway were particularly scary, since there were no shoulders, but lots of traffic.  A transport hauling a mobile home just barely missed a couple of riders before they crossed the last bridge.  Finally, we arrived at the motel, where Bill was waiting…a most welcomed site. The following morning, a rest day, while I cleaned my bicycle, Bill took one of the women to rent a car in Bryan, TX.  Just out of town on the way back, the timing belt went out on his truck.  Fortunately, the woman was right behind him and brought him back to the motel.  In one of those amazing happenings, the Ford dealer was only ½ mile away, and the tow truck was already out on the highway where the truck had stopped.  So in less than an hour, his truck was at the Ford dealership.  Before the day was over, the service man called to tell us what was wrong and that it would be fixed by the next day.  Bill and I had planned to explore the area during the day, but that was not to be.  As I am finding so many times on this trip, things always turn out for the best.  We had the whole day just to be with each other.  It was a great time!