Kountze - Richards...Day 13

somewhere in southeast Texas

David, of King David's Bar-B-Q. I was famished as I entered New Waverly, TX. As luck would have it I saw King David's Bar-B-Q sign sitting on the road. I was sold! David cooks his BBQ out of a trailer near a busy intersection in town. His entire menu is on a donation basis. He uses his cooking skills to spread the word of God and to feed as many people as possible...even if his patrons can't afford it. David was very proud of placing 8th out of 113 participants in a recent Texas pulled pork contest. My pulled pork sandwich was great...He should have placed 1st!

Before meeting David I noticed this church. When I asked him about it he said it is the oldest settled Polish Catholic church in Texas.

Lake Conroe...located in Sam Houston National Forest.

These flowers were along every road I pedaled today.

Downtown...Richards, TX

Doris & Ernie, owners of Checkpoint Harley. Doris & Ernie do it all! They have a ranch with all kinds of animals and they run a campground that has tent sights as well as several new cabins...all with a Harley Davidson theme. I called Doris 25 miles away to let her know I was running (pedaling) late. I told her I was tired but still had enough in me to finish the day. She told me to hang in there. As I was pedaling and about 12 miles away from their ranch a pick-up truck came toward me and pulled to the side of the road. Ernie jumped out, introduced himself and asked if I was Jamie. I replied..."Yes...Who are you?" Ernie explained that he was Doris's husband and she was worried that I was too tired to make it to the ranch. Doris sent Ernie to come pick me up! I declined the offer with an explanation that although no one would know the difference...getting a ride is cheating. After trying to persuade me again to take the ride he graciously smiled and said he would see me at the ranch. As he drove away out of sight, something occurred to me. Why didn't I let him carry all of my gear to the ranch? Would that be cheating? I think not.

Checkpoint Harley was awesome! The cabins were comfortable and Doris took time after after a hard days work on the ranch to show me all of their animals. It was very interesting.

James, a fellow cyclist who was staying at Checkpoint Harley for his 9th night in a row! He said that he finds the ranch fascinating and is learning so much about live-stock that he doesn't want to leave. I have to admit that after Doris showed me the animals I was seriously thinking about taking the next day off. Unfortunately, I still have lots of miles to pedal.

It was a long day of cycling. After 108.78 miles pedaled, I made it to Richards, TX around 6pm.

Trip stats

Total miles pedaled: 1245.81

Saddle time: 82:51'01

Route miles pedaled: 1245.0

Days ahead of schedule: 3.1

Average miles pedaled daily: 95.83

Times accidentally stepped in cow poo while being shown farm animals: 1

DeRidder, LA - Kountze, TX...Day12

Glad to be in Texas. Woke up this morning to no wind and temps in the low 50s. BIG RED and I were on the road by 615AM and completed the quick and chilly 20 mile ride to the Texas border. After devouring a stack of pecan pancakes in Bon Wier, we were back on the road. The first thing I noticed in Texas was that the roads were much smoother than in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. It felt great to pedal on a smooth service. After pedaling 84.27 miles, we arrived in Kountze, TX.

Trip Stats:
Total miles pedaled: 1136.93
Route miles pedaled: 1137.5
Saddle time: 74:51'35
Dogs that have chased BIG RED: over 100
The most dogs that have chased BIG RED at one time: 6

Washington - DeRidder...Day 11

Day 11 was a day of aquaculture and wind. First, the aquaculture. Until today, I didn't know that people grew rice in the United States. I pedaled past countless rice fields between the towns Mamou and Oberlin. Above is one of those rice fields. As I learned from a nice guy named Brian (THANK YOU again for lunch) after the rice is harvested, the fields are flooded and "seeded" with crayfish eggs. As the crayfish mature they eat away at the rice stalks. Once the crayfish are fully developed and harvested the field is drained and then replanted with rice. The process starts over.

Above, a weird little car-boat that the aqua farmers use to move about their fields. Below, a crayfish field.

Below, Linda from New Hampshire. Linda is a retired Latin teacher and is 70 years old!! She began her trek across the Southern United States on March 18th in San Diego. What feats of strength or endurance will accomplish before you turn 70 years old? Linda, you were a bright spot on a tough day on the bike.

Day 11 was not fun. The wind was ferocious and hit me from every angle except from the preferred backside. One second a blast of wind would hit me head-on like a body blow to the chest. The next second a gust would blast me from the right many times jerking me into the middle of the traffic lane. After that a gust would slam me from the left often times blowing me off the shoulder into the ditch. If I needed a drink from my water bottle I had to stop because if I took one of my hands off the handle bars I would have wiped out. It was a dangerous day of pedaling that I won't soon forget. On day 11 I pedaled 92.78 miles against the strongest wind I've ever experienced.

TRIP STATS:

Total miles pedaled: 1052.66

Route miles pedaled: 1053.0

Days ahead of schedule: 2.6

Saddle time: 69:14'14

I meet up with the Adventure Cycling supported tour on day 11. They took 19 days to cross Texas.

St. Francisville - Washington...Day 10

Crossing the Mississippi River on a ferry. The day was to begin at 530AM, however, the weather didn't cooperate. I awoke at 500am to thunder, lightning, and buckets of rain. Pedaling in a steady rain isn't so bad, but this rain was different due to the windy conditions. The rain was falling sideways and there was lots of it. I was delayed over 2 hours and caught the 8am ferry from St. Francisville to New Roads.

Above, tree fence...below, BIG RED and a Big Tree

Crossing the Atchafalaya River near Simmesport, LA

A gas station that time forgot...there were many of these scenes in Louisiana

My accommodations in St. Washington, LA

Day 10 was a tough day. The rain eventually cleared but the wind decided to stick around. It took all I had and a little more to pedal 91.54 miles. I stayed at a B&B and slept like a champ.

Trip stats:

• 
  
  Total Miles pedaled: 959.88


• 
  
  Route miles pedaled: 961.5


• 
  
  Days ahead of schedule: 2.4


• 
  
  Saddle time: 61:37'20


• 
  
  Rack of ribs consumed on trip: 5.5

Franklinton - St. Francisville...Day 9

~graveyard near Bolivar, LA~

share the road with bicyclists...and cows

crossing the Amite River...borders East Feliciana Parish and St. Helena Parish

still waiting to see some swamp

Glencoe Plantation...near Jackson, LA

one of many live oaks along today's route

Another good day of riding in Louisiana. Much of the route was shaded and the roads were mostly smooth. The bed rest yesterday did wonders. I felt strong on BIG RED, and although 90.96 is respectable mileage...I could have pedaled much farther.

Trip Stats...

Route miles pedaled: 855

Actually miles pedaled: 868.34

Days ahead of schedule: 2.1

First, Second, Southern, and various other Baptist churches seen along route: well over 150

Poplarville, MS - Franklinton, LA...Day 8

~near the border of Mississippi and Louisiana~

I decided to slow down today and smell the roses. As luck would have it, today's route between Poplarville, MS and Franklinton, LA offered countless patches of wild roses. The red and pink blooms offered some welcome color to the day's ride.

I pedaled past several horse farms this morning. So far all 4 states that I've pedaled in have had a plethora of horses, stables, and equestrian facilities.

Below, I wasn't expecting Louisiana to look like this.

I'm looking forward to partaking in Louisiana's famous seafood dishes. The signs at this station reminded me of good meals to come!

I decided to work a half day at the office today. I've been pushing it way to hard and my body began to feel it yesterday. The day ended at the 49.77 mile mark. A good days rest will prepare me for tomorrow's ride of 90 miles to St. Francisville, Louisiana.

Total miles pedaled: 777.38

Saddle time: 58 hours, 5 minutes, 55 seconds

After 8 days in 2006 I ended the day at 559.86 miles

Bayou La Batre, AL - Poplarville, MS...Day 7

Above...People fishing on the Pascagoula River in the Pascagoula Wildlife Management Area near Vancleave, MS.

Below...My typical view of day 7...pasture and lots of it.

Toughest day so far and part of it was my fault. But first, the riding conditions. My first day experiencing Mississippi roads on my bicycle will not be remembered fondly. The roads are rough and bumpy with no shoulder to speak of. There were times when the road had a 12 inch or more drop off right where the white line ended (when there was a white line). Weather played into the tough day also. Day 7 will also be remembered as the first bad wind day. Strong gusts were coming from the North and by the end of the day out of the West. As luck would have it, those patterns followed today's route.

Now for my fault...And it was a HUGE rookie mistake. Although I didn't get lost I totally misread the map in assuming that after Vancleave there were two other towns on the route before reaching my final destination of Poplarville. I was wrong...there were no towns. This rookie mistake translated into me pedaling the last 73 miles with no food. In Vancleave I had a banana and a pear. I almost ran out of water but came upon a church that had an outdoor water faucet which was somewhat of a life-saver. By the time I reached Poplarville, I was spent. The last 30 miles was brutal. The wind was fierce. I was tired and hungry. I've already packed away a few granola bars so this doesn't happen again.

After it was all over I pedaled 125.54 miles. Total miles for the trip: 727.61. Tomorrow I'm taking it easy with a 50-60 mile ride.

Saddle time: 54 hours, 19 minutes, 10 seconds.

MIlton, FL - Bayou La Batre, AL...Day 6

foggy morning...on my way to Pensacola

Pleasant Grove, FL

beach scene near Orange Beach, AL

leaving the ferry terminal

on the ferry crossing Mobile Bay

above/below...crossing Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound using the Gordon Parsons Bridge

After 5 days and 6 mornings of zig-zagging my way across northern Florida...The sunshine state is in my rear view. Day 6 is the most scenic day of the trip so far. Pedaling along the gulf was fantastic. After my 430am wake-up call and looking outside I was confronted with super thick fog. After preparing to leave I took a quick nap and was on the road just after 545am. The fog was persistent, but in the end it didn't hinder my navigation.

The ferry ride from Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island was a welcome 45 minute break. I met some real nice folks from Alabama and Sacramento, California.

After an early morning and hot day I arrived in Bayou La Batre, AL at 330pm after pedaling 99.51 miles.

A few trip stats...

Total miles pedaled: 602.07

Saddle time: 44 hours, 5 minutes, 2 seconds.

Bottles of Gatorade consumed: 22

Dead armadillos spotted along my route: well over 50

Live armadillos spotted along my route: zero

I have a feeling that I won't be able to post anything tomorrow due to lack of wi-fi service. However, I should be able to post a view status updates via facebook. If you haven't already done so...friend me on facebook.

Ponce De Leon to Milton...Day 5

Who knew swamps were loud? Frogs croaking, crickets chirping, and birds calling...The swamps are so load in Florida they are almost deafening. A few times the sound coming from the swamps have muffled the sound of traffic approaching from behind me.

I met 65 year old Timo today. He lives in Finland and he recently retired. He told me "What better way to celebrate life and retirement by seeing the United States by bicycle!" Agreed! He began his trip in San Diego on March 3rd. What feat of strength or endurance will you accomplish before your 65th birthday?

Whenever I see one of these bright orange sandy roads I think it would be cool to return one day and tackle them on my mountain bike.

Part of today's route took BIG RED and me on the Blackwater State Bike Trail. The trail is paved and traveled through countless swamp and wet areas.

A bike THANK YOU to Eric at Truly Spokin' in Milton. BIG RED needed a tune-up and Eric took care of her quickly so we could get back on the road. Eric, you are a true professional!

Overall it was a good day of pedaling. I reached Milton around 230pm after traveling 77.89 miles. My goal for the trip is 77 miles a day...So today, was truly average in distance.

Tomorrow, I'll pedal through Pensacolo and into Alabama.

Quincy to Ponce De Leon...Day4

Old school house~Gretna, FL

Share the road with bicyclists...and turtles


Pedaled by lots of swamp scenery like this today

Choctawhatchee River

For the second time in 4 days I ate at The Whistle Stop Cafe. This one is located in Westville FL and was once the town's post-office. Good food! Sweet potato fries are quickly becoming my favorite food of the trip.

Day 4 was a success. Arrived in Ponce De Leon around 4pm after pedaling 91.82 miles. My legs felt less heavy today. I consumed more Gatoraide today than water. This will be repeated tomorrow to determine if that is the prescription for "heavy legs".

Meet 3 bicyclists today heading to St. Augustine. All 3 started in San Diego CA near the beginning to mid-March. All 3 had smiles on their faces due to coming close to accomplishing their goal of conquering the Southern Tier.

After 4 days...

Total miles pedaled: 424.67

Saddle time: 32 hours, 1 minutes, 27 seconds

Days with sun and 80 degree weather: 4

Days with snow: zero