I finished at 3:00 p.m. in Kinder, LA having logged 94 miles and hunkered down into a Motel to wait out the storm.
The rains and winds were pretty strong all night, but by the next morning it had calmed and I got another early jump at 8:00 a.m. There were more thunderstorms that were supposed to be rolling in by later in the afternoon on this day as well so I knew I had to push miles.
At right around 11:00 a.m. It started to rain so I slipped under an entrance to a nearby church to throw on my rain jacket and just as I stopped I realized my back tire was flat. So after about 30 minutes of taking the bike gear off, taking off the tire, checking the tire, pulling out the small piece of metal that had penetrated the tire and then replacing the tube I got back on the bike to continue on. Obstacle #1 overcome! If only this was it for my troubles....
A little before the Louisiana/Texas border I had my first run in with dogs. Two dogs came tearing out of a driveway like wild little beasts with one trailing on the left of me and the other coming up on my right. But, like the expert marksman that I am I pulled out the Dog Pepper Spray, cocked that shit, aimed it at nemesis #1 on my right and hit him square in the nose. He immediately dropped back and the other dog to the left followed suit and I put the safety back on and holstered my piece. Obstacle #2 overcome!
Then, crossing over the Sabine River into Texas I stopped at the border sign to get my pictures (which I might add is much more difficult when you don't have someone to take the picture for you) and as I'm about to get on the bike I hear a huge explosion! As I'm now in Texas I assumed that I had been shot and was in shock and just hadn't felt the pain yet from the bullet but, alas it was that damn back tire again and I was alive and well breathing that fresh and free Texas air. After another 45 minute excursion fixing the tire again I got back to riding. Obstacle 3? No match for me.
Next came Ebner Rice Field Drive. Oh, Ebner Rice Field Drive how I despise you... This was the road that Google Maps sent me on to get back onto the Adventure Cycling maps and to get me to Silsbee. According to the map I was to take this road for 9 miles to get to another State Route and at first the road started out wonderful. It was flat and debre free and I was riding along all happy and them I passed a dirt road off to the side and laughed at how horrible that road was and kept on down my nice road. Then I hit a dead end at a county landfill and was informed by the man standing guard at the gates that the dirt road I'd passed was indeed Ebner Rice Field Drive. So I turned back and rode back the 2 miles to the dirt road and started in... (Now I will admit that the smartest thing to do would have been to go all the way out to the main road and then find my way around that way, but where's the adventure in that....). So I headed through this dirt road that went from bad to worse, to holy shit where the hell am I GAAaaaAHhh!!!!!! A little exaggeration but, not much. I was peddling in sand mush the whole way which I kept getting stuck in and then would have to stop and then walk my bike around puddles and then small little pond puddles and then little bit larger lake puddles. I came across a snake that was laid out across the road (maybe 5ft in length) that I thought was dead... And it most definitely was not dead. I found that out when I attempted to kick its tail after throwing two rocks at it and it not moving. Lets, just say it did move when I went to kick it and my bowels also attempted to move.. I booked it away from the Cobra and ventured further into this road. Amazingly, google maps still was working back there and it kept pointing me in the right direction as there were so many off shoots that led to who knows what. About a mile from the junction of the more major road where I'd be back on pavement I hit a gated road block that said no trespassing and that any person beyond that point would be prosecuted to the fullest. Most sane people would turn back here. Not this guy. I bushwhacked into the woods and around the gate with only minor injuries from thorns and then finally got out to the main road. Obstacle #4, No More.
From there I had a 13 mile ride to get me to my ending point in Silsbee. Along that last leg I got attacked by 2 more dogs and again used my excellent shooting skills to avoid any further trouble for the day and got to Pinewood Inn and Suites just as the thunder and lighting began at 6:30 p.m. 97 miles for the day.
And all I kept thinking was it's my damn birthday! It's my birthday! Not your birthday but, my birthday! Any day, but this one day. My damn birthday! My. Birthday. 27 was not being kind to me so far....
I fiested on some Pizza Hut, got a nice shower and even got to wash my clothes and then fell asleep watching The Hangover III after a long and hard day.
After a bunch of very long days in a row I decided to take it easy for today (Day 17). I biked only 60 miles and finished at 2:00 p.m. at Shepherd Sanctuary Campground just outside of Shepherd, TX and am quite enjoying the leisurely day and the time off the bike to rest. For a $10 tent space I got a shower and am about to get a delicious home-cooked meal from Peaches (the owner) and am looking forward to the night ahead with Peaches and the other guests staying here.
Other minor accomplishments during this period was I've crossed into Texas (scratching Louisiana off of my list) and I've also crested over the 1,000 mile mark. Only about 11,000 more of those and I'm done.....
Also, I heard from a little birdie (i.e. Laura) that people were trying to comment on the blog but it wasn't letting them. I checked the settings and it was for some reason set to only allow registered members of blogger to comment. I fixed that and now anyone can comment so have at it with the comments. I would love to hear from anyone who is reading.
That will be one of your more memorable birthdays...right up there with Discovery Zone parties!
ReplyDeleteLove the campground.