Texas

Had a good break in Natchez and set off through Louisiana. I was a little wary of ‘being on the open road’ after the quietness of the Natchez Trace, but I needn’t have worried......in Louisiana at any rate. There was a large shoulder on the road and the traffic was generally very considerate. I had had misconceptions of Louisiana - or rather perhaps I didn’t have any expectations at all, but I was more than pleasantly surprised. It was really beautiful cycling though all the farm land and State Parks and there was a certain wildness and 'untamed-ness' about it. There seemed to be a more laid back feeling and the people were very friendly...once again!

After the day’s break I was rearing to go and put in a good 115km on the first day, but after five hours on the bike I had had enough. I passed an RV park at the Outpost, but wanted to get that little bit further ahead towards Alexandria, so pushed on. After 15 minutes of course, regretting my decision as I was running out of energy fast and no sign of another camp site on the horizon!

But as luck would have it - camping 2.4miles....but off the main drag. I am always in two minds of taking these ‘off the drag’ detours - one never knows how much 'off the drag' they really are. Anyway at last, Sutton’s RV park........ RV hook ups only!!

No space for tents - Boo Hoo! Sutton’s RV Park is run by 84 year old Mrs. Sutton who wasn’t in when I arrived but her Manager Joe was there, and he very kindly found me a spot on the grass to pitch my tent for the night. When Mrs. Sutton arrived she allowed me to camp for free, gave me a ice cold coke and Joe and his wife Debbie invited me to their home on site for dinner. Macaroni and Cheese and Pork chops never tasted so good - what amazing southern hospitality, and what fantastic people. It is people like this that make a trip of this sort worth while and instills in one very fond memories. Thank you so much Joe and Debbie - your friendliness and hospitality will be remembered for ever. 

Joe and Debbie had done a trip up to Alaska in their motor home and we went through all their photos - I wanted to skip South America and head straight to Alaska!!!!! All in good time. It also happened that the detour took me through Alexandria much quicker and the two bridges and road works were no problem, Joe. Thanks.

Onward at the crack of dawn the next day for another 104km, trying to get to the Texan State line, but again didn’t quite make it. I hit Leesville hoping for a camp site - nothing. Push on and trust that something will come up. Pulled into a gas station where a sign on the door said ‘do not enter without trousers or shirt!‘ Thankfully I still had my kit on - no cycling in the nude yet!!! - and inside was the most beautiful young girl I had seen in long while who made me wish I was 25 years younger. She said that there was a RV park a little down the road...so with a longing glance over my shoulder (yeah right!!) onward again. Found a lovely little RV park where again the owner let me pitch my tent for free.

A late start the next day - there was a really heavy dew during the night and I really don’t like packing up a sopping tent. But onward to Texas - somehow I was really looking forward to getting to Texas - a bit of a mile stone or something, or maybe the last state before Mexico.

Made it to Woodville after another 100km - a small but really pretty little town, but again no camp site. Pulled into a RV park at 7pm only to be told no tents...and no luck this time. I was again running on empty at this stage but about 1km down the road was a picnic area which was home for the night. Not another person around and found a lovely spot under the pine trees.

These beautiful flowers were everywhere on the side of the road and butterflies all over the place too. I have to say that the roads are not quite as good in Texas as the other States I have been through and sometimes no shoulder...and the traffic is a little more aggressive here as well. The Texans are on a mission!

Got a reasonable start the next day with the prospect of pulling into the first Indian Reservation along the trip. Needed water anyway as there was none at the picnic site, but it was a real climb up to the Indian village, and I hadn't managed to replace the carbohydrates from the previous days' ride. They had a camp site there so went to check it out. Really nice along side a beautiful lake (Tom Big Bee Lake), and met a guy at reception (Indian) who said they were having a PoWow Sat and Sun so after the three hard days in the saddle I decided to stay for the night and recharge the batteries. However, the Powow was quite a few miles down the road and didn’t make it on the bike, but had a good days rest none the same.

Set off early the next day hoping for a good long day......and boy did I get it!! I could not find any camp sites that would take tents; well, one but they wanted to charge me $25.00 which I thought was too expensive just to put up a tent - all the other sites I came across were RV sites only. So I pushed on...and on....and on......and with the light fading made it into Navasota - a total journey of 172 km, 9 hrs and a sore arse!!! But some lovely sites along the way. 

As it happened, the $25.00 did not seem unreasonable as after a day like that it was motel time, so stayed in a Super 8 for $60, but had a good bed and a nice long bath!!! Ahhhhh! But you know, there is something amazing to experience if one but just opens one's eyes.....and one's heart. There, after a truly epic and monumental day was this...............absolute beauty of this awesome planet.

The days have been really hot - about 35 Degrees C. I don't really notice it on the bike because of the breeze and there has been a serious head wind for the last two days, but when I stop, it just pours off - hydration is a serious issue, but thankfully there has been lots of water on route......but few camp sites!!!!!!


The next scheduled camp site was only about another hour’s cycle from Navasota so an easy day today of just over an hour and then tomorrow will head for Austin - there is another camp site about 30 miles from Austin, but it will be another good day in the saddle. In Austin I hope to find a good cycle store to check out the wheels and rebuild if necessary and give the bike a once over.