NH Fobb …..

It’s 4 AM, 75 degrees with 100% RH … A logging truck just started up next to my tent so I am up thinking about the day to come. Lots of excitement yesterday, I am hoping that is passed. The back road yesterday was nice cycling … Two bridges out helped a lot. I am hoping today is like that as RO and I escort our two new French riders, Jacques and Pierre.

Steak dinner from last night hangs heavy in my stomach this morning. It is very foggy so RO and I wait until 8 AM to leave. Our new French riders decide to sag to the first stop.

It is still very foggy and the road has no breakdown lane but once we cross the interstate we turn onto a quiet road with no traffic.

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Our first real excitement and close call of the trip today, as we enter our sixth state, Mississippi. Not very long before we cross the bridge into Mississippi and we say goodbye to good roads. The Mississippi roads have a rumble strip but no breakdown lane, mean bicycling on a busy road with lots of trucks.

We had very good roads in Louisiana which was a blessing after the awful roads in Texas. As soon as we crossed the river from Bogalusa, LA into Mississippi on route 26 the road became awful. It is a 2 lane road with a lot of traffic including logging trucks. This is part of the Adventure Cycling Southern Tier route; the road has a rumble strip but no breakdown lane. As we rode people warned us that a cyclist had just been killed on this piece of road a few months ago.

I was riding with RO and Rand feeling very exposed because very aggressive traffic was backing up behind us as we rode in the lane. There was too much traffic for cars to pass us and no where for us to go because of the drop off on the side of the road.

Just as we passed the welcome to Mississippi Sign, a black jeep flew by us doing about a 100 miles an hour followed very closely by 20 Louisiana police cars in hot pursuit with flashing lights and sirens. Just after they passed us we heard gun shots but couldn’t tell who was shooting. We heard later the black jeep was driven by bank robbers, who crashed a few mikes further down the When the police shot out their tires.

I can’t explain why we weren’t hit by the robbers or the police but some how we all escaped safely. In fact, it all happened so fast we had no time to feel concerned until we got off the road as wave after wave of police cars kept coming with lights faking and sirens blaring.

What a way to enter our sixth state. Link from local paper, http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/fcaab82627184e11a2ce0dbd641bde75/MS–Bank-Robbery-Shooting/

Thankfully just after that we left rt 26 and traveled on a road with 2 closed bridges. Bubba has arranged for us to walk thru the construction areas.

We ride into Poplarville and got to Poplarville Produce for lunch. Short day only 45 miles, we arrive at camp around 2 PM even after spend a long time at restaurant.

Lunch is Metalin Soup, a sweet Louisiana turnip, and BLT with Amish bacon. We also try a creole cream cheese sandwich.

Nice to hit the cool shower at the camp.

Finally we are getting the Louisiana weather we expected, hot and humid. What I didn’t expect was how hilly Louisiana is. Pretty ride, quiet and green.

Just down the road was Clinton, interesting town.

We helped a turtle cross the road.

At 25 mile sag, Bubba went to gift shop across the road to get a genuine LA flamingo.

Quiet roads and little traffic. The Louisiana roads have been a very nice surprise.

Tonight we sleep in a motel and go out for pizza.

Late breakfast, waffles today it’s rest day.

I spent the morning watching Lep and Perry, our hosts, prepare dinner of gumbo and jambolya. Lep starts by making a roux.

Perry shows me the caramelized onions that were cooked the day before. That small container is several large onions cooked slowly down.

Perry is making jambolya and shows me her secret ingredient.

Lev is still working on the roux this is slow work.

Time to add the ocra.

Off to St. Francisville for lunch at the Magnolia Resturant. I have gumbo and a muffalatta.

We all seem to lack energy on rest days. In the afternoon we feel more tired than if we had been riding, so we nap.

At 5:30 dinner is ready so Lev and Perry serve us gumbo and jambolya Cajun style with potato salad in the gumbo.

The night ends peacefully sitting around a fire.

Thanks Lev and Perry, this has been a wonderfully relaxed two days … Amazing hospitality at Perry’s Bike Hostel.

Another exciting day, today we cross the Mississippi.

Our group overwhelms the restaurant at the Holliday Inn, we don’t hit the road until after 9 AM so with river crossing we will be finishing the 78 mile ride to Jackson, LA later than usual. We usually get in before 3 pm but today will be around 4:30.

The start is a little discouraging, yesterday we flew with a tailwind today we will be fighting a headwind all day.

At the 35 mile point we are ferried around the St. Charles River.

We then ride for about 20 miles along the levies of the Mississippi River. As we are riding a group of cows on the levy decided to chase us for several miles. Amazing how fast a cow can run.

At 54 miles we cross the Mississippi.

Roland on the River!

We are spending tonight and tomorrow night at Perry’s Bicycle Hostel. We end the night with a fire made from Frito’s, not the bags but the Frito’s. Tomorrow is an off day, that means sleeping late and waffles for breakfast.

A really busy day, lots of miles and lots of new things to do. We are in Louisiana and things are different than in Texas. Big surprise is that the weather is cool and dry, after a 40 deg night. I was thinking of getting rid of the sleeping bag, that would have been a mistake. Also once we get away from Texas, the roads are getting better. The road is smoother and no longer littered with pieces of tire.

We have been riding against the wind for a week, but today we have a tail wind.

Donut shop at 35 miles. All the donut shops seem to be run be people from SE Asia here and in Texas.

We are now in rice and crawdad country. Those red things in the rice fields are crawdad traps.

We had a very early start to the day but were still the last to leave at 7:30 AM. We reach Mamou before noon, the 60 mile point. We have been pushing to get to Fred’s before it closes at 1 PM, Fred’s is only open Saturday Mornings. Fun time at Fred’s RO dances; I have 2 beers and a shot of Hot Damn.

At Frenchie’s I have a crawdad poboy and hush puppies.

Other folks have gumbo and coonass fries.

I had a fun conversation with the guy in the picture about Cajun French and how it differs by parish. He offered us a place to stay at building across the street from Fred’s.

Before we leave town, we have to try snow cones.

After a mini revolt by the women riders, our destination for the night has been changed from Willy’s to Holliday Inn. This adds a few miles so we now have a 97 mile day.

At hotel, RO and I decide to ride a few more miles to finish the century, 100 mile ride.

It feels like an accomplishment to finish riding across Texas. Texas has been 19 days of friendly people, great scenery, great companionship, shared suffering, and single course chip seal roads. The drivers have been friendly and the trucks gave us a wide berth even the logging trucks. Even the dogs that came out to greet us were friendly. The roads were remarkably clean except for lots of pieces of recapped tires. The recap pieces are full of fine wires that almost always mean a flat if you hit them.

After today’s 75 mile ride we are now about 2/3rds of the way to St. Augustine, FL.

The day started with an early departure from the camp ground. RO and I were last as always but still out around 8 AM. I woke up early, 5:30 AM to the sound of rain on my tent but it was just a few very brief showers that were gone by 7 AM breakfast. Breakfast was fresh catalope and a bagel with peanut butter. I haven’t been feeling like oatmeal or cereal.

Very fast start to the day, on these flat roads with a tailwind we are flying. No more 8 mph hill limbs, we are riding along around 20 mph. At the 35 mile point, we stop for a donut.

Everyday from 35 miles to 50 miles, I seem to dip and RO drags me along. At 54 miles, we stop for a catfish sandwich.

Rand has joined RO and I today. Just after lunch we reach the Louisiana border and take pictures. It is our celebration on leaving Texas.

In Louisiana the road side is a lot messier and the shoulder often narrow or non-existent. We fly along to DeRidder dodging road side debris. The trikers join us and we have a bike caravan into DeRidder that comes to a dead stop at the Dairy Queen. Our camp is just another 1/2 mike down the road.

At camp RO unfurls the Confederate Flag he found. We are at camp after 75 mikes and ut us inky 2PM. Time for a beer, nap and shower in that order before dinner. Then into the Shark and off to Ryan’s Buffet for dinner.

Pecan pie with butter pecan ice cream for dessert.

Our last night in Texas, now on to Louisiana. Today was a “Logs and Dogs” day, logging trucks and dogs chasing us. Green straight roads without a lot of climbing for 75 miles today. Reasonable weather overcast and mid 80s. Usual headwind of course, maybe tomorrow no headwind.

The day starts with our first view of Coldspring, TX.

Our first sag stop is at 25 miles, 875 Market.

Not a lot to see along the road today but that is OK.

At 56 miles we stop for a BLT and chat with locals.

At Red Cloud RV Park tonight, 76 miles. Bob grills salmon and I get a can of SPAM instead.

Another birthday cake then off to bed at 8:30 PM.

Our penultimate day in Texas was a beautiful ride thru the Sam Houston National Forest. Cool, sunny day with a head wind if course and sneaky hills. As we rode the terrain looked flat but our legs and speed disagreed.

The day starts with breakfast at camp then cool, 62 deg, ride thru Navasota. we take a moment to view the La Salle statute sent from France.

Rest stop at 24 mile point where we regroup for a moment.

Then we ride thru Sam Houston National Forest, beautiful ride. It is fun riding now but Texas is not giving us a free pass … Steep hills and head wind.

There is a new presence on the road with us, logging trucks. They are in a hurry and bounce us with their air wave.

Lunch is at the Waverly Restaurant, good cat fish.

At 67 miles we reach camp. We are early so spend some time napping in chairs before dinner, Shrimp Scampi and Coconut Cream Pie. Bob and I split 3 pieces. Good day but off to bed early, RO’s night to stay up late. I did it last night when he zonked out early. But I don’t think he is staying up long. 8 PM is our bed time.

Last night for dinner we had left over bar-b-Que form the lunch in Independence, TX at site of old Balyor College and it was terrific.

Today I get to try the other half of the facilities at the Park by the Airport in Navasota. We are camped right along the runway. The facilities are functional but not very esthetic.

Today is our off day so we take a van trip to College Station and WalMart. At College Station, we walk the campus and visit the memorial. On the way back we briefly visit the Bush Library.

Beautiful relaxed evening with Taco Salad for dinner.