March 30, 2017. Kirbyville Texas to Mittie Louisiana. 68 wonderful miles, and 1903 miles from the Pacific. I pack up my sleeping bag and air mattress and make a quick breakfast in the church kitchen. By then Reverend Jim shows up to take my picture for his book of cyclists. His book includes people from all around the world. It was a real treat to look through it and see where people were from and where they were going. Horse and I hit the road as the sun pops over the horizon. We hope to use this cool breeze from the north west to push a Southeast all day. And for the most part it works. I hoot and holler as I cross into Louisiana. Of course i was a bit disappointed to find out and that they moved the Mississippi River to the other side of Louisiana. Go figure ?. I guess I need to brush up on my geography. But I was fine with crossing the Sabine River as long as I was out of Texas. in a couple hours my stomach begins to growl and I start looking for a place for breakfast number two. In Merryville at a restaurant I meet a retired sheriff who sits down and has breakfast with me. We get talking about cross-country bike trips and cop stuff. I tell him I am tired of running from mean dogs that chase me often. He tells me where to buy some pepper spray in the next town. After a delicious meal I get on my bike and start to ride. About 10 miles down the road a car pulls in front of me and stops. It is Wayne the retired sheriff. He has a bottle of pepper spray for me complements of the sheriffs department. He also gives me a big stick which fits nicely into my saddle bag and is within reach. Just down the road a big dog comes running out at me. I pull out the stick and take a swing. The dog turns and runs back where he came from and I don’t need to use the pepper spray. The rest of the day goes Dogless. Maybe they know I am armed and dangerous. It sure makes me feel better knowing that I have protection. I ride 20 more miles to Deridder for a Cajun lunch of poor boy sandwich with delicious shrimp . Just across the street they are restoring a beautiful old County Courthouse. I ride for another 30 miles and stop in Mittie. That’s where I meet Howard. He is a local firemen and I ask if I can camp at the station. He offers his lawn instead. The shower is cold but refreshing and I’m right across from a restaurant. Life is good.
Cheers, Freebird

March 28, 2017.  New Waverly Texas to Kountze Texas 85 miles. 1861 miles from the Pacific.  My two day rest at Dominik and Sadie’s new home in Houston left me feeling energetic this morning.  Dominik drops me off back on the route in New Haven before sun up .  A great day to be on the bike riding through the Big Thicket  national preserve.  This place is green and alive with sounds of a swamp and smells of pine and cedar fill the air.  There are beautiful flowers of every color along the roadside. I see a bluebird, Baltimore oriole, Blue-heron, snakes and turtles.  This place has everything that flies, crawls, or hangs from a tree.   The Spanish moss clings to the branches of large trees making it look spooky.  I ride through the shaded undergrowth with a feeling like something might jump out and get me . The road is good and the traffic is fairly light all morning.  The light headwinds of the morning build in the afternoon and make the last 30 miles really tough.  I arrive in town and decide to get a hotel because it’s too windy to set up camp happy.  I jump in the hotel pool and life is immediately better.
I can’t believe I’m close to entering Louisiana.  I got a feeling it might happen tomorrow.  It’s taken me almost a month to cross Texas.  I am definitely ready to move on to another state.
Cheers, Mike

March 24 2017. Austin Texas to Buescher State Park Texas 55 miles, 1698 miles from the Pacific. A nice day to be on a bike. I waited out a morning rain shower, then decided to ride when it wouldn’t go away. I made good time until afternoon when the route took me through Bastrop State Park. The climbs were so steep (17%) that I had to walk most of them. The payback was gorgeous views, peacefulness, and the smell of the beautiful pine forest. Just about when I was out of energy and water the down hill began. Sweeping turns and smooth roads all the way to the bottom of this plateau. Camp Happy is set up next to a pretty little lake. I hear the rumbling of thunder in the distance and smile at the unknown knowing everything will be just fine because it always is. I hope you got a chance to embrace the unknown today. Cheers
Freebird

March 21, 2017.  Lost Maples State Park Texas to Kerrville Texas 50 wonderful miles, and 1518 miles from the Pacific.  I am just a little over halfway to the Atlantic.  I need to tell you about the stars last night.  The sky was unbelievably clear.  I saw constellations that I had never seen before and they were easy for me to pick out.  Orion’s belt shined like a silver warrior and the big dipper with its handle facing downward towards the mountains to the east was just beautiful. I could’ve stared at that sky all night long but my eyes were too sleepy.  Just before sunrise I pack up camp happy and eat a light breakfast.  The map shows a big climb right away this morning so I try not to eat too much.   I leave the state park and turn left onto Highway 187.  Deer and turkeys are dancing around in the early morning light.  There is a cool light mist in the air as morning clouds move in.  I put horse in low gear and start to climb.  My legs muscles refuse to cooperate.  I swallow my pride and push horse and all my gear up the mountain.  We get to the top of the first pass and my legs are warmed up and feeling better. Beautiful wildflowers line the roadside and to bend towards the morning sunlight.  It’s an up-and-down ride all the way to The small town of Hunt for lunch.  With the help of some locals I find the some of the best food in Texas.  Crusted trout with pasta and vegetables and then a chocolate pecan pie with ice cream for dessert.  Life becomes wonderfuller.  The ride into Kerrville follows the Guadalupe River.  Traffic is light and the afternoon sun becomes hot. But Horse and I are cooled by the shade of the huge trees that line the road next to the river.  It feels as air-conditioning as we ride through a green tunnel somewhere in utopia.  I arrive in Kerrville and get a room at the local Motel 6, do some laundry and take a nap.  Life on the road was good today.  I hope you got a chance to experience life with dessert today too.
Cheers, Freebird

March 19, 2017.  Brackettville Texas to Camp Wood Texas. 50 miles.  1424 Miles from the Pacific.   I unzip the tent fly and crawled out of camp happy.  It is still dark.  I hazy moon shines overhead.  Mosquitoes come after me for breakfast.  The tent is wet from last nights dew.  I pack up and head into town for breakfast.  Horse and I head up Highway 334 and into the Texas Hill-country.  The chip seal road is very rough and soon my hands turn numb from the constant vibration of this gravel, stone, and tar combination. Horse complains, but I reminded him that at least we don’t have a headwind today.  There is always something to be grateful for.  The local sheriff stops by as I take a break beside the road.  He is very nice and asked if i need anything.   He warns me about the illegal human trafficking in the area and tells me to be aware what’s going on around me.  I ride past a large solar installation producing electricity for part of Southwest Texas.  This is a big ranch country.  It is lush and green and full of cattle.  I start to climb into the hill country and it becomes even more beautiful.  Some cactus flowers are in full bloom and there is a flowery smell in the air.  I know it is not me.  The Early-morning clouds quickly burn off and the intense Texas sun quickly warms to 90 degrees.  Just before town there is a county park next to the Camp Wood River.  It is beautiful.  I get a campsite, empty my pockets and jump into The cool refreshing clear water.  The soothing cold water suddenly makes life all better.  The memories of today’s rough roads and long climbs quickly disappear and once again I am living the dream.  I hope you get a chance to disappear into one of your dreams today too.
Cheers, Freebird