Category: Messa to St. Augustine

April 4, 2017

Posted on April 4, 2017August 31, 2020 by mikebike

April 4, 2017. Franklinton Louisiana to Poplarville Mississippi 69 miles. 2210 miles from the Pacific. A great day to be on the bike pedaling my way through Eastern Louisiana and Southern Mississippi. From Franklinton the route takes me Southeast through Springhill, Plainview, and Bogalusa. I dare you to try to find them on a map. I stop in Poplarville for lunch followed by a root beer float. I fill my food bag for my evening and morning meals since I will be camping between towns. The roadsides are covered with purple, yellow, red, and orange flowers. The winds are light and so is the traffic. The route wines up-and-down and all around this forested area. there are pretty Estates along the way with ponds horses and cows. I could live here. By afternoon the Mississippi sunshine brings the temperature 90°
. It is less humid today and the roads have many shady spots that feel like air-conditioning when I ride through. Well not real air-conditioning but at least it’s cooler in the shade. Camp happy to set up next to a beautiful little lake. The owner of the property is 91 and she loves to host bicyclists. She has had people from all over the world visit her beautiful little camping park. She is my inspiration for the day . I pay her the five dollars for the campsite which includes a shower and access to the bathroom. I think these are 1970 prices here. I hope you found someone that inspired you today.
Cheers,
Freebird

That’s mine. You can have one if you pedaled 69 miles today.

April 3

Posted on April 3, 2017August 31, 2020 by mikebike

April 3, 2017. Clinton Louisiana to Franklinton Louisiana 60 bikers bliss miles. 2141 miles from the Pacific. My little detour off route yesterday to stay at the Wildflower Inn B&B turned out to be a good decision. It stormed all night long and a tornado touched down in the area. All this while I was sound asleep in my nice comfy bed. I awake about 6 AM and it’s still raining, so I went back to bed for another couple hours of sleep. The rain moves off to the north and Horse and I hit the road by mid morning. It’s sprinkles on and off for the first couple hours. The sun pops out and drier air moves in after the storm. Every river, ditch, and parking lot is flooded. Frogs, snakes, and cute little lizards are on the roads trying to escape the fast-moving floodwaters. Many of them don’t escape the fast moving cars. There are beautiful old plantation homes and pretty county courthouses along the way. The road meanders through this beautiful Louisiana Hillcountry. The highway is like a giant roller coaster with fast-moving stream in every valley. I keep busy shifting through the gears as we climb and descend repeatedly. I thoroughly enjoy this day with relatively smooth roads and a pretty good tailwind. And I am grateful for the lower humidity. About 3 PM horse and I pull into Franklinton and start looking for a place to stay for the night. I look on the warm showers app and find out the local police department Hosts bicyclists. So I’m camped in the back yard at the police department. They have a nice shower and a full kitchen and are close to a couple restaurants. Life is good in Louisiana. One of the blessings of this type of travel is that you never know where you’re going to end up. And I am reminded once again about the blessings of uncertainty. I hope your life is good wherever you end up tonight – planned or unplanned.
Cheers
Freebird

April 2, 2017

Posted on April 2, 2017August 31, 2020 by mikebike

April 2, 2017. Morganza Louisiana to Clinton Louisiana 48 stormy miles. 2081 miles from the Pacific. I packed up camp happy in the misty morning Mississippi River Delta. I ride 10 miles to New Roads for breakfast. During breakfast I hear thunder in the distance. I checked radar and it looks like I’ll be here a while. By 11 AM the thunderstorm moves north and Horse and I giddyup across the Mississippi River bridge. OMG what a view from the top. It even had room for a bike lane. I pedal hard against strong headwind. The humidity is unbearable. I sweat from every pore of my body. It’s an up-and-down ride through a pretty forest area near the Audubon historic site. I get to Jackson and have some lunch. I checked radar and it looks like I’m good for an hour or two. Horse and I get about halfway to Clinton when thunder and lightning show up in my mirror. I put him in the storm running gear and we arrive in Clinton just before the storm hits. I am soaked with sweat and exhausted but the nice innkeeper at the B&B lets me in anyways. The Wildflower Inn is a huge old Louisiana house complete with swimming pool. The owner lives off site and there are no other guest tonight, so I have the place to myself. Horse even has a spot in the garage. This is some good living. I am doing my laundry and listening to the rumble of thunder outside. The storm is expected to last all night. I hope you are safe, warm, and loved wherever you are tonight.
Cheers, Freebird

Mississippi River bridge shrouded in clouds

Selfie from the top of the mighty muddy bridge

April 1

Posted on April 1, 2017August 31, 2020 by mikebike

April 1, 2017. Chicot State park Louisiana to Morganza Louisiana 72 miles. 2033 miles from the Pacific. The ride through the state park this morning was gorgeous. This Bayou is like another world. I stopped in Bunkie for breakfast and lunch in Simmeesport. After lunch I took a deep breath and cross the bridge over the Atchafalaya River. It’s just two lanes with no room for a bike. It’s a beautiful old arch bridge so it’s like climbing over a hill. The traffic was light. the view from the top was amazing. Too bad I could stop and take pictures. I then turn south east into a strong afternoon breeze. The last 25 miles really wore me out. Camp happy is set up in an RV park just outside of town. It’s Looking like I’ll be crossing the Mississippi River tomorrow morning.
Cheers
Freebird

March 30th 2017

Posted on March 30, 2017August 31, 2020 by mikebike

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

Sun up and yesterday’s storm clouds. Also Texas crude heading to Louisiana.

Restoring of the courthouse in Deridder Louisiana

My new friend Howard the firefighter and first responder.

March 29, 2017

Posted on March 29, 2017August 31, 2020 by mikebike

March 29, 2017. Kountze Texas to Kirbyville Texas 42 miles. 1903 miles from the Pacific.

Horse and I hit the road early this morning thinking we might be able to out run the thunderstorm that is predicted for later today. The morning air is already heavy with heat and humidity. I put horse in galloping gear as we make our way through the small hamlets of Silsbee, Evansdale, and Buna. I am hoping to make it across the Mississippi River and into Louisiana. But mother nature has other plans. As I pull into Kerbyville for lunch I hear the rumble of thunder behind me. I take cover underneath the breezeway of a church. The sky opens up like a monsoon and the wind knocks over anything that is not tied down. The pastor comes out and invites horse and I into the building for shelter. He is a biker and offers to let us stay for the night. I find out the church has a warm shower and regularly host bikers on this route. I am warm, dry, safe, and grateful for the kindness of strangers. The greatest thing I have discovered on this journey is the bountiful generosity of complete strangers.

I see this quote hanging in the men’s room at the church and think it is speaking directly to me.
“tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Mary Oliver

Cheers, Freebird

March 28

Posted on March 28, 2017September 9, 2020 by mikebike

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 25

Posted on March 25, 2017September 9, 2020 by mikebike

March 25, 2017. Buescher State Park Texas to Houston Texas, 78 miles, and 1776 miles from the Pacific. A great day to be on the bike. Beautifully clear Texas skies with relatively cool temperatures and even a tailwind now and then. I wake up in camp happy excited for the chance to get to Houston to see my host son Dominik on his birthday. I call and make arrangements to be picked up in north of Houston to avoid city traffic. I ride 20 miles then stop for breakfast in La Grange. I meet a nice lady who buys me breakfast and gives me an alternative route to Houston. She is the coordinator for the MS 150 rides in Texas and knows the area roads well. Her son is a semi pro bicycle rider. Her suggestions turn out to be a golden. And once again I am taken care of by the kindness of a perfect stranger. Seems like trail magic happens every day if I am paying attention and paying forward. After breakfast I noticed my body is feeling a little drained today. By early afternoon I start to feel the signs of bonking. I know the feelings well enough not to ignore them. Shaky legs and fuzzy vision. I down a banana, a power bar, and some Gatorade but I am still dogging it. At 1 PM I find a shade tree along side the road and take a nice siesta. Before I lay down I check my surroundings for fire ants and snakes. I awake feeling better but still dogging it. I eat a tuna fish sandwich and some salty potato chips and stop by a roadside stand for some ice cream and more Gatorade. My Energy finally returns to near normal and I make it to our scheduled meeting point in time. I get a big hug from the birthday boy and we drive to Houston with my bike in the back of his car. I will spend the next couple days giving Horse some much needed love and maintenance, catching up on some rest, and giving Camp Happy good cleaning before I begin the second half of this journey.
Cheers
Freebird

March 24 2017

Posted on March 24, 2017August 31, 2020 by mikebike

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

Aquarium inside and old TV set. Nice up cycling idea. Saw it at my breakfast restaurant.

March 23

Posted on March 23, 2017September 9, 2020 by mikebike

March 23, 2017. Johnson City Texas to Austin Texas 55 miles and 1643 miles from the Pacific. Horse and I are on the road headed east as the sun pops over the horizon. The sunrise is a beautiful yellow orange with streams of light in all directions. This is still Hillcountry so I climb and descend, and then climb and descend repeatedly until I get to downtown Austin. I ride past beautiful little streams in every valley. Some of them come complete with a water hazard over the road. I put horses in boat gear and we splash our way through. He gets a much-needed bath and I get wet shoes. The wind is very strong but mostly from the side. When I head south it’s like hitting a brick wall. When I turn north it’s like someone lights a rocket. By 3 PM the wind gusts have hit 40 mph. But I am at my Warm Showers Host for the night by then. Austin is a beautiful town. The smell of blooming lilacs fill the air and the birds are nest building. So this is what Spring feels like. I ride along the river with beautiful views of downtown. On the Lance Armstrong bike trail I get to thinking I could use some of those performance enhancement drugs about now. I hope your day was filled with a beautiful sunrise or sunset and smells of lilacs.
Take care, Freebird