Day 35--Rest Day

I didn't plan on resting today.  As I was getting my things ready to go, I kept thinking of how much I really didn't feel like riding today.  I was just looking at my bike and wondering why it cant just ride itself!  So, after losing the internal battle of not being a wuss, I went down and got the room for another night.
I didn't do much and that was great.  Just sat around the room and watched TV.

Day 34--I am Famous Now

I only made 20 miles today, so a bit of a fail.  I am going to go ahead and chalk it up to some questionable Chinese seafood last night.  Lets just say it affected me deeply.
My step dad set up an interview with a local news agency.  The interview went very well!  They aired 5 seconds of it.  This is my 2nd time being interviewed by the news and both times it has kind of sucked in the airing department.
I found another toilet.  Commode count is now 5.
I am staying in Walker LA tonight.  I am 90% sure I will make Mississippi tomorrow.
Wish I had more exciting news for you my friends, but that is it for today.  Hopefully tomorrow will be more fruitful!

Day 33--East of the Mississippi

I got a late start today.  First, I slept in a little.  Then, when I went to top off my tires I broke off the valve stem on my rear wheel so I had to change my tire.  It was being difficult and took awhile.  I really didn't get on the road until about 11 or so.
I found another toilet on the side of the road!  4 in 3 days now.  This somehow amazes me.
At one point heard the grass moving to my right and behind me.  First thought: An alligator is about to eat me.  This is all going to end because I got by an alligator. I don't know if there really ARE alligators in these parts, but because it is is swampyish, it has been on my mind.  It was a rottweiler.  This butthole broke the rules and didn't bark. He was like a ninja attack rottweiler.  I got away with not much trouble.  But really dogs of the south, lets play by the rules at least, yeah?
Sarah, my host from last night, warned me about a 6 mile bridge I would be crossing.  ( I chose to go to Baton Rouge rather than up north to Jackson LA)  When I came to a monster of a bridge I thought I had found it.  A guy, Arland, came up to me and I chatted him up.  Very nice guy, and when I was about to ask about the bridge he brought it up first.  He sternly warned me to not try to do it on bike.  I told him I would probably try to get a ride.  (This bridge was not the one in question, but only a mile from the big bridge).  He immediately offered a ride.  I took him up on his offer and I am very glad I did.  There was zero shoulder and the cars and trucks were moving at mock 5.  Arland is a talker and during his story of this and that I didn't want to interrupt him and he actually drove me about 10 miles rather than just 7 or so.  Thanks buddy for the ride!
I stopped for lunch/dinner at Carmine's Seafood Cafe. I said I just wanted something light as I still had about 25 miles to go.  They suggested the vegetable soup and grilled cheese.  What they brought to me was enormous.  It was also the best damn soup I have ever put in my mouth.
The sun was getting close to going down now and the people at Carmines told me about the bridge across the Mississippi.  It was even worse than the 6 mile bridge.  My plan was to stop before the bridge and figure it out tomorrow.  I stopped at a run down nasty ass hotel.  I asked how much for a room and he asked if I wanted it by the hour or the whole night.  No thanks my friend.  I don't want to sleep in anyone's bodily fluids tonight.  So, I headed towards the bridge, which was not far at all actually.  When I got there I figured, I am a man.  I am brave.  I will just do it!  However, when I put eyes on said bridge, I pretty much tossed my bravery and man card to the side.  It was a suicide mission.  The speed limit across this thing was 65 and there was zero ZERO shoulder.  I backtracked a few hundred yards and started thumbing it.  After 20 minutes I was doing dances and hand gestures indicating I just needed a lift over the bridge.  30 minutes into it (the sun is almost set now) I get some more courage and decide I will just do it.  Like a pimp.  I put on my game face and charged the bridge on my trusty steel horse.  As I get closer and closer I let out my war cry--Yaaaaaaaaaaaaw!  When I got to about 20 feet to the start of the bridge, I pulled on the brakes.  There is just no damn way I was going to do this and live to tell about it.  The only thing I could do was go backwards about 8 miles and sleep it off.  Damn.
With one last ounce of hope I thumbed it again and John stopped and drove me over the bridge.
The sun was pretty much down now and I was looking for a place to stay.  Some real dirt holes wanted a shiz load of money to stay.  I actually was feeling good and wanted to go much longer.  So I kept going and rode on into the night.  I didn't stop until about 7 or so.  I found a CLEAN motel six that was cheaper than the dives back down the road.
I am not really sure where my path will take me tomorrow.  I actually went off my course about 5 miles in my night ride so that may guide me a different way than I expected.  We will see.  For now, I am going to go to get a little Cha cha chinese food and hit the sack.
One last thing.  Not only did Sarah house me, feed me, and entertain me, she also donated to the cause today.  Thanks so much Sarah!  You rock.
Commode count= 4

Day 32--Canines and Commodes

Today started with a nice life-threatening jolt.  Not my life.  A dog's life was nearly ended as he tried to get me.  I had made it, seriously, 30 seconds into my ride when I got my first dog chase.  I hadn't even thought about warming up yet when I was forced into a full out sprint.
As soon as I got on the road a dog across the street--scratch that--highway--came a charging.  He crossed the road in front of traffic and a semi had to lock his brakes up to not hit the dog.  He chased me for a quarter mile.  Well, I was now warmed up properly.  I really don't know how that little guy didn't get smashed.
Overall it was a pretty uneventful day.  The road is now flat and I can maintain 15 mph fairly easy.  I would say I made good time but I stop way more than I should.  I say to myself, "I wont stop for 20 miles!"  One mile later I am stopped taking a picture of something.
I did see another toilet!  Commode Count is now 3.  It just really boggles my mind the thought of possible events that lead to a person to toss their toilet on the side of the road.
Is it a slow process?  Does the toilet just slowly stop working and the owner finally blow up??
And if so, why the side of the road?  "I have had it with you, you damn toilet!  Why cant you take my football sized turds like the ones at the truck stop?!"  "To the side of the road you go!"
The picture at the top of what looks like woods contains the toilet.  Hard to make out, but it is a toilet I tell you.
Also, besides the dramatic start of the day dog chase there were at least 10 more, but none were close calls like that one.
I am staying at a Warmshowers.org host's house tonight--Sarah.  She is amazing.  Pretty much the epitome of a host in this world.  Much more trusting than I am, but very awesome. (She has allowed people to stay at here house when she was on vacation.)  If you are a biker and are in this area ever, stay with her, but somehow insist to get the bill if you go out to dinner.  I failed on this one.  We had a little tug of war with the check and I lost.
Oh, it is in Opelousas.  I still don't know how it is supposed to be pronounced.
Tomorrow, I have a six mile bridge to cross.  My goal is Baton Rouge, or a place called Jackson LA.  It all depends on certain developments.  Either way it will be about a 70 mile day.  PS, today was a 90 mile day.  NBD.

Day 31--A Brisk Day of Conquering Texas and Frog Legs

It was cold today!  My phalanges were like little icicles all day.  I wore just about all the clothes I have.
I got out of Texas finally.  I have some good pictures but no service so they will have to wait.
I am now in Dequincy LA.  The accent of the people is amazing.  It is not southern, it is not anything but Louisianan.
For dinner I had some seafood.  It was not what I expected at all.  EVERYTHING was deep fried.  I had to ask the waitress a few times how to eat certain items.  One of them being the frog legs. I had never had them before now and I have to say they were not bad but not great either.  Kind of tasted like fishy chicken.
The plan was to camp out somewhere but it is soooo cold today I gave that idea up and got a room.
No dog chases and no flats today.  One interesting thing is I saw two toilets on the side of the road.  If I see more I will start a counter of commodes on the side of the road.

Day 30--Lazy Day

Not much to report today.  I stayed in the La Quinta hotel room all day pretty much.  Thanks to Brenda and the GM, Lola, for hooking me up with the room.  It was a great day of relaxation and waiting out the rain.
Tomorrow I should be in Louisiana and done with Texas!

Day 29--Sloppy and Almost Got Got

Sloppy wet.  Rained all day.  It was kind of a nice rain though.  It was like a lukewarm shower all day long.  My new rain gear held up well.  It still seeped through a little but all in all it did the job well.
Before I got going I ate at a little diner in Liberty and it was great.  All the breakfast food you can think of I put down.  I only had 45 miles to go today so I kind of took my time.  Once I did get on the road I killed it for about two hours.  After that I don't know what happened.  I lost all energy and my legs felt like they had lead in them.  Over all it took 4 hours to go 40 miles when the first 30 was done in about a little over two hours.  When I was a runner this was known as "hitting the wall".   I guess the days and days of riding have caught up with me.  It is not only my legs.  My arms are done sauce as well.  Every time I get off the bike my forearms are on fire.  I have no grip either.  I can hardly tie my shoes.  Totally not complaining; just stating the facts jack.
Because of that and the fact that it is supposed to rain hard core again tomorrow, I am staying here in Beaumont tomorrow for another rest day.  If it wasn't for the rain I think I would still go on down the road but with the tiredness/rain combo, it is rest day for me.
There was only one real highlight today.  When I almost got got.
I was almost to Beaumont when I passed a house with a fenced in yard.  A normal sized Golden Retriever (not a spawn of Satan this time) saw me and when ape shit.  He started running for me, but I relaxed because it was fenced in.  It was a sham and trickery.  The dog knew of a spot he could get under the fence.  He came out ahead of me and I pretty much screwed.  I thought I was done for sure.  I sprinted ahead as fast as I could go, but this butthole actually passed me.  Totally could have got a piece of calf steak if he wanted to.  Once he got ahead of me he kind of lost his tactical advantage though.  Every time he came towards me I aimed AT him.  I also yelled "yaw yaw yaw!" super loud and it worked.
I cant lie, the adrenaline was pouring through my body.  Like I said, I thought he was going to get me for sure.  My legs were shaking afterwards.  I wasn't really scared, it was just the body's natural reaction to a stressful situation.  This dog situation will probably keep me on my toes for the rest of the trip.
Lastly, Thanks to Ken Pedroza for his donation to the cause!  Miss you buddy.

Day 28--Bulldog?

I got a late start.  We didn't go to bed until 2 so I figured it would be a late start.  Sam Adams was still in my blood stream I am sure, but I still got on the road by 9.
My goal was to make it to Beaumont Texas today but as soon as I started going East, I knew it wasn't going to happen.  Strong headwind.  Again.  Come on Mother Nature!!  Work with me.  Y'all watch the news right?  Which way do the storms move across the nation?  West to East right?  So, in my mind, the wind should blow that way.  So far, it really hasn't been like that for me.  Anyways...it is what is.
The wind actually died down after awhile and it was kind of hot.  Humid too--something I am not used to.
I felt good and rested and just took my time.  Made it 65 miles to a place called Liberty Texas.  It is a pretty ghetto little town.  I am staying at a hotel and it is on the gross side.  I am not a cootie worrier kind of guy but tonight I think I will sleep in my sleeping bag on top of the comforter.

Back up. Highlights of the day:  High fives to sign holders.  It took about 40 miles to get out of the city and there was  a surprising amount of sign holder guys.  I made it a point to high-five as many of them as I could as I passed them.  It kind of pumped them up and it entertained me.
I am not sure if this is a "highlight" or not, but I got chased again today by three dogs.  All at once.  One was a HellBeast.  Huge!  I think he was a Bulldog.  Not like a cute English Bulldog.  Nay. False.  Erroneous.  It was like a regular dog bred with a bull.  A Brahman bull/Boarder Collie.  And so fast!  I thought I was going to get it this time.
Luckily, they gave away their location with their barking before I got to them.  I saw them charging towards me from the house.  I turned it on.  I got out past the gate of their house just before they made it to the road.  Two of them faded away quickly.  The Bull Dog did not give up so easily.  I gave it all I had for at least 1/4 mile and he was gaining on me the entire time.  I don't know if he ran out of gas or got to the end of his self proclaimed territory, but he gave up the chase just in time because I had no more sprint energy left.
This has prompted me to set up my R.A.D. system.  Rapidly Accessible Defense System.  RADS. I have my pepper spray taped up in a spot I can get to it very quickly now.  I hope I don't have to use it, but it is ready now.
Lastly, I am so perplexed by this one.  I was sitting on the bed eating a feast of pizza when a guy knocked on my door and demanded I close the blinds so no one can see what I am doing.   I was like, um, I like my blinds open and they will stay that way buckaroo.  He didn't press the issue.  I really don't get it.  I had to rethink my actions to make sure I wasn't doing anything that would warrant his actions.  Nay....I had done nothing at all...Just ate.
This little city is a little unsavory--I am sure my neighbor for the night is tweaked out of her mind and probably selling meth.   There has been a lot of traffic in and out of that little room.
With that, I am going to hit the hay.  Until that day, goodnight.

Day 27--You Can't Throw Shrimp at My Face Fool!

I woke up and it was still dark.  Seriously?  I cant even sleep in on my day off?  I looked at my clock--It was 11 AM.  The room was all blacked out like a cave.  It was great!
For most of the day I just chilled out--paid bills--surfed the internet.  Very relaxing.  About 4 we went to the bike shop and got yet another hand pump and a battery for my bike computer.  This pump is pretty legit--it is almost a floor pump but not quite.  I also failed to think about the battery for the other part of the bike computer system so I am still in need of a battery.
Next we (my dad and I) went to REI and I got a rain suit and some tubes, compliments of my dad.  Oh!  Also some tire liners.  I hope they help my flat tire situations.
We then went to a Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant--you know, where they go Kung Fu on your food in front of you.  It was outstanding.  However.  The cook threw a shrimp at me and hit me in the face.  He must love his job because not only does he get to throw food at people, he expects tips for it.
Later, we did manly stuff.  We drank our drinks (beer for me, Jim Beam I think for my dad) and watched a couple of movies with gun fights and explosions.  Stayed up till 2.  Probably not a great idea.
All in all it was a great rest day and a great catch up with my dad.  It had been awhile.

Day 26--Wanna Get High?--Got a Bug in My Eye

The ride from Bastrop to Highway 290 was great.  Not much in the way of a shoulder, but not much traffic either.  There were pine trees as far as you could see and it smelled great.  This road only lasted about 15 miles or so.  On to the 290.
This wasn't bad either, but there was a good headwind the rest of the day (108 miles).  I haven't checked yet, but I am fairly certain I gained a lot of elevation today because I climbed seemingly all day long.  Hold on, I will check. .....Ok...that was not true.  Cypress is actually a few hundred feet lower.  However,  I am still in hillish country and there was a fair share of climbing into a headwind.
About the title of today's post.  There were a number of chemical plants along the way.  It smelled like rubber cement; Unknown what they were actually making.  After the third one I felt a little funny and wondered if I was getting a little tuned up.  Past the plants now and feeling better, I figured I would turn around and find out for sure.  Kidding.
About the bug in the eye.  It happened.  I was unable to wear my sunglasses all day because it was cloudy. I actually thought I was going to get dumped on pretty much all day but only got a few sprinkles luckily.
At one point as I managed to get up to about 20 mph a bug committed Hari Kari into my eyeball.  He stayed there postmortem for at least 10 miles.  Pretty uncomfortable.

I was on the road for 11 hours today...I will say that today was the third hardest day of riding because of the mix of long miles, headwind, and (seemingly) endless climbing.  I also got a flat at mile 30.  I hit a legit big ol' nail.  I am pretty sure I am now on my fourth tire because of the hole in this one.  I will examine it tomorrow and see if it will hold.  When I replaced my tube I had heard that a folded up dollar bill will work in a pinch (you put it in between the tube and the tire to protect the tube).  It held the rest of the day so I will say it worked fine.

I ran out of energy with about 25 miles to go, about when it got dark.  I was pretty much on auto pilot and just gave it all I had, which wasn't much.  Made it though!

I am now in Cypress where my parents live.  My dad is home alone and made a great dinner of steak, potatoes, a (killer) mushroom salad, and other snacks.    He told me during dinner that he had a dream that I got hit and was put in the hospital and he was forced to finish the ride himself.  So, I have been forbade to get hit--He is not so hip on riding on a bike that long.

I have decided to rest up tomorrow and stay here a day.  I thought there was going to be rain tomorrow but was assured there is not supposed to be rain for a few days, but I do need the rest.  Also, I am going to work on my bike and i am going "bare bones" for the rest of the trip.  I am dumping anything and everything I don't absolutely need.  I think I can get down to just 10 or 15 pounds of gear.

One last thing.  There were two donations last time I checked. My parents neighbors, Stanley and Trudy donated to the cause.  Also, MSgt Brian Williamson (RET) made a donation and a face book plug yesterday.  Thanks to y'all!