Departure: Cleveland, TX Finish: Lumberton, TX
Distance: 69.2 miles
Elevation gain: 841 feet (1,102’ downhill)
Winds: Southern at 8 mph.
Weather: High clouds; scattered to broken. 61 to 80 degrees.
On bike duration: 4 hrs, 10 minutes.
Average speed: 16.6 mph
Total Accumulated Miles: 1,886
Today was a very good day! I fear I may have protested too much in my journal entry last night. Even on a bad day, this is a very fun endeavor.
We are done with the Hill Country, and are rolling toward Cajun Country. I think the whole group was energized by the flatter roads. We made good time on the 69 miler today. Tom, Andrea, Jim, and I took several turns on the front of the line and sustained 20 to 21 mph for many miles.
Most of the countryside was forested - piney woods, interrupted by small towns. We passed by an acreage that had an Emu herd. I almost missed it as I passed by. But I saw the birds standing there next to the fence. You see a lot of detail by crossing the country on a bicycle - that most travelers (even on a motorcycle) never see. It’s fascinating!
We crossed over the Trinity River, and I got a terrible picture of it (at 18 mph). I had heard of the Trinity, but I had no idea it was so vast. I will attribute this tributary to the fact that we are approaching the Mississippi Delta and all of the rivers are getting bigger before they dump into the Gulf.
Tonight, we dined at “Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp”. During dinner, I was presented with “Rita”. I’ll explain: About three weeks ago, our intrepid guide - Dennis - introduced us to “Flo-Rita”, a green, orange, and white Florida Aligator (It’s actually “Yoshi”, a Mario character. But, don’t tell.) Rita had lost her way and ended up way out West. She wanted to make her way back to Florida, and had always wanted to ride on a bicycle. So, our group’s mission was to ensure safe passage for Rita to her home while she is attached to someone’s bike. Dennis pronounced the first of Rita’s travel guardians and said there are no rules, but that each time Rita is passed on to the next traveler, she has to be attached to the bike, to have the wind blow sweetly on her face. Rita has changed guardians four times; each time at an evening dinner, and each time with elaborate fanfare, either grand oration or a catchy poem. Tonight, Andrea handed Rita off to me with a recitation of Rita once traveling the castles of Wales and she felt inclined to gift the red castle of Wales - “Castile Coch” - to me because of my red bicycle and red cycling clothes.
I will cherish my time with Rita - long enough to devise some type of processional hand-off worthy of Rita’s mission.
Tonight - it’s the La Quinta of Lumberton. Comfy enough!
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