Date(s): Oct. 29, 1999
Day: Friday
From: Coldspring, TX
To: Silsbee, TX
Lodging: 96 Motel
Segment Mileage: 74.7
Cumulative Mileage: 2273.9
Actual Riding Time: 4:54
Average Speed: 15.2
Weather: Warm, partly cloudy
Temp: Low 80's
After the late arrival of most people yesterday, and subsequent late dinner, Jim encourged us to get an earlier start each day and to try to have dinner by 6pm. It's unfortunate that we can't take our time each day to see sights and enjoy the areas through which we pass, but if we do we also need to get a very early start. Since so much depends on group activities, we sacrifice some individual behavior for the group. Consequently, most of us were up and out of camp early. Oliver and I were still nearly the last out, but it was relatively early, 8:15 am. Since we haven't ridden together in a few days, we were both pretty well rested and we started at a fast pace, hooking up with Bruno after a while, passing most of the others and finally catching Jimmy. We can always tell when it is his laundry day as he is early out and one of the first into camp.
The four of us rode together in a paceline for the rest of the day, averaging over 15mph in a slight headwind. At one store we met a family sittng in front on a bench trying to get a ride to Houston. They couldn't believe that we had ridden from California, and it was a little hard to prove it. The route was uneventful, mostly passing through dense pine forest, part of the 'Big Thicket' area. Logging trucks passed us most of the day and were generally courteous, giving us lots of room, although they were going fast. The speed limit on even the smallest back roads is 70mph and some trucks barely pause as they pass us. The wild and domestic animals pay the price for the high speed, as there are many dead animals beside the road.
'Camp' tonight is the 96 motel, alongside highway US 96, so we will be lulled to sleep by the sound of large trucks whizzing by. The four of us set out our tents to dry in the yard. Since just before Austin, we have had heavy dew every morning. In fact, many things have changed since Austin. We've left the dry desert-like West and are entering the more humid East. The traditional dividing line between the two is 100 degrees W, which is just west of Austin. Today is our last day in Texas, and we officially passed the 2000 mile mark so we plan to celebrate by eating out at a restaurant.
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