By David Freeze
A good day with a strange ending!
I found the town of Kirbyville, Texas to be friendly just like the rest of the state. But it was also time to get started into Louisiana. I left the Gateway Motel early, with only an egg and cheese biscuit. The roads were mostly flat as I headed east on SR 383 to Bleakwood and then Bon Wier, where the only convenience store had recently been burned out. The Louisiana border once again didn’t have a Louisiana sign. Not surprising because the last time I was in the state, there was no entry sign then either. Texas didn’t have one either but did have a Texas shaped rock.
The roads were great in Louisiana, especially since I was on US 190 with wide and smoother shoulders. Next came DeRidder, famous for the lumber industry and a booming WWll Army Air Corps base for bombers and fighters to use for bombing and straffing runs. DeRidder had an unusual town with those going west one block away from those going east. US 190 came back together just as I turned left to take an even better road east on SR 26. About two hours of that ride got hilly and hot, topping out at 97 humid degrees. The map writers called the area the hilly Louisiana upland. I found it easy riding after the mountains and hills of earlier states. SR 26 was one of the prettiest roads I have seen with a mix of well kept older farm homes and varied agricultural production.
On the last 33 miles was where the hills came in, but then it leveled out just ahead of Oberlin, my home for the evening. Oberlin has less than 2,000 residents and it has a motel that I chose because of being right on the route. I found out that the motel was recently purchased and was undergoing a remodeling of sorts. A husband and wife were here working today, both nice, but the motel still has a long way to go. I actually helped to clean my room, which I found out was one of the first to be remodeled.
I will say more about it in the book on this trip, but the price is right and the room is squared away. With the super warm and humid day, I was ready to get off the bike after 81 steamy miles. The only breeze all day was what I generated on the bike.
I promised an update on the remaining mileage for the journey, and as of this afternoon the total remaining miles are 980, meaning that more than 2/3rds of the miles are complete. If all goes well, I will finish off the fifth map series on Tuesday, leaving two more to go.
The map writers talk about dangerous roads, gravel shoulders and plenty of dogs ahead to chase me. A few did today. There is no radio reception and only a little better for the cell phone. I saw signs for Shreveport and hurricane evacuation routes. There are lots of towns but most don’t have services. I will especially have to be on my toes the next few days and won’t be surprised with anything the roads do.
So join me back here tomorrow when I am hoping to reach Bunkie, which sounds like a casino town. Bunkie is the only town with lodging for 30-40 miles in either direction.
More regular sponsors helping financially with the ride are Accelerate Therapy and Performance, Vac and Dash and Gear for Races. Thank you! See you tomorrow!
