Silsbee, TX to Merryville, LA
Woke up this morning to a very wet rain fly - on the inside! Seems my heavy breathing produced a lot of condensation. Will my tent ever be dry? Packed up, and had a nice breakfast of our typical fare - Greek yogurt, cereal, and strawberries - but indoors in Jennifer Exum's wonderful home.
Last night was our last night in Texas, as today we move on to Louisiana. Unlike the last few mornings with dark grey muck, this day was cloudless from the beginning. For the first several hours we rode on a busy divided highway, but there was a wide, smooth shoulder to keep us safely away from traffic. The vehicle noise does become annoying. I told Eileen early on this morning that I was going to rideeasy today, as my muscles were feeling the strain of pushing hard the last couple days. No argument from Eileen!
One small problem with easy pedaling today, though. From Buna to Kerryville, about 16 miles, we had a strong headwind. The road was straight, flat, and seemed never ending. Finally, we reached Kerryville, and took a well deserved break. Ken caught up with us during the break, and the three of us rode the next 24 miles together, more or less. We turned east on a less traveled byway just after Kerryville, so the wind was now at our side - a crosswind. It was much easier pedaling, and we made good time to the Sabine River and the Louisiana border, where we took the obligatory photos in front of the border sign. We also took retro pictures in front of the Texas sign, since we did not have an opportunity three weeks ago when we entered Texas.
Just a few miles beyond the river we arrived at our destination for the night, the Historical Society museum in Merryville, LA. Another gem of kindness for our band of gypsy cyclists! Six people welcomed us to their museum grounds allowing us to camp on their outdoor stage, the lawn, and on the porches of some restored cabins. Before serving us supper, our hosts told us they were all born and raised in the community and explained some of the unique history of the area. A hundred years ago or so this area was neglected by both Texas and Louisiana creating a loose and wild country frequented by various nefarious characters and criminals. They then revealed a wonderful meal of gumbo made with sausage, chicken, peppers, onions, celery, and rice along with biscuits, potato salad and home made pies and bread pudding. I ate way too much, and paid for it with a belly ache for a couple hours!
Experiencing the unique flavors and local stories propelled us into our next region of adventure along the Gulf Coast!
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