April 16, 2005

The First Journal Finally Shows Up!

I apologize for the extreme delay in expected journal entries.  It has been a challenging trip so far as you will understand.  At least I am now beginning the first of many more entries that will give you a better understanding of the events I have experienced these past few days.

I began the trip with a one hour jaunt to New Braunfels, Texas, to meet up with my ride companion on this leg (Bill Alexander). Bill is a member (as I am) of a loosely knit group of mostly senior citizens who ride on Saturday mornings somewhere in the South Central Texas area.  We meet and ride for breakfast or lunch then split for regions unknown.  I met with Bill at his home, met his wife TN, and then he and I were on our way toward adventure.

We went to Route 90 Alternate which had been bad mouthed by both Bill and others in that loosely knit group of old farts I ride with. It turned out to be a very good ride and one I will use in the future for trips toward Galveston.  It is a very good road with many photo opportunities and significant history about the Texas Republic. The East Texas Flora expands before your eyes and presents itself as a specimen of beauty.  It is especially beautiful on a motorcycle with the wind and the aromas wafting about you as you motor along.

My intent was to take Route 90 to Route 6 Southwest of Houston to Galveston and back up toward Beaumont after taking the ferry on Galveston Island.  One of my late sister's bestest friends, Delee, and her husband, Rod, live in a beautiful home in Hitchcock, Texas, VERY near my route.  I decided to surprise visit them in a last minute option and it paid off.  Delee was home and graciously hosted me and my riding companion, Bill Alexander, for a few minutes.  Rod soon showed up (he was on an errand) and we had a delightful visit.

In the process of this visit, both of them suggested we not go through Galveston because of a convention in town comprised of over 100,000 individuals and the probability of a significant wait at the ferry.  We took their advice and headed back north on the east side of Houston up Route 146 through Beaumont toward Kinder, Louisiana.

We then rode on Route 12, eschewing the Interstates, and enjoyed the scenery.  Rice fields were everywhere in their early stages of growth and we played tag with a train of oil tankers for at least fifty miles from town to town as we headed east.  After 465 miles for the day we stopped in Kinder, LA, and got a room at the Black Jack Inn for the night. All other rooms in and around the Coushatta Casino Resort were filled ... I felt a little like Joseph ... such is the fate of a biker on the road.

Here's some pictures (full album HERE):