Southern Tier Section 5

via bicycle from Navasota, TX to St. Francisville, LA

April 10 - April 16, 2008

432 miles with 6,072 feet of elevation gain and 6,182 feet of elevation loss

Date	Location	Miles
Section 5
April 10	Cleveland, TX	73
April 11	Kountze, TX	56
April 12	DeRidder, LA	92
April 13	Opelousas, LA	90
April 14	Simmesport, LA	68
April 15	St. Francisville, LA	53
April 16	St. Francisville, LA - rest day	0

Remember, the first map is the Adventure Cycling map and shows our actual route; and for the 2nd map I used the AAA online mapping service to print a map that shows their suggested highway route to each night's stop--of course these highways are not always the best highways for bicycle riders and are NOT indicative of our route, but it gives you another view of the area we are traveling.

Section 5

Day 36 Day 37 Day 38 Day 39 Day 40 Day 41 Day 42

Day 36 - April 10, 2008

Navasota to Cleveland, TX - 73 miles

info (back to beginning of section 5) weather

We started riding today under threatening skies, but it had looked bad all day yesterday and only sprinkled from 4-5 so I didn't worry too much. It was, however, muggy and warm. I had some minor problems with my bike today. On the first hill my gears were slipping, so I stopped and adjusted the little connection at the bottom of the derailleur a quarter turn counter clockwise. Then I noticed that I was having a hard tine getting up the hill and had to go to a smaller than usual gear so I stopped and checked my tire--it was rock hard so the air pressure was good then I spun it and discovered my rear brake was rubbing so I moved it over. But I soon had the same problem--this time I found out the tire was loose and tightened it and adjusted the brake again. Finally all problems were solved, and I rode peacefully for a while.

About 9:30 it started sprinkling. I didn't want to put my rain jacket on because it was so warm, but I decided I should cover my bike bag so I went ahead and got the jacket out and put it on. I'm glad I did, as the temperature started dropping and the jacket felt good. After riding 30.5 miles Michelle and Linda passed me in the van, and I decided to signal them and sag on it. It was a beautiful ride through the Sam Houston Forest and we also crossed a small section of Lake Conroe, but I couldn't really enjoy it because of the rain and was concerned about riding on wet roads. Four others sagged in also. The rest rode in the rain, but several got VERY cold. Three stopped at a Laundromat in one of the towns and dried their clothes.

Today was Judy's birthday so she got to select the menu and selected spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, and strawberry shortcake. She also got several gifts including a Cleveland, TX T-shirt!

I didn't take any pictures today other than those of Judy's birthday party so I included a couple of my favorite postcards.

Navasota to Cleveland map

the hills weren't bad today

a Texas longhorn rests peacefully on a bed of bluebonnets

bluebonnets, paintbrush, an oak and mesquite trees add color to a windmill

Day 37 - April 11, 2008

Cleveland to Kountze, TX - 56 miles

info (back to beginning of section 5) weather

Both the weather prediction and skies were threatening for today, but all we had was a few drops early in the morning. About mid morning the sun even started shining! There wasn't much traffic on the roads we were on, but for a LONG time there wasn't any shoulder and much of the traffic that there was consisted of trucks, especially logging trucks. When we turned onto 1293 the surface of the road improved and there was a good shoulder. However, we then ran into a 6 mile construction zone which was still a better road than we had earlier in the day, and it will be a good road for those who do the ride next year. Better yet--there were no hills today, just minor ups and down for which I seldom even changed gears. I got in very early and stopped for lunch at Mama Jack's about a mile before the Super 8 as recommended on our route map and the food and service was VERY good.

It was a good relaxing, fun ride!

Cleveland to Kountze map

no hills just minor ups & downs

pictures of Judy on her birthday yesterday

Day 38 - April 12 2008

Kountze, TX to DeRidder, LA - 92 miles

info (back to beginning of section 5) weather

This morning about half the riders had sleeveless jerseys on expecting it to be warm; however, it was very chilly. We all dug out our jackets, and I dug out my midweight gloves. When the sun came out it warmed up enough to shed the extra layer, but it never got hot today.

After 17 riding days and 3 rest days through west Texas, the hill country, and east Texas we finally said goodbye to Texas today and entered our 5th state--Louisiana. Texas was very interesting and riding through it was enjoyable We were lucky and were able to experience several different parts of this huge state. I would like to come back some day and see more of Texas and have time to do some hiking.

The 92 miles today were not difficult in spite of the fact that we had a head wind whenever we rode north. On the long 21.5 mile stretch that we rode north my average mph dropped by .8 and it took me the rest of the day to get my average back up. Luckily once again there were only minor ups and downs and no real hills, I only had to shift down into my third ring a few times.

We had a great dinner. A former rider and one of her friends brought a big bowl of chicken, shrimp, and sausage gumbo and rice and Linda fixed pulled bar-b-cue and cole slaw along with a salad. She also had pecan pie for dessert.

Kountze to DeRidder map

almost no actual hills

a thistle

we said goodbye to Texas

the Sabine River separates Texas and Louisiana

this LA Scenic Byways sign was the only sign announcing that we were in LA

Day 39 - April 13, 2008

DeRidder to Opelousas, LA - 90 miles

info (back to beginning of section 5) weather

Today was even better than yesterday! Again it was chilly in the morning but warmed up by the time I reached mile 20, and the wind was again from the NW but this time we seldom went north so we had favorable winds. There was a 9 mile construction zone at one point, but we even lucked out here as we had a rough unpaved road for only 2-3 miles then the lane on our side was finished and finally both lanes were finished. Two riders broke spokes on their rear wheel today and one rider who already had a crack in her rim had the whole rim give way. Also the starter in the van wouldn't work and Michelle called Dave, the husband of one of the riders, who was in Navasota, and he had a matching trailer hitch and light system so he drove over to hook up the trailer and bring it to Opelousas. Then Linda and Michelle called a repairman who said he was in church and didn't usually work on Sundays but he would make an exception. He put a new starter in the van, and it is working fine. Dave came on over also, and he loaned the back wheel off of his bike to Ann who broke her spoke, and he is going to take the 3 broken wheels to a bike shop tomorrow to get them fixed.

The van and trailer didn't arrive until about 5 pm so we went to a Mexican Restaurant next door to the Holiday Inn as there wasn't enough time for the chef to cook dinner.

Our guide, Michelle, left today for a few days and Linda will take her place and Patty, another chef, came in to replace Linda. I'm sure everything will continue to work like it has, but I will miss Michelle.

DeRidder to Opelousas map

again, almost no actual hills

today I saw 2 llamas in a pasture beside the road

a rice field

Day 40 - April 14, 2008

Opelousas to Simmesport, LA - 65 miles

info (back to beginning of section 5) weather

It got down to 40 last night so it was cold this morning, and I didn't take my jacket off all day. You could feel that the sun was warm, but we were riding mostly north into a north wind and the wind was very cold. The predicted high was 63. The wind made today's 65 mile ride harder than the 90+ rides on the last two days.

We complained a lot a about the bad chip and seal in Texas, but so far the roads in Louisiana make the Texas roads look good. The roads are poorly maintained, and there are a LOT of cracks and holes and patches on top of patches. Also the shoulders when they exist have a lot of trash and weeds on them. Of course, there are some good roads, but they are in the minority.

We saw a couple of beautiful small bayous along the road today with big cypress trees in them and moss hanging on the cypresses.

Opelousas to Simmesport map

no hills just wind

2 views of the same bayou

a 2nd bayou and yes the water was really this beautiful shade of blue

another beautiful flower

we were on a 2nd Scenic Byway for a short time today

Day 41 - April 15, 2008

Simmsport to St. Francisville, LA - 53 miles

info (back to beginning of section 5) weather

It was cold again this morning as the temperature went down to about 35, but the wind was only about 5 mph which was a lot better. This time I wore my long leg tights, a long sleeve jersey, and my jacket and again I didn't take the jacket off all day. Also the first thing I did when I got in my room at the Francisville Inn was turn the heat on. It is suppose to be a little warmer tomorrow.

We were suppose to cross the Mississippi River today on a ferry from New Roads to St. Francisville, but due to high water the ferry is closed so the plans were changed. Fourteen riders volunteered to go by van direct from the motel in Simmesport to whichiever motel in St. Francisville they will be staying via the Huey P. Long Bridge in Baton Rouge.—10 of us, including me, are staying in town at the St. Francisville Inn and everyone else is staying at the Butler Greenwood Plantation B&B. The rest of us rode from the motel to the “Not Your Mama’s Café” in Morganza where we would be picked up for the 2nd shuttle to St. Francisville. Linda expected the shuttle to take 3 hours and allowed a half hour for unloading bags and unhooking the trailer and told us to be ready to be picked up at noon. However, she called when she got to St. Francisville and changed the pickup time to 1:30.

We followed the levee most of the way, and I walked to the top in two places to look at the flooded river. Also as we got close to Morganza we rode beside the Morganza Floodway and crossed the Morganza Spillway so we saw that the river was clearly out of its banks and at flood stage.

Both Butler Greenwood and the St. Francisville Inn are VERY nice and each has different advantages.

Simmesport to St. Francisville map

sign explaining White Hall Plantation

White Hall Plantation

my first view of the flooded river

2nd view

a graveyard at a small country church

this Mississippi River Trail sign brought back memories

view of the Morganza Floodway

view of the Morganza Spillway

an interesting bird

this is where we ate lunch in Morganza

view of the Mississippi from the Huey P Long bridge in Baton Rouge

Francisville Inn

my room in the inn

Butler Greenwood Plantation B&B

Day 42 - April 16, 2008

St. Francisville, LA - rest day

info (back to beginning of section 5) weather

The Inn served a delicious buffet breakfast, and you could come anytime between 6:30 and 9. After breakfast Hannah, Debbie, Sue, Phyllis, and myself rode our bike to the Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site. It was restored to its antebellum opulence by a private owner who later sold the plantation and the 2nd owner sold the plantation to the state in 2000. Rosedown was established in the 1830s by Daniel and Martha Barrow Turnbull, and remained in the hands of their descendants until the 1950s.

Mr. Turnbull built the house in 1834 for less than $20,000 using his own lumber and 450 slaves. Both of his sons died, one of his daughters married the heir of the Oakley Plantation and the other 4 daughters didn't marry, so he left the plantation to his 4 unmarried daughters so they would be well cared for. The last daughter, Nina, died in 1954. The tour of the house was very interesting, and then we walked through SOME of the 28 acres of gardens.

At this point Sue and Debbie returned to town, but Hannah, Phyllis, and I rode on to the Myrtles Plantation and had a buffet lunch there for $10. Then Hannah return to town and Phyllis and I toured the house. The tour was not nearly as interesting as the one at Rosedown, and I would not recommend it. Phyllis and I then separated. I rode on to Butler Greenwood to get something from the trailer to clean my bike. Before returning to the Inn I rode through the historic district of St. Francisville to see the Grace Episcopal Church built in 1858, the Mt. Carmel Catholic Church built in 1871, and the United Methodist Church built in 1899 to replace a flood damaged church in the old town of Bayou Sara. At the catholic church I got the bonus of being able to see the flooded road leading to the closed ferry.

I then returned to the Inn, cleaned my bike, washed my clothes--the owner let us use her two washers and dryers for free, and I got a take out dinner from a restaurant next door.