We leave the DeRidder sign, 4 bikers in a row with Mary Ruth leading the way. When we get to town, the rd is closed off. Our police escort blares out on the loud speaker-MOVE TO THE LEFT LADIES! We now have police in front & back to take us to our final destination-MARY RUTH’S DADDY’S HOUSE. What excitement-people clapping & on the front porch are THE GUESTS OF HONOR & the reason for our trip-MARY RUTH’S DADDY (soon to be 96) & his OLDER brother ERNEST (97). We even have a newspaper reporter to document Mary Ruth’s dream of biking to DeRidder after all the trips in a car she’s made. We all hug & Mary Ruth summons us for one last prayer-we are so grateful & blessed to have made it here safely. 4 women-4 bikes on the road & in ONE motel room for 6 days (312.5 m. LIFE IS WONDERFUL.

DADDY (96) & ERNEST (97)
MARY RUTH, KAREN , ME, KORY

We clean up & are treated to a wonderful lunch. Allen’s wife Cathy was so gracious & nice-I even got 4 glasses of sweet tea. Mary Ruth’s sister Patrice came over too. We leave at 2:30 because Mary Ruth has to take her Daddy to McDonalds at 3:00 for coffee where he meets his friends 6 days a week. Armand has loaded Karen’s & Kory’s bikes-mine is coming home w/MRuth. We reminisce as we see familiar things & relive our adventure backwards. Kory finally asks Armand if we can stop to use the restroom-been on the rd for 4 hrs. Drop Kory & Karen off & head home at 8:30. Eat at Subway-sure is faster in a car. THANK YOU ARMAND FOR DRIVING & NOT MAKING US BIKE BACK.

JASPER, TX to DeRIDDER, La (10/23 FRI) 52 MILES 7:30 TO 1:30

Last night left room at 9:00-others in bed again. Talked to Armand-good visit w/family-went biking 2x w/Whitney-going to leave early & play golf in DeRidder before we get in. Watch Forensic Files (seen them before) in lobby until 12.

WAKE TO MARY RUTH YELLING, “WE’VE OVERSELPT!!!” She’s already dressed & packing. Kory tells her “IT’S ONLY 5:15!” She is so excited & didn’t have her glasses on when she looked at clock. I’m in a coma & need sleep. Stay in bed-others go to bkft a little earlier. Very friendly worker takes our picture-have group prayer. Lost my light & go back to room-still dark & 60% chance of rain. Good shoulder most of the way, warm, flat-starts to drizzle-stop for turkey picture-Karen bikes off.

Stop again-put on rain jacket-too hot-stop & take it off. Finally catch up to Karen & pass her. Down on aero bars-flat-wait for Karen. Man in truck pulls over-asks if I need help. Yesterday a lady turned around & asked me if I needed help too. Karen arrives & takes my picture w/Andy. He works at a Baptist Camp-has done a MS 150 bike ride-has diabetes-lost 50 lbs-another really nice person.

My new friend Andy

Kory & MRuth waiting ahead-went to Subway for bathroom break-they leave & we stay. Starts to rain-we leave-now I just need to bike. Oh, Oh-dog in my lane-yell-Go home! Starts barking & chases me-that is a very fast dog-I’m going 15 mph. Finally see gas station-Kory & MRuth waiting-where’s Karen W? Back there someplace. Kory goes to find her-makes sure she gets by dog. I’m drinking ch mk-they bike by-NO stopping. Catch up-No breaks today, Karen? Determined to get ride over. I stop & take picture of TX sign & then we take pictures at La border.

took same TX picture-on same bike for cross country in 2002!

Karen W (w/1 shoe off) & Kory at La border-almost there!

We’re all together now-I stop to get camera out-look behind me-cop car w/flashing lights on our shoulder. Mary Ruth-a cop is following us. Her brother Allen has told everyone WE’RE COMING!!! We get police escort to WELCOME TO DeRIDDER SIGN. Armand is there (already played 18 holes of golf) & several other people. Get many pictures taken.

Me, Karen W, Mary Ruth, Kory & our police escort, John

Last night-much better than sitting on toilet trying to get chip out of nonexistent opening. Left room at 9-went out to hot tub to soak feet & wait for Armand’s call. 1 other person out here. After 15 min he comes over & hands me a towel & asks if everything is alright.  Talk for 40 mins. RAY  is a 23 yr old Hispanic from McAllen. Worked at Burger King for 8 yrs & now has job w/railroad  working from 5-7. Hard work but enjoys it. Get to speak a little Spanish. What an outstanding young person who would even take the time to come over and talk to someone my age. On this trip we’ve had 2 middle age men (1 white & 1 black) come over & talk about past biking experiences. It’s what make biking adventures so special.

LIVINGSTON to JASPER, TX (THURS  10/22) 60 miles 11mph 7:30-3:30

Up at 7 when the 3 walk into room. Packed & out the door at 7:30 after prayer & picture in lobby-DAY 5! Worried about rain 60% chance. MRuth & Kory a team-2 Karens a team.  Good shoulders most of way, lots of logging trucks pass, head wind again, pass 2 lakes, 2m rd over lake-no shoulder, rolling hills, nice temp all day. 1st stop at Indian store-Kory ready to go-can’t go-tire flat. Says I let air out so I can drink my ch milk. Karen & I get head start-Kory is good. Catch up fast. I love today-speed up down a hill-ftiSind places for lots of breaks-Karen does great. Stop in Woodville at Jack in Box-3 outside-1 inside eating grand burrito, hash browns & tea. Town of 2,400 has 15 churches. Almost to Jasper-MRuth & Kory going other way-going to do extra 10 miles so Mary Ruth can bike her age-70. So glad not to be in their group. Sit in front of Holiday Inn & wait for them. Good ride-clean up & go out to eat. Going to get early start for last 50 m into DeRidder, La. Armand is meeting us.

1st flat-Kory thinks I let air out of her tire to slow her down!

My new traveling companion-BIKER BEE (cost $1 at flea market store) with my energy food-CH MILK & COOKIES) Kory is changing flat.

interesting graphics on wall near Jack in the Box in Woodville-bike made the picture

Me, Mary Ruth, Karen, Kory at flea market

HUNTSVILLE to LIVINGSTON, TX (WED 10/21) 44.5 miles  12mph  8:00-2:00

Nights are not fun-all in bed by 9-took 2 benedryl-no help. Upset because of trouble posting pictures. Worse-can’t get chip out of computer for my camera. Get up -go in bathroom-read newspaper-spend hr trying to pry chip out-break pick. Karen knocks on door to use bathroom-I’m sitting on toilet w/notebook-it’s now almost midnight. Still can’t sleep-think about GANDHI. 3 are up at 6-get I up at 7 & pack. Kory takes look at notebook-what’s this? I was  trying to open WRONG opening-did I feel stupid after spending 4 hrs on the problem. Take picture in front of flowers &  pray-start day 4. Leave LaQuinta-use directions out of town that MRuth got from a trucker. Good shoulder-see good downhill. Took off-feel like a biker for 1st time on trip-25 m before stopping at small gas station & wait. Kory takes off.  Ride changes because shoulder changes to rough! Kory & I stop at flea market shop to wait. Kory comes back-have to see bathroom-has everything including Christmas tree & kitchen sink. Other 2 are here-LILLY (78) is a gem-takes our picture-high point of the day. Kory & I head down the rd-get call from MRuth-Karen can’t clip in -still at store-45 min later. Try to bike down hill-almost falls. A man stops-uses all his strength & gets her shoe in clip. Kory & I bike to very nice LaQuinta-she goes back to lead them in-I sit in tub until they arrive. Go to Subway & back to sit in hot tub. I’m now in front of tv-others are gone (7:30 pm) Tomorrow will be longest day-need sleep-will start early.

One of a kind toilet-
Can’t put paper in toilet

 Bryan to Huntsville (Tues  10/20) 51 m 12 mph  8 00 to 1:30

3 up at 6:00-1 @ 6:30-packs & goes to bkft-joins group. Waits for them to pack their 1 bag. Mary Ruth says morning prayer-we are truly blessed.

Kory, Karen, me, Mary Ruth Day 3

Group picture  in lobby w /hotel manager. Good rd to start. 25 m stop for ch milk & donuts. Kory leaves us again-not sure she likes breaks. Very good leader-drank 4 bottles of water-I never finish 1. Now narrow rd w/bumper strips again. Have some down hills. Stop for animal picture-cross rd-horse comes to fence to be petted & have picture taken. Now way behind. Mary Ruth’s next door neighbor sees her biking down rd. & lost her water bottle. Karen W was in lead for 1st time & terrified-not sure where to go. Just like me!  Good day-cool but not cold to start. At LaQuinta tonight-2 full size beds-Karen & I each have our little space. Good meal at Bandera. No tv tonight-all in room being very social.

Chocolate milk & donuts-my favorite energy food

My new friend-can’t believe he came to fence☺

Very fancy room-laundry room across hall-keys  don’t work-maintanance workers gone-managers key doesn’t work.  Wet clothes from hot tub-some try hair dryer-Kory tries her key-opens 1st time. Cheers! Afraid to close door-Karen W volunteers to take her cross stich in & guard clothes. Kory & Mary Ruth are talking on phones. I call Armand-have room to myself. Turn on tv-have choice of lady wanting more plastic surgery-going to QQQ size boobs-already has enough fluid in each boob to =6 pack of beer & has 3 $10,000 butt additions or watching GANDHI. Gandhi wins-3 others come in & go to bed. I continue to watch until 11:30-not over-feel guilty & turn off tv-still can’t sleep. 3 will be rested & 1 won’t .

Karen W-cross stitch & laundry

Rockdale to Bryan, TX  (Mon 10/19) 53 miles  12.5 mph  8:30 to 1:30

Not on same schedule-all in bed by 9:00 pm & at bkft @ 6:00 am! Woke at 7:00, packed-ate Tx shaped waffle. I’m ready to leave-they are still packing. 52 & cool, 2 shirts & long pants.  Stop at Hearn @ McD for bathroom-they’re in sun, Kory is biking around (needs to keep moving). I sit in shade eating nuts & taking pictures of butterfly. Rd & shoulder are terrible. Kory, M.R. ahead, I follow Karen at slower pace-suites me fine. I want to stop-Karen shows no signs of slowing. Traffic, trucks, bumper strip, narrow, gravel strip to bike on. Finally get to Bryan & fancy Best Western. Sit in hot tub, eat at IHOP-have 4 glasses of sweet tea-they drink water. Going to have more rest stops tomorrow.

Kory, Me, Karen, Mary Ruth-day 2

Tx waffle, Tx jersey

Kory, Karen W, Mary Ruth