Day #14 - 3/26/2011 - Deridder, LA to Silsbee, TX - 75 miles

The 75 miles from Deridder, LA to Silsbee, TX took us this way.


I wish there was something special I could say about Deridder, or the remainder of the ride out of Louisiana.  I'd be lying.  What was exciting, was reaching another state border: Texas.

We spent an inordinate amount of time at the border.  After all, this was Texas.  TEXAS.  TEXAS!  

State crossings were exciting.

But, this wasn't any state, this was Texas!, the second most populous and the second most extensive of the 50 United States, and the most extensive state of the 48 contiguous United States.

After all, this was Texas...as some point, we'd be halfway across the country!

The term "six flags over Texas" came from the six national flags that have flown over the territory: Spain, France, Mexico, the independent Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America and, finally, the U.S. flag.  And now, our bicycle flags graced the Great State of Texas.

The Texas skies were cloudy and threatening, but we stayed dry.

In 2010, Texas had a gross state product (like GDP, but for a state) of $1.2 trillion, the second highest in the U.S.  If Texas were a country, it would have about the 12th largest economy on the planet. 

Demonstrating an attitude worthy of the state.

 Moving on a few yards, Lani's mission was clear:

Messing with Texas

 Texas never looked so good.

Okay, Lani...you can get down now.

 As we frolicked near the Texas signs, we were passed by a car with a kayak cargo shell on top and two bicycles.  The car stopped about a half-mile ahead of us.  As we passed, a woman shouted "hi" and took our picture.  We didn't know at the time, but we would cross paths again.

We passed miles of forest, forest that was obviously being logged.  We stopped for a PB&J break near this logging plant in Bon Wier, named so because of the last name of two key men who were associated with the Kirby Lumber Company: B. F. Bonner was the sawmill manager, and R. W. Wier was the town surgeon.  The town was found in 1905 as part of a railroad stop

Aside from this plant and the forests, there wasn't much to Bon Wier.

About 20 miles past Bon Wier, we turned South on Highway 96 and entered Kirbyville, population 2085.  The town was first established in 1895 when the Gulf, Beaumont and Kansas City railroad reached the site.

We took a break and checked out Ann's Country Shoppe in Kirbyville.

Heading South on the highway, we were confronted with 25mph headwinds that sucked the strength and spirit out of us.   There reached a minute where I was dragging, moving maybe 8mph-barely half my usual cruising speed, and ready to get off my bike and walk.  I was dying while biking.  Then, over my left shoulder, I heard a chipper "Hi!"  It was Joanne on her 1966 Dream Tour   in honor of a family trip she took when she was 10 years old.

Joanne and Lani riding together on the highway past

Having Joanne join us provided a 2nd and 3rd wind.  We rode together and chatted for several miles.  Joanne was on a "supported tour" with her husband, David, carrying the necessary gear, food, spare bike, etc. in their car.  Lani and I were both jealous of the 40-50 pounds of stuff that Joanne was not carrying.  It was Joanne and David that had waved to us shortly after our Texas border crossing.

We would cross paths with Joanne again the following day.

  As with other parts of the South, some people still fly the Rebel flag.  Proudly, I imagine.

This was as close as I could safely get as there were three psycho-rabid dogs on the other side of the fence yapping up a storm.

 After stopping for a break, we separated from Joanne and continued on.  The headwinds remained relentless, holding us back...like The Man.

I have no idea why she stopped here; just a few feet behind Lani were some rotting fish someone had dumped on the shoulder.  

 The wildflowers along the road were a pleasant distraction.

The wildflowers were usually grouped by variety, but were often mixed together, like a bouquet.

This was one of those days when arriving at your destination was accompanied by a feeling of elation.  Even if it was Silsbee, population 6393 and named after Nathaniel Silsbee, an investor from Boston, Massachusetts who helped provide funds for the Gulf, Beaumont, and Kansas City Railway who pulled in here in 1894.  Just like Kirbyville.  In any case...yes...Silsbee.


Pulling off the highway in Silsbee, the first thing we passed was an RV park.  We were tired and toyed with the idea of pitching a tent.  The fee was a modest $28 and included a hot shower, a bathroom (!) and free wi-fi.  We were pretty sure we'd find Joanne and Dave there, too.  But, after such a draining day, we opted to continue to the sole motel in town, the Pinewood Inn & Suites.

If by some unfortunate chance you find yourself looking for a place to stay in Silsbee, you can either:

1. Just Walk Away;
2. Continue on to the next town;

Sing along to Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead, except it's not Denver...it's Silsbee.

• I called up my daughter Lani on her cell,
  I said, Lani, I found a motel in hell.
  'Cause I got some weird ideas in my head
  About things to do in Silsbee when you're dead
  
  After riding our bikes the whole long day,
  We were desperate to find a place to stay,
  The Pinewood Suite sounded neat but shoulda biked on by
  But contemplated things to do in Silsbee when you die
  
  You'll need more than your iPhone at least
  Another city is where you'll want to stay
  At Pinewood Suite they never change the sheets
  And you'll roll around Silsbee all day
  
• Copyright, credits, honors, props, kudos and honors to Warren Zevon, the original Mr. Bad Example.

I guess it was the sticky spot on the carpet, a spot that I managed to hit each time I walked by the bed, that got under my skin.  Or, I should say, on my foot.   I walked over to the office and asked the manager - a nice guy who wasn't firing on all cylinders - if there was a room with a non-gooey floor that we could move in to.  He came over to the room with his cleaning equipment and successfully smeared the goo around.


Marvelous.   I figured we could sleep anywhere for a night.