It was the last day of the month and Leap Day (February 29) at that. I started at the Pacific Ocean on February 1, and so the date also served as the number of days I was on the road. This system would all change tomorrow though, with the not-so-easy formula of me needing to add 29 to whatever March date it was. The highway greatly quieted down east of Sherman on Highway 82. Notice was how cloudy it was! Colorado's climate is fairly dry, meaning clouds, especially dark clouds, signify trouble is coming soon with lightning strikes, hail or torrential rain. Precipitation and thunder usually arrive hard and fast, and then they disperse often as quickly as they came in, with sun and blue skies coming back out. Not here. Clouds and a full sky of gray is ordinary in the southeastern quadrant of the country, and it took time to become used to it. A rainy front was indeed coming in, but the forecast indicated it would not be until late Sunday (tomorrow) or Monday when actual precipitation would happen.

Bonham, Texas

About 25 miles of riding brought me to Bonham, Texas, the county seat for Fannin County and home of former U.S. Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn (1882-1961). I wondered if Speaker Rayburn ever ate at the McDonald's or pumped gas at the station I was standing at as I snapped the adjacent photo. ;) I had my third and final fall from the bike, although it was more of a partial fall. A few miles back, I rested off the highway and inadvertently walked on really muddy ground that packed the bottom of my shoes with mud. I was too lazy to carefully scrape all the mud off, which made it a little difficult to unplug my shoes from the peddle. In town, I slowed down, unplugged my right foot, stopped and placed my right foot on the ground. No big deal ... but I couldn't get my left shoe off the peddle! I wiggled my left shoe and somehow I transferred weight to the left side. Crash! I was close to the McDonald's for that incident. :p) (FYI - I had two clean falls as I stopped at traffic lights in the San Diego area, as I acquainted myself with new cycling shoes.)

Northeast Texas - Great Scenery No, I am not being sarcastic by putting "great scenery" above. I am not making fun of Texas. I really love the stereotypical home in the country that has all sorts of junk and old trucks out front with some kind of trailer or beat-up manufactured home. These kinds of places have character! Someday, mark my words, I will have my own homestead of land with all of my old rusted out cars and other piece of garbage types of junk laying out there for all to see. I also love visiting junkyards!

Above: A fuzzy shot of cattle in a pasture with powerlines going across.	What a day. I was not really in the mood to ride and was feeling lazy. In Bonham, I complained about my sluggish attitude on my cell phone with Mark in Minnesota, who was driving with his wife southwest to Arizona for a vacation*. This was one of those days where I "sucked it up" and pressed on, and in retrospect, even I am impressed with my determination this day. * - For days, I kept reminding Mark to think of me when he would eventually cross my bicycling route as he traveled north to south. With Alamogordo, NM in his route, he would likely intersect my past route of Highway 380 in New Mexico, and he did think of me as he drove through Carrizozo, NM! :)
	Approaching Paris, this airplane on the side of the highway was very conspicuous! There was no signage or explanation anywhere about it.
	Square dancing, anyone? Man, what fun that would have been an imagine the pictures if I could have square danced during my bike ride across America. Maybe next time! :)
Paris, Texas Above: Don't let the entrance sign to Paris, Texas fool you. This picture was taken outside the beltway where it appears unpopulated, but a small city atmosphere with things to do is the impression I had of this town.	Even before speaking with the friendly woman at the chamber of commerce, Paris looked like an interesting town worthy of some exploration. The downtown area I rode through (where two females in a car made "cat calls") appeared very inviting. A replica of the Eiffel Tower with Texas adornments including a cowboy hat at the top was on the outside of town. Also, Paris is the place Dave (who met and rode with me in New Mexico) has visited doing contract photography work for a team in search of Bigfoot! Regretfully, this was a good example of one of those times where not having a car or local connections hampered my enjoyment of the area. I was way too tired and unwilling to bike anymore for the remainder of the afternoon and evening, for I always needed to deliberate recuperation.
	Chinese Restaurant Bliss I prayed this simple prayer, and I will admit, I do not expect anyone to be impressed with it. Please show me where to stay tonight* ... and you know, I realize this might sound humorous but a good sign would be to see a Chinese buffet near the motel. ;) Amazingly, and do I mean amazingly, after various twists and turns on confusing one way roads, I found the motel I was looking for, the Kings Inn, and I was joyfully shocked to see a Chinese buffet restaurant directly next to the motel. As if that was not enough, another one was practically across the street and one block over. I am not exaggerating here and look at the adjacent photo for proof, but from my motel room, I was only about 30 yards walking distance to the Chinese restaurant! :) Again, I do not expect to pursuade anyone to believe this, but I am convinced this was a tangible way that God showed that he was passionately with me on this trip. It was well-needed spiritual encouragement after yesterday's rough day. Oh and the highly recommend the Golden Star Chinese Buffet in Paris ... The food was fantastic!