Two memories:

Clarkesville, TX - Resting in front of a convenience store, a local man introduced himself as a fellow road bicyclist. We spoke about various topics: How impressed he was with my long journey, a local bicycle event that happens annually during the summer, and how I still had not seen even one fellow bicyclist on the roads in Texas. He mentioned there are many bicyclists in cities like Dallas and added so-and-so bike shop was where "Lance" acquired his first bike and where he trained in the past. Lance ... no last name required in Texas or probably anywhere in America if the topic is bicycling.

De Kalb, TX - I was nearing the end of my ride and "trucking it" to New Boston, when I saw my the first bicyclist in Texas! An older man with white hair and a beard had the appearance of a homeless person. I was whizzing through an intersection when he asked, "Where ya headin'?" I did not have time to answer him well obviously, and I just pointed down the road and yelled "East!" :)

... Well, um, it was just an extra large sign to Texas Farm Road 1326. Now that's a road of prominence! :p)

Take a quick glance at all of the photos on this page. This might be the worst day's picture collection of the entire trip, although "Day 33" in southern Arkansas is a close competitor for the award.

My first experience with New Boston began with having difficulty finding the two or three motels in town. I directly called the motel I planned to stay at and asked a few locals, but nobody could give me simple directions. I am on Highway 82 right in the center of town. How can you not be able to help me? Arrrgh! Through the input of Jennifer my researcher, I knew a McDonald's was in close proximity to the motel. Peddling in a neighborhood and a growing anger and frustration, I saw a few people sitting on a front porch of a home. "Do you know where the McDonald's is?" I shouted. Well what do you know? There sure did, and they directed me right to it! :)

After settling in, I walked around town, where I was quite bored and talked a lot on my cell phone. Keenly aware I needed pictures for this very page, I ardently tried to capture pictures that showed the character of the area. Whether I succeeded will remain with you, the reader, and adjacent is the downtown area of New Boston (top) and Highway 8 with the sky, powerlines and some roadside signs (bottom).

I walked along the sidewalk of this church where the sidewalk was slippery with some kind of mossy layer. I slipped and in that sudden moment of falling, I thought for sure I would break a bone, pull a muscle or somehow hurt myself. Minus slightly hurting my wrist (to break the fall) and enduring the embarrassment of anyone who saw me, I was fine.

Texas ... I spent a lot of time bicycling across this state and yet realized there was so much more to see. I mainly traveled through very small towns and rural areas, missing out on Lubbock (due to my route change in New Mexico) and intentionally circumventing the Fort Worth/Dallas area.

Perhaps it was just a matter of needing a psychological change, but I was ready to get out of Texas. Easy there, Steve! The grass might not been greener on the other side of the border!