Day 24, Cleveland, Tx, 61 miles, 1,077 miles total

My luck ran out today in the "dog chase" category.  I forgot to mention that I got chased two more times in Louisiana, after that first one in Florida.  But like the first one, they didn't have the savage drive and determination needed for a truly successful pursuit of the prey.

Today I was just riding along minding my own business on one of those shoulderless backroads, with no other traffic in sight.  About a hundred yards ahead was a side street coming in from the right.   Suddenly a pack of NINE dogs comes darting onto the road I'm on from the side street.

The pack leader looks right, then left, and spots his target.  He banks left, and the squadron falls into formation behind him.  He guides the squadron past the bogey on his left, then banks hard left to come in on the bogey's 6:00.  The pack leader calls out the battle cry, opens the throttles and the chase is on!

But, wait.  What's this?  The bogey isn't even trying to get away!   He's just coasting and whimpering or something.  This is no fun.  Let's go over to Fifi's house and see if she can sneak out.

I really thought I was done for this time.  But when I stopped pedaling and talked nicely to them, like the others, they lost interest.  I wish I would have known that trick when I was a kid.

Longhorn country

This is pretty much what all the scenery looked like today.

The Trinity River

She kissed me and she hugged me
And she called me her dandy
The Trinity's muddy but the Brazos quick sandy
She kissed me and she hugged me
And she called me her own
But down by the Brazos she left me alone

These bike tours are sort of like life.  There are good days, bad days, days when you wonder why you ever thought this was a good idea, and days when you're on top of the world.  

Last night and this morning were bad.  I was missing Z, and staying in a somewhat seedy motel.  I try not to spend too much money on these motels, and usually, although they are somewhat basic, they're clean, functional and not scary.  

But yesterday's place was under renovation and had quite a few seedy looking permanent residents.  And when I arrived, the owner wasn't there and he's the only person authorized to check people in who are paying with a credit card, for some reason.  So I had to wait an hour for him to show up.  And when he finally got there he went on and on about how customers trash the rooms and smoke in non-smoking rooms, etc. etc., blah, blah blah ad infinitum.  Unfortunately, there weren’t any reasonable alternatives.  The room turned out to be fine, but overpriced.  I was glad to get out of there this morning.

Today's place, the Best Western in Cleveland, is a dramatic improvement.  The front desk clerks were friendly and efficient.  And the motel itself is not only much better than that other place, but cheaper to boot.  So I'm a happy non-camper tonight.  :-)

Speaking of camping, I fully expect to do more of that but not until it cools down and gets less humid, not to mention waiting for the threat of rain and lightning every afternoon to diminish.

I saved another turtle from certain death today.  He was a little guy, only about 3 inches long. I don't know why they like to lay on the asphalt.  Maybe he was warming himself, like a lizard or a snake.  I put him back in the grass.  Hopefully he stayed there.

NEXT---)