Late start today. Didn’t hit the road until after 10:00. It’s OK though, the next two days are going to be fairly lazy. I’ll have enough stops made to reach finished status on the tour. We left out of Hallettsville and headed towards Navasota, just about 100 miles away.
Views for today were all very green. We headed up Highway 77, two lanes the whole way save some passing lanes. The majority of my scenery was wide open pastures with an occasional woodsy area. We hit our first town and slowed to the usual 30mph, made our way through and continued towards La Grange. The very town from the ZZ Top song, which hit my radio just few hours later.
After La Grange we switched highways. A lot of antique and yard stuff shops on this first leg. We eventually made it to Navasota right at noon. The first stop for today is the Classic Rock Coffee Company. A little shop in the middle of town that sells coffee (duh), protein drinks and a variety of sandwiches and such. The decor was all music based. Posters of classic rock artists and guitars, didn’t notice anything that was autographed or otherwise special. They also have a shop in the back, mostly music related. They sell CD’s, vintage vinyl records and even guitars. If I had room to store them, I’d have dug through the records selection. Overall a really neat little place, but they don’t sell beer. I had my first Dr. Pepper in over a week along with a sandwich, sat in the window and watched the town.
With a little food in my belly we headed on to the next stop, Huntsville. Much of the same view on this leg. But we did hit some rain. The sky was blue but filled with individual clouds, most were bright white but some were grey, none terribly dark. This rain dropped in quickly. I was pretty heavy with large drops by the feel of it. It ended just as fast as it started and I didn’t even get wet.
Huntsville was only about 40 miles from our first stop so we got there in no time. The stop was the memorial monument at the Texas Prison Museum. Huntsville is home to the Texas State Penitentiary which is the oldest Texas state prison and houses Texas’ execution chamber, the most active in the United States. Those sentenced to die in Texas spend their final days here. On average that time is 16+ years.
From Huntsville we head towards the Davy Crockett National Forest. The roads here are mostly lined with trees and is only two lanes. I love riding through forests and, aside from the twistys in the hill country, East Texas is one of my favorite places to ride. Our next stop is the ranger station which is found easily. Grabbed a photo of the sign and carried on towards Nacogdoches.
Our run into Nacogdoches was a fairly short one, just over 30 miles. The road is still two lanes but it opens back up to more pastures. I’m tracking more rain clouds now and get hit with another large drop shower. I’m sure I’ve touched on it before but I’ll say it again. Small sprinkles tend to sting when you’re riding, like thousands of needles hitting your face. Large drops, and I mean the big ones, explode on your face. It’s almost like hitting a june bug at 80 miles an hour, the splatter is better though.
This rain lasted a little bit longer but I still didn’t get very wet. We eventually made it into Nacogdoches and our next stop, the old railroad depot. After getting the photo I need, I decide to take a short break. I grab a water from the gas station next door and check the radar. There’s rain in my path but it’s all small, and all green. Nothing major so I decided to keep the rain suit packed up.
Off we went to New London. We made our way north on more Texas highways and eventually hit Henderson. The whole day so far has been highway speeds until the next town, then back down to 30mph. Henderson is where I saw something I haven’t seen before. Another Harley rider wearing a t-shirt and shorts….and Crocs. A t-shirt and shorts is something I see all the time and I’ve seen flip flops before (equally stupid) but never Crocs. He was listening to some good music. Don’t know what is was, and it was extremely loud, but I liked it.
We finally made it in to New London. After a small snafu with the GPS we find our next photo spot, the New London School Explosion Monument. In 1937 a massive explosion occurred at the junior-senior high school here. Over 300 people died, mostly students. The cause was blamed on a natural gas leak under the school. This led the Texas legislature to pass a law that requires that natural gas have an odor added to it as it is naturally odorless. I can’t imagine what this community went through when this happened.
New London would end up being our final tour stop for the day but we headed out towards Texarkana. We’re headed to the post office there but I want to get into town and find a place to stay for the night, then check my location. The address I have is for Arkansas, this is a Texas tour so that doesn’t sound right. I decided to just get into town and then hit the stop in the morning. Texarkana straddles the border, and there’s certainly more than one post office here. The one I’m looking for is special of course, otherwise it wouldn’t be on the tour. After a small amount of research (which I’ve likely already done) I find that my post office actually sits on the Texas/Arkansas border, my address is correct. We’ll hit the stop on our way out tomorrow.
The ride into Texarkana was all interstate and four lane highway, mostly lined with forests. Fast moving for the most part. Had a couple of large clouds pop up that concerned me. These were unloading some soaking amounts of rain but I managed to avoid them. No rain suit all day, yeah!
Tonight has been interesting. I jumped over to Hooters for dinner, not really within the rules but I can’t find anything else within a reasonable distance that’s enticing me. I just want some food, a cold beer and a little bit of football, plus it always brings back memories from my time working in the kitchen.
After dinner I headed across the road to pick up a twelve pack and head back to camp. It was fairly busy in this gas station so I waited in line and eventually made my way to the clerk. I threw my twelve pack on the counter and was told “I’m sorry, it’s Sunday. I can’t sell you that.” Huh? So what if it’s Sunday. Turns out I’m in Arkansas, which doesn’t allow any alcohol sales on Sunday. The clerk, very politely, tells me I simply need to hit the gas station across the street, in Texas.
The road I’m on is very appropriately named State Line Avenue. It sits on the state border. One side is Arkansas, the other Texas. It was a little bizarre but understandable. Had a good chuckle about it.
When I got back to camp I started my post for tonight. Not two paragraphs in I heard to shots ring out. Sounded like firecrackers so I know they’re not terribly close, but still, I know a gunshot when I hear it. Just a short while later I get a visit from the local police, I’m the only one outside right now. Just a couple of quick questions about what or if I’d heard anything, then off he went to do his thing.
Tomorrow, after hitting the stop here in town, we’ll head to Paris. Paris, Texas. We’ll hit a few stops there, check the time, maybe hit another, then head for home. I want to be back in time for the kids to get off the bus from school. I know that both of them will be excited to see me. My teenager will act as if I’ve just come in from a normal work day but I can’t wait to see him too.
So for now, goodnight. I’ll have one final post for you all tomorrow.
The Motorcycle Diaries of an Easy Rider 