Day 24 - Saturday April 11: College Station, TX to Dolen, TX

Miles Today: 93 Total Miles: 1802 Terrain: Flat & Fast

Temp: Cool and Overcast Time: 7 hrs 15 min

On arrival downstairs for breakfast, drawn by the wonderful aroma of french toast and baking banana bread, we found the room festooned with streamers to celebrate Penny's birthday! Donna had once again done the unexpected! We were both overwhelmed by the warmth and sincerity of this Young Life stronghold, and particularly this family.

Thank you, Donna

From a cyclist's point of view the weather was perfect: cool, overcast, gentle tailwind, smooth roads, little traffic, and no hills! The scenery softened into lush green meadows, and then tall pines as we rode the width of Sam Houston National Forest, which is the venue for the Texas Ultra 50 MileTrail Run. (Tom and Steve, do you remember our jaunts here back in the good old days?) Then it was lakes and more meadows covered in carpets of blue dwarf lupins.

The little town of Grimes boasts the most beautiful courthouse. It also was a confederate stronghold and contains a memorial garden dedicated to about 75% of the town's young men who died in various battles in the Civil War.

Have we mentioned the vultures? For days they have been circling above us, which Don sees as shadows on the road as he pedals. Penny suspects that they won't find much meat on him anyway.

We were somewhat concerned about the shortage of campsites and motels along most of the route later in the day. With storms forecast for later that evening, Penny happened upon a small church in the town of Dolen. It was surrounded by a nice grass lawn and better still their congregation were enjoying an outdoor potluck dinner. By the time Don arrived, Penny had secured an invitation to join in the dinner, and to set up camp for the night in the youth room. What a welcome they gave us! Thank you Pastors Darrel and Bertha McAdams and your wonderful church family!

Shooting Hoops After Church Dinner

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and we will be joining this church family for morning worship, which is to include a special presentation by the teenage church members.

Yours on the Road,

Don and Penny