Day 34 - Navasota to Coldspring,TX

Last night's theme was "trains, planes and automobiles". We were close to a BNSF main line. Several trains came through, and the train engineers must be paid by how long they pull on the whistle. We are camped right by the fence of the local airport. During the night, several Piper Cub-size planes landed or took off. There are some high-end homes nearby, so owners may be flying in and out. Lastly, cars and trucks passed by all night on state route 90.
I forgot to mention Stephen and Pamalah, friends of Linda's living in Houston and formerly northwest Texas, stopped by to visit. They kindly dropped off strawberries and pralines.
Flynn and I were up early to start coffee and hot water for tea drinkers. There was another heavy dew last night, so we rolled up went rain flies to dry out this afternoon. A mist was on the low parts of the field by us, as the sun rose while Bob G got his coffee (see photo). The next photo shows Andre ready to roll, carrying his bag to the trailer, a typical start to the day.
Today we rode 66 miles and climbed 2700 feet of elevation. Ten miles took us to the town of Anderson, where we admired the courthouse (see photo). Bob Plant set his biking gloves down for a minute; a nearby dog picked up one, probably attracted by its salt from the sweat (see photo of retrieved glove). Note the order of business posted by the courthouse, with the pledge to Texas. I don't recall living in any other state with a pledge.
Eleven miles further got us to the one and only convenience store in Richards. Here we spoke with triathletes on a training ride. Lots of high-end spandex outfits and bikes. I told Flynn it was an opportunity for him to upgrade his ride. Also long bathroom lines (see photos).
We rode on 23 miles to New Waverly, where we had a lunch break at a Valero gas station and convenience store. See photo of (left to right) Bob Pedersen, Carol, Bob Plant, Jerry and Flynn.
Our route to New Waverly took us through the Sam Houston National Forest. Tall pines and oaks, pine needles, gentle hills - as Carol said, not what you expect in Texas (see photo). We also rode a long bridge over Lake Conroe in the Cagle Recreation Area (see photo).
Today we saw our first bayou sign, and a southern cooking restaurant (see photos). Also restaurants advertising alligator. In New Mexico and west Texas, most churches were Catholic. Now half are Baptist, and most of the rest are small evangelicals. We are approaching or are in the South!
Bruce