The Bolivar Peninsula: Tribute to Old Friends

I had had this ride in mind for a good while. I have forgotten when the last time was that I had been to Galveston and to the Bolivar peninsula. All I know is that it was before hurricane Ike struck the Texas gulf coast. It was before those images of waves crashing against the Galveston seawall were broadcast on TV, rising like mythical water giants reaching for the sky. It was before the day I rode in my car to work and listened to a woman on the radio, as she called in from Bolivar peninsula, saying that she could no longer leave her home because Rollover pass was under water, but that she trusted God to keep her safe on the second floor of the home. It was after so many hours were spent in front of the television, watching the aftermath of Ike unfold before our eyes and wondering, what it was that we were not seeing. [more ...]

Bucefalo: A New Begining

I have been away from serious riding for a few months. But now I am back. To Him be all the praise. He has seen me through another season. Click on the Title so read the story.

The Mississippi Journey : Days 1-3

Finally, after weeks of editing photos and getting my notes from my journal, the first 3 days of this journey are now on my website.

RedBull

RedBull, originally uploaded by JadeRider.

One of the many great pieces shown at the Houston Galleria as past of Art of the Can Expo

Day 1: The Memphis Ride

Day 1
Its about five pm and I am in Natchitoches eating meat pie and dirty
rice at Papa's Bar & Grill. This is almost the end of a 260 mile ride
and while Fleetwood Mac blares in the baxk I reflect on a day that
started at 7 am. After breakfast I loaded up Hidalgo and waited for
Joe and Adelina to come by the house to see me off, along with Sandra.
I left just before nine and traveled east first and then North. Part
of the trip took me near Vidor and Jasper, and as I avoided those spot
I reflected on the long legacy of the sins of a few.
Two of the highlights of the day have to be the 40 mile ride through
the forests that lead to Hemphill, and the rookerie on the Louisiana
side of the Sabine river. What a testament to God's creative hands.
I am blessed today whith Him riding along, providing unforeseen
surprises and feeling His love in my life.

+ The Road Ahead

As I prepare to ride off tomorrow, I am filled with excitement and a bit of anxiety. Yep, with as much preparation and thought, I still feel that more can be done. Yet, we can never prepare for it all and life is indeed enriched by the experiences that we did not anticipate. Like an afternoon storm that blows over tents and flags for a brief moment, just before a birthday party at the beach on a 4th of July. Or like an old biology professor of mine used to say. You learn the most form the experiments that do not yield the results you expected. So, on the day before departure, I am taking a moment to share with you how thankful I am to God for bringing me this far. For providing me with the moment, the materials goods, and the flame that keeps driving me to travel this road.

The routes have been laid down. They will take me from Houston to Memphis and back in 12 days. Seems quite a bit of time for an estimated 1,400 miles, but truth be said, besides allowing myself to rest, I also want to experience the life in some of these places I will stop by. True to my ecology roots, I have laid down the projected temperatures as a function of distance traveled, and it seems like things will remain balmy along the way.



Day 1
July 7
Houston to Natchitoches, Louisiana
259 mi – about 5 hours 18 mins
This day will see my first state crossing
I will visit the city and surrounding areas, and will hunt for venison meat pie or fried alligator.

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Day Two, July 8
Natchitoches, Louisiana to Lake Village, Arkansas
241 mi – about 5 hours 56 mins

I will spend a day here, July 9th, and use some of the time to explore Arkansas, but also to rest, read, and seek His word.

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Day 4, July 10
Lake Village, Arkansas to Memphis, Tennessee
184 Miles

The day will start with the crossing of the Mississippi river at Greenville, MS, and then I will ride north, following the river in to Memphis.

This day, and the following one will be spent with family, and in pursuit of the famous Memphis BBQ, and the music, including Graceland, of course.

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Day 6, July 12
Memphis, Tennessee to French Camp, Mississippi
via Corinth and Tupelo
227 mi – about 4 hours 29 mins

This day marks the beginning of the return trip. I will travels East first, to Corinth, where I will then start travelling south on the Natchez Trace, until I reach French Camp, where I will spend the night. This stop was inspired by my friend Joe, who recently completed a bicycle trip from Houston to Tennessee.

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Day 7, July 13
French Camp, Mississippi, to Monroe, Louisiana
221 mi – about 4 hours 52 mins

This day I return to Louisiana, and will arrive at the house of Dot, Cindy's mother, and a very faithful friend to SO. SO and I will meet there, along with Cindy and Dot, and spend this day, and the following one in the area. Chilling and hanging with fellow believers.

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Day 10, July 15
Monroe, Lousiana, to Nacogdoches, TX
191 mi – about 4 hours 22 mins.

I will use this day, and the following one to visit what is called, the oldest town in Texas.

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Day 12, July 17
Nacogdoches, TX to Houston, TX
via Center
253 mi – about 4 hours 44 mins.

This is the final stretch. Home bound.

During this time, dear friends, I covet you prayers for safe journey and divine appointments. Blessings to all.

+ Getting ready for the road

With the focus set on the journey and the road to travel, and recognizing that being able to hit the road would be best served by Hidalgo, I had to set a new goal for myself in terms of a place and a time to do it. While my original intention as I recovered from back surgery was to ride to the Bonneville Salt Flats this summer, I have come to accept that it is to soon to try to reach that far. It was hard to give up on this goal. I also realized, in one of those moments of brilliance [i.e. what took ya so long?], that giving up on that one, did not mean I could not do something else. So I turned my eyes East and focused on the Mississippi. After some consideration, I decided to follow the river from Louisiana to Memphis, where I will hang with one of my cousins before turning back via the Natchez Trace.

The estimated length of this trip is a minimum of 1,400 miles, and while Hidalgo is indeed a fine motorcycle it was not designed as a touring machine, so some work had to be done to make it more touring capable. Work has been ongoing, and now Hidalgo has been fitted with a new wind screen, saddle bag holders, and a GPS mounting ball. Along the way I re-routed electrical wiring to power the GPS.

Systems are now installed and a road test remains to be taken to check on the operational capabilities of my transformed ride. Basic routes have been laid, even though they will like change, even during the ride, and weather projections have been consulted. At this point just time remains until departure, and my prayers center around safe travel, and Divine appointments, asking to have people placed on my way, with whom I can share God's word