First and foremost, blessed Maundy Thursday to you all! I certainly miss not being able to attend services at St. Vincents this evening, but am hopeful to find a church here in Silsbee, if I can work it in between rider meetings, etc…
Last night is a night I will not soon forget. To set the stage, we were staying way out in the country outside of Shepherd, TX, at a retreat that consisted of a small converted garage, a few trailers for the owners, and a large pasture, where all of the tents had been set up. It had been raining for most of the day, but had let up for a few hours, right as we arrived. Everyone was completely soaked, and the amount of wet clothes hanging from every hook, nail, and fixture gave the appearance of a neighborhood garage sale on a Saturday morning. Needless to say, thanks to the 90 mile ride and the torrential rain, the day was a long one.
Right as we left the converted garage and entered our tents, around 8:00pm after a late dinner, the fun began in KA-BOOM Town. First, the rain started, soft at first, but it grew in intensity until you could hear nothing other than the torrential downpour that was unleashed on the tent and rain fly. Then, the biggest electrical storm I have ever experienced, with both intense thunder and lightning started slightly after 8pm, and did not let up until well after midnight. The flashes of lightning lit up the inside of the tent as if it was mid-day, and repeated every 5 minutes or so, followed by thunder that crashed and boomed so hard and close that it literally shook the ground and inflatable mattress I was laying on. The echo from the thunder in the pasture reverberated off of the canyon walls, and sent repeated shock waves over our heads, and giving me the feeling of complete vulnerability. I don’t mean to overplay the situation, but the feeling of simply waiting for the next “KA-BOOM” was pretty scary.
Finally, the storm subsided around 12:30, so the 4:45am alarm added to the cruel and unusual punishment. Of course, I awoke to a complete saturated tent floor, which matched the already soaked clothes from the ride the previous day. I now know why they have us sleeping on inflatable mattresses, as they can also double as white-water rafts. The line at 5:00am at the outdoor toilets, (I did mention that everything was outdoors, right?) was already forming, so I have decided I would wait until the end of the month before using the restroom again. Sounds reasonable, right?!
Despite the fact that the forecast called for more of the same today, we were fortunately spared from a second day of torrential rain, at least until I arrived in Silsbee. Of course, within 5 minutes after I arrived, the skies opened up again, dousing the group of riders behind me, (yes, believe it or not, there are riders behind me!). Today, we cycled through mostly flat roads and forest scenery, riding through Big Thicket Natural Preserve, (which I think is a new flavor that Smuckers offers. Try it on toast or a biscuit, next time you get a chance!). We stopped for lunch at the Honey Island General store, but unfortunately they were sold out of their fried bologna sandwiches. Tonight, we are staying at the YYAF, which to those of you uninitiated, stands for Youth Young Adult Fellowship, a small gymnasium that I believe was last swept out and cleaned just after World War II. Tonight is notable, since it will be the last night we spend in Texas on the cycling tour before moving on to DeRidder, Louisiana tomorrow. Tomorrow is a 74 mile day, however it includes only 866 feet of climb. The only thing to watch out for, I’m told, are the alligators. (Hopefully, they aren’t as fast as some of these country dogs, who can REALLY give you a run for your money)!
I should have new photos to post today, so here goes. Have a blessed Holy Week!
The Walking Machine 