April 7, 2023: Silsbee, TX to DeRidder, LA. 74 miles and 866 feet of elevation

Blessed Good Friday to you all! I spent the majority of Good Friday managing fairly heavy rain and headwinds on my bike, but was able to cross the state line into Louisiana and make it to DeRidder by 2:00pm, allowing some time to pause and pray at 3:00pm. Today marks the fifth (5) state we have been in on our tour, as we crossed the Sabine River from Texas into Louisiana. One of the first towns we came to, DeRidder, marked our stopping point, and fortunately it is at a Quality Inn, one of the few motels we are able to stay in on the tour. The motel stop came at a good time, and is appreciated by everyone on the tour.

My arrival into our stop tonight marked a first for me on the tour, as I experienced my first flat. Having tubeless tires, it was interesting to watch the sealant spewing from the gash in the tire, which apparently came from a piece of glass. I was really fortunate to have discovered this upon my arrival, and extra fortunate to enlist the help of the mechanic, Lance, who was able to walk me through the steps of removing and replacing the tire, which was on the front tire, which makes me fortunate x 3. He did discover that my front brake rotor is slightly bent, which causes some rubbing of the brake. He feels that this is relatively minor, but it should be replaced when I get home, unless it starts acting up. I don’t quite know how a rotor would “act up”, perhaps start using foul language or start smoking, but I shall be on the lookout for any unusual signs.

Last night was interesting, in that I was able to attend a Maundy Thursday service at a nearby Roman Catholic Church with a fellow rider. The church was close by, so we were able to walk. The service was fascinating, as they intermingled Latin, Spanish, and English as a part of the liturgy. While this Maundy Thursday service was different from the services I have attended at my home church, there were a lot of commonalities. Of course, I didn’t really know the words to many of the hymns and chants, but made up for it by singing louder than everyone else. I’m sure that this was appreciated by all! 🙂

Today’s ride was rough, no two ways about it. Given the mileage we needed to cover, we started at 7:15am, and I finished around 2:00, covering the 74 miles in a hard rain which soaked me from head to toe. This is the second day in the past three where we have ridden extensively in the rain, and I for one am very much looking forward to laundry day, as the broad majority of my cycling clothes are completely saturated and covered in mud. The road surface compounded the challenge, and was likely where I picked up the flat, (appears to be from a piece of glass, as the debris on the shoulder is significant).

Dogs are becoming a bigger challenge than expected, as I was chased three (3) times today alone. I’ve learned a few things about dogs on this trip: 1) Some dogs are faster than others. 2) Some dogs enjoy to chase for fun. 3) Some dogs do NOT chase for fun. 4). The quiet ones that don’t bark are the most dangerous. Seriously, I’ve witnessed two serious dog attacks while on a bike, and have seen one dog make a pretty good purchase on a riders shoe. I’ve also seen the dog owner, walking down the street without their dog on a leash, throughly enjoying the spectacle. Scary! They say that the next 2 or 3 states are the worst for this.

A few quick facts about our stop today, DeRidder, LA. It has a population of around 10,000 people, and was named about Ella de Ridder, the sister-in-law of a Dutch railroad financier. One of 13 children, Ella ran away from home at an early age and was presumed dead by her family, who only discovered later that she had traveled to the United States. The town was named for her by her brother-in-law, who brought the first railroad to this area of Louisiana. DeRidder’s most famous structure is a building known as the Old Beauregard Parish jail, which was built in 1914. In 1928, there was a famous double execution by hanging in the jail by two murderers. These were the only recorded hangings in the jail. Apparently, the prisoners were hanged by an apparatus at the top of the spiral staircase. (I realize that this story has taken a serious turn, so I will stop with the macabre).

Tomorrow, we ride 66 miles to Mamou, which is considered to be the Cajun Music Capital of the World. I’m hoping to get a look at “Fred’s Lounge”, which apparently has been an institution for over 70 years. Wish me luck!