Warmshowers.org is a wonderful organization.  Tonight we are outside Coldspring TX,  being hosted by Susan Butter on her wooded 17 acres, in a home that she and her husband built.

Warmshowers.org is an online service that connects touring cyclists with hosts throughout the world who are willing to provide a range of accommodations.  Barb and I are both hosts and users of the service.  When we knew this trip was likely, we scouted for hosts in small towns on our route and have a list that we check daily to see if we'll be in range of these always interesting hospitable people.  It's been a treat each time we've stayed with someone.

It was another beautiful day for riding.   Temperatures were hovering around 60 degrees when we hit the road about 7:15, and never climbed above 85.  The roadside ditches were full of blossoming wildflowers and a wide variety of butterflies they attracted. Most of the day we rode through mixtures of fragrant pine and hardwood forests.   I've never been in southeastern Texas before,  and the landscape far exceeded my expectations of flooded lowlands.

Our route maps warned of narrow roads and busy traffic, b u t it seems to have been a matter of perception.   Most of the major roads in Texas seem to have 8 foot or wider shoulders,  so by that standard the 2 foot shoulders we rode on most of the day were narrow.  But there was always room for the logging trucks and semi-trailers that were with us much of the day to get by without being too threatening.

We took a morning break at a convenience store in Honey Island, and a second morning stop at Rye where the women clerks related some of their families' history in the Big Thicket.

Lunch was an unexpected treat as we happened on a newly opened Texas BBQ diner, where we both enjoyed beef brisket sandwiches.

 When we reached Sheperd, we were running ahead of schedule for our 4:30 arrival at Susan's home.  So after grabbing a soda at a local store, we sought out a park and relaxed in the shade of tall pines on a couple of picnic tables for an hour before starting the last 10 miles of the day.

Those last miles were perhaps the best of the day.  The lightly traveled road took us through rolling countryside south of Lake Livingston.  We even spotted a pair of bald eagles soaring through the pines.

A glorious day for riding, then basking in Susan's hospitality. Life is fine.

Sunrise at Checkpoint Lodging