Day 21: Navasota to Shepherd, TX

Distance: 76.8 mi (123.7 km)
Cumulative Distance: 1,820 (2,929 km)
Average Speed: 15.4 mph (24.8 kph)
Climb: 4,603 ft (1,403 m)
Cumulative Climb: 99,376 ft (30,290 m)
Flats: 0Cumulative Flats: 11

Today may be called “expectations dashed”, as Lee labeled it. We had expected a fairly easy day with our planned distance of only 75 miles. Turned out that the combination of “the flat lands east of Navasota” (see the first picture), wind in our face and road surface made the day more difficult than anticipated. You know the old adage about not saying anything if you can’t say anything nice - here is what we have to say about the shoulder of almost the entire road today: _____.

The countryside changed from the flowered fields to the Sam Houston National Forest, what the Texans in these parts call the piney woods.

We mentioned in the blog yesterday that we had met Etienne from the northeast of France. We rode a short distance with him again today, and as yesterday again offered him water and a GU. For those unfamiliar with it, GU is an energy gel, about the consistency of yogurt, that comes in many flavours. One packet, 32 g, has 100 calories; is tasty and effective. According to Dave’s GPS, we are expending somewhere between 2700 and 4800 calories a day each, so we do need the intake. (Justifies the desserts too!)