According to Katherine: Meet Helen!

Helen has owned the Pinewood Inn in Silsbee, TX since the 50s. She lives in one of the rooms, and patrols the complex every few minutes, offering a wave and her broad smile.

Miss Helen and her son, Rodney, present us with two bottles of wine to go with our dinner.

Her son, Rodney, is remodeling and upgrading the place, and building a gorgeous two-story town house onto the motel where he and Miss Helen will live. She will have a downstairs suite with a gorgeous roll-in shower for when she needs it. Rodney describes his mother as "my pride and joy." Love is such a life-giving force!

According to Katherine: Day 37 Recap

There was heavy dew on the car this morning. That's a big change from the dry desert mornings in our past. And our clothes aren't drying like they used to!

I fueled up for the 77-mile ride with a big bowl of oatmeal and packed my PB&J and some nuts for the long day. It was 68 degrees, with a light breeze, as we pedaled east toward Louisiana.

This shrine was in front of a home. The plaque says it is Jesus of East Texas.

Three miles before leaving Texas, we popped into a store that sold postcards, which we hadn't been able to find anywhere for days. They were also well-stocked with a full complement of Texas-style bling. The dazzling purses and belts would knock your eyes out! 

Texas women love their bling. Look at these handbags.

Look at these glitzy belts!

I found out at about 3:00 p.m., as the temperature hovered near 90, I didn't have enough food, water or energy drink. We stopped at a convenience store that was deliciously cool inside. I bought the biggest bottle of Gatorade they sold. Marge bought a turkey and cheese sandwich and gave me her PB&J. Julia and Mary, who worked there, were happy to give us lots of crushed ice and water.

It took us until 4:30 to finish, but we were thrilled to have achieved another personal best -- our longest ride ever.

Dinner was gorgeous grilled salmon, couscous, bean salad, spinach salad and Eli's cheesecake from Chicago, sent by one of last year's riders. I resisted.

2,037 miles behind us. 1,063 to pedal. 21 days to go.

Dr. Jeter Day 37 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 36 Recap

It was 67 degrees, and getting revved up to be hot and muggy, when we began our 64-mile ride to Silsbee -- our last stop in Texas. I had oatmeal and a hard boiled egg for breakfast, and packed a PB&J (and some nuts, too!) for lunch.

You know you're still in Texas when a "Share the Road" sign depicts a motorcycle.

Marge and I were up to SAG, so we planned to split the day in half so we'd each get a decent ride. As I was checking my tires, the little end of the stem blew out of the tube, which required a tire change. Better a flat in the parking lot than out on the road!

Fellow rider, Diane, got a flat tire from this hook.  No one can believe this large piece of wire, resembling a fish hook, worked its way all the way through one of her tires. It didn't become apparent until the tube that went flat was removed. (The penny is for size reference).

Since I got a late start, I decided our original plan wasn't going to work. I would be late to the first SAG stop, and then fall further behind to the midpoint where we were going to switch places. I called Marge to say it seemed best to switch roles at the 23-mile stop, and I would hurry so as not to delay her start. I only did one-third of today's ride, but it was a personal best for me at an average of 13 miles per hour!

The beauties were the butterflies of several varieties fluttering from one new spring blossom to another.


A beautiful butterfly.

More butterflies!

The beasts were the lumber trucks passing in both directions spewing bits and pieces of the tree bark in their wake.

These are the beasts. We were glad to see the driver tighten down his load before getting on the highway with us.

The roads today had no shoulders so we had to share with these behemoths.

Looks like the logs are about to leave the flatbed!


It was in the mid-80s and oh-so humid when we arrived in Silsbee. Once we checked into the motel, we went to the Sonic next door for lunch. I drank mine! I had a mocha flavored Java Chiller. It was divine.

Tomorrow's ride is 67 miles to Lake Charles, LA. I hope I can pedal off all those scrumptious calories! I've saved today's PB&J for tomorrow.

We did our laundry, caught up on emails, and rallied around for a wonderful dinner of pork roast, scalloped potatoes, tossed salad and fresh cubed watermelon. Linda even served rosemary focaccia, which I resisted.

Dressed for dinner on our last night in Texas in my Texas hangdown.

Cycling is good for the figure!

1,960 miles and four states behind us. 1,140 miles to pedal. 22 days to go.

Dr. Jeter Day 36 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 33 Recap

It was a perfect day to cycle the 69 miles from La Grange to Navasota. It was the perfect way to ride some of the Independence Trail that the early settlers rode in the 1800s. And it was the perfect way to see and savor the Texas I have never known -- East Texas, so verdant and lush.

It was 41 degrees when the cyclists set out at 7:45 a.m. I stoked up with a bowl of oatmeal and some scrambled eggs. As we came to the towns of Warrenton and Round Top, I was amazed by the miles and miles of tents and booths that had been an antique fair the weekend before. Traffic lanes were set apart, and signs erected and Port-a- Potties all along the way gave evidence to what an enormous event this is every April and October.

When lunch time came, I realized I had forgotten to make a sandwich, so a Clif Bar had to suffice. I also had forgotten to refill the water in my Camelback! Fortunately, I had more in the bottle on my bike -- it was just a matter of stopping to transfer it.

On down the way, I was thinking I wasn't riding fast enough, and then I realized that I didn't want to go any faster, because I didn't want to rush through the sights, sounds and sweet smells on our route.

A mighty oak marks the beginning of a four-mile ride down the bucolic William Penn Roadon the way to Navasota. 

About 10 miles from Navasota, I detoured to the Washington on the Brazos State Park. My wonderful cousin Elizabeth brought her daughters, Leah and Emily, all the way from Dallas to see me and learn about Texas' independence from Mexico in 1836 and, tomorrow, how the famous Blue Bell ice cream is made (since 1907) right nearby in Brenham. We arrived in the park at exactly the same time. What are the chances? There, we watched a wonderful video and spent time in the museum getting to know more about the men and circumstances that created the Republic of Texas. John Steinbeck wrote, in Travels with Charley: "Texas is a state of mind. Texas is an obsession. Texas is a nation in every sense of the word." I belong to a legion of Texans who are enamored with our state! Elizabeth and her girls were booked in at the same motel. Again, what are the chances?

They went out for dinner with old friends, and we enjoyed mashed sweet potatoes covered with some black bean Cuban concoction and a tossed salad. Dessert was a heavily-iced carrot cake for one of our group who was celebrating her 50th birthday. Leah, 10, returned just in time to help get the dishes done. I called my Jack to wish him Happy 53rd wedding anniversary, and thank him for the adorable card that was waiting when we checked in. I would say this was the best day yet, but I'm thinking I say that every day! Tomorrow we rest in Navasota.

1,821 miles behind us. 1,279 to pedal. 25 days to go.

Dr. Jeter Day 33 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 32 Recap

Woods, winds, woolly bears and wildflowers! This day had it all, and it has to have been the best day of the trip. How many times have I said that?

The Weather Channel issued a severe thunderstorm and high gusting winds warning as I was eating my breakfast of two hard boiled eggs, a bowl of instant oatmeal, and a four-ounce container of yogurt. (I'm about to get the hang of breakfast!)

It was 74 degrees and overcast, with black clouds all around us when we rolled out at 8:15 a.m. I had the joy of our nephew Rob Feagin and his family there for our exodus. They gave up more than a day of their vacation at Susie's family's East Texas ranch to come share my experience. What a compliment!

Three miles from the hotel, we entered the Bastrop State Park. There are about 13 miles of winding, hilly roads that make you want to shout, "Wheee!" as you ride. A couple of the hills were very steep. One was a 17% grade, and lots of us put pride aside and walked our bikes up to the top.

The aroma of the lush piney woods all around us was so refreshing. Rob's wife Susie's friend works in the Park. They linked up with her, and she drove them through the park to follow our route and stop for pictures as we approached. Such fun!

Brahma mama and her baby.

About five miles into the park, the winds came. The trees bent and groaned, the sky blackened and a few large rain drops forewarned us more were sure to come. Some of the wind gusts carried very cold air, as if someone had opened a refrigerator. Then, within minutes the temperature dropped to 63 degrees. I found out just how fast I can ride when I'm cold and scared! I could relate to Hansel and Gretel's fright in their forest. I was sure the woolly bears would be appearing any minute, but they didn't. The noise was just the wind in the trees, and the small limbs and branches blowing by. And, thankfully, the rain never came.

At 16 miles, the SAG Wagon was waiting, and the van and trailer were just down the road. Our guides urged Marge and me to ride two miles in the van to avoid fierce cross winds and wind shear. We took their suggestion. The minute the highway turned eastward, we got back on our bikes to enjoy the remainder of the ride under clearing skies with very helpful tail winds.

All along the way, we enjoyed an endless parade of colorful wildflowers on both sides of the road, and out in some of the pastures. We completed the 41-mile ride in the warm sunshine by 1:30 p.m., and relaxed with our PB&J sandwiches and hot cups of coffee in our lovely Best Western motel room.

We washed our bike clothes; and when I took them out to hang them up, there were white caps on the swimming pool! It would have been dangerous for Linda to use the gas stove to cook dinner in the trailer with all the wind, so she ordered pizza, and we ate in the motel's breakfast area. It came from a local pizzeria, and was exceptionally good. I left some of the crust on my plate, and didn't have any cookies for dessert. There weren't very many dishes, so we were back in our room and ready for bed nice and early to revel in our day's accomplishments. (Like this one: I learned to blow my nose while climbing a fairly steep hill. Until now, I have been loathe to take one hand off the handlebar in the midst of an ascent!)

1,752 miles behind us. 1,348 to pedal. 26 days to go.       

Dr. Jeter Day 32 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 31 Recap

We slept well sharing the bed. It was 67 degrees and overcast when we began our 93-mile ride to Bastrop. As I was just about to go to the van for breakfast, I looked up and saw Judy and Paul Watkins. They had been at the party, and now here they were to send us off from Blanco with good wishes! They live fairly close to Blanco. As they milled around, I bolted down some scrambled eggs and made my PB&J sandwich for lunch.

Judy and Paul Watkins.

Marge and I were going to split the day riding and driving the SAG Wagon. I took the first section on the bicycle. It was up and down on rolling hills. Gusting winds and rain were predicted for the afternoon. I took over driving early, so Marge would have a chance to ride on this fun Hill Country terrain. Sure enough, after she had ridden about 20 miles, the relentless head winds began. They were exhausting. The traffic was heavy, and the roads didn't have shoulders -- not a fun riding day.


Oil well pumping near Lockhart, Texas.

Marge and I concluded the long day by supporting the tenacious riders who completed the entire 93 miles in spite of the adverse conditions. It was a hot, muggy 83 degrees when they finished. Since I had eaten the PB&J sandwich in the late morning, I had tasty bean and guacamole tacos and a cup of coffee for a second lunch at 4:15 p.m.


A little patch of bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas. They bloom among the other wildflowers and grasses on the roadsides. There are very few this year because of the drought.

Linda served a divine stir fry with scads of vegetables, shrimp and tofu over brown rice. We had a bowl of fresh fruit and brownies for dessert. Yep, I resisted the brownies!

Our nephew Rob and his family stopped by to visit. They are here for a visit to their family's ranch, and drove several hours out of their way to stay in a Bastrop hotel, visit tonight and come tomorrow for the 8:30 a.m. departure. I'm so appreciative of their extraordinary effort.

1,711 miles behind us. 1,389 to pedal. 27 days to go.

Dr. Jeter Day 31 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 30

We began the day at 7:00 a.m. for our 65-mile ride to Blanco. It was 65 degrees and overcast. I felt bright and bold in my new Hill Country cycling shirt. I ate some scrambled eggs and yogurt, and made my PB&J sandwich for lunch.

Jack, my brother and his wife came for the map meeting, and to send us off with good wishes. John gave me another fabulous gift, an elegant gold necklace with a bicycle pendant designed by James Avery in Kerrville. As we were cycling out of Kerrville towards Comfort, the drone of a small plane alerted me that John and Marty were doing a parting fly over. I wept with appreciation.

John, Marty, and Jack are up early to say good-bye.  

At lunch, we stopped in Waring for our PB&J sandwiches and energy drinks, and encountered a troop of Brownie Scouts. We told them what we were doing and encouraged them to eat healthy foods and stay fit, so they could do fun stuff when they get older! One little girl asked, "Do you ever sleep?"

Cute young Brownie Scouts in Waring.  Their leader showed them a map of the US and our route on her iPad. 

We saw some wildflowers, goats and longhorns -- all Texas icons -- and finished strong in Blanco. The weather had stayed cloudy and cool for the first 50 miles, but heated on up to the 80s when the sun came out the last 15 miles.

A Texas-style howdy!

Barbed wire and blossoms in purple profusion.

Chef Linda delighted us with moussaka and brown rice, a salad of cucumber, onions, peppers and tomatoes, and little bunches of grapes. Yummy! We also had a surprise visit from two other WomanTours guides. They will be leading a one-week trip through the Texas Hill country beginning tomorrow. We had met and loved both of the women on our trips to Moab, UT and Pennsylvania Dutch Country with WomanTours. They had supper with us, and went on their way.

We had to share a bed in the quaint little 1960s motel -- but were both so tired, we didn't move! The shower was strong and hot and so was the coffee, so we were pleased with our accommodations!

1,618 miles behind us. 1,482 miles to pedal. 28 days to go.

Dr. Jeter Day 30 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 29 Recap

A day of gratitude, joy, and wonder. I was so grateful to wake up in my own bed in our little summer cabin next to my dear man. Marge enjoyed the privacy of our guest room. We eased into the morning with coffee and our devotionals and a brief visit with next door cousins, Anne and Dick.

I grabbed a banana and Marge and I were off to Kerrville for long planned haircuts and a trip to the Verizon store, this time for her needs! While we were gone the party hosts were busy preparing for the guests. When we returned there were pans of vegetable lasagna, BBQ heating, salads, beans, fresh fruit, cakes, key lime pie, iced tea and lemonade laid out on picnic tables. Bouquets of flowers added such a festive air.

The hosts with the most: Jack and my brother, John.

Dear friends, family, neighbors, and old friends from my childhood came to celebrate. Three classmates from my school days in San Antonio drove up. One brought her daughter and granddaughter, both of whom are very special to me. A couple we have adored since he was a football star at West Point decades ago drove over too.

Three high school classmates, with the daughter and granddaughter of one, surprised me completely by driving 65 miles from San Antonio.

The GRATITUDE I felt for the party planners and the celebrants who came touched my soul. I was so honored and appreciative of everyone's attention and interest and of the sweet friends who brought most of the good food.

High school classmate Linda Williams, her daughter and granddaughter.

One cute childhood chum couldn't come but amplified our menu with treats brought by the caterer. Thank you, Maria! My long time friend Anne Glenn and my cousin Clare contributed very generously to the WOCN Scholarship Fund.

Anne Glenn and I played with Toni Dolls when we were little girls during the summers in Hill Country.

It is impossible to describe the JOY of those three hours of fun and fellowship with people for whom I care so deeply.

My sweet brother presented me with a colorful Hill Country bike shirt. I'll wear it so proudly for years to come.

Adam & Lisa at Hill Country Bicycle Works are working on my bike on our rest day.

We packed up and drove to the hotel where the rest of our group was ensconced. We had arranged for a private tour of an imposing cross that has been erected on I-10. The artist and several of his Foundation Board members picked us up and took us to the hill outside of Kerrville where we gathered at the base of the cross for an explanation of the project and mighty prayers. I was filled with WONDER that this opportunity presented itself at the exact halfway point of our trip.

The Empty Cross on I-10 was envisioned and designed by artist Max Greiner, Jr. We were fortunate to have a private presentation and prayers by Max and his staff. The cross is 77'7" tall. What a perfect way to celebrate the mid-point of this journey.

I'm filled with WONDER that we are going to be embarking on the second half of our journey tomorrow. After a quiet dinner with Jack, Marge, my brother and his wife, Marty, who had just arrived from Sun Valley, Idaho. Marge and I went to our hotel room to resume the rhythm of the ride and the schedule.

What a day of gratitude, joy, and wonder!

Dr. Jeter Day 29 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 28 Recap

It was a chilly 44 degrees this morning. Linda got us started with gorgeous French toast with peaches and pecans on top, made in large pans and served in generous warm helpings.

The 49-mile ride promised to be very demanding, with lots of climbing and one very big mile-long steep hill -- and an equally-challenging descent with numerous hairpin turns. Since my beloved Jack and brother John were going to be waiting at the bike shop, and I was anxious to see them both and get my bike in for the gears to be repaired, Marge and I bumped up 24 miles in the WomanTours van.

We started our ride in Medina, the apple capital of the world -- or at least Texas! The aroma of apple pies and BBQ tempted us to linger, but we had 25 miles to ride to get to my men.

9.4 miles out, we began the really steep hill we had been told to expect. Marge and I were ready for it, but we were not ready for the three motorcycles passing us in our narrow curvy lane, and a vehicle coming from the opposite direction on this road with no shoulders. We couldn't see each other, because of the sharp curves, but we apparently got off our bikes at the same time and walked up a few hundred yards before getting back on and finishing the climb.

Imagine my surprise and delight, when we crested the hill to see my Jack and John waiting with cameras poised at the SAG Wagon. We got off the bikes, hugged and kissed, transferred our luggage into their car, and continued the 16 mile ride to the bike shop. The descent around those sharp curves was harrowing!

After giving my bike to Adam at Hill Country Bikeworks, we went across the street for a superb lunch at Mamacita's, our favorite Mexican restaurant in Kerrville. I had shrimp enchiladas and rice.

We made a quick stop at a pawn shop that also changes watch batteries, to get my Timex ticking again and finally, we drove the 13 miles to our little summer cabin on the Guadalupe River. It was 85 degrees when we arrived.

Jack had the house sparkling clean, and dressed with flowers and a welcome sign. While Marge and I did our laundry, we enjoyed the afternoon coffee Jack made for us. My cousin Anne drove up from San Antonio with a delicious supper of shrimp salad, chicken salad, tossed salad and hearty bread for us all. My brother presented us with a sinfully good chocolate cake with "Great Ride" written on top. My cousin Dick arrived from Austin with a special treat called "Miles of Chocolate" and ginger snaps in the shape of Texas. We chatted briefly before going to bed.

My cousins Anne and Dick, whose little summer cabin is next to ours, drove in for the evening -- and the party!   

Tomorrow will be a busy rest day with haircuts for Marge and me, and a big party with all sorts of friends and family at our cabin. Today, we officially marked the midpoint of the trip, with fewer miles ahead than behind us. It is hard to believe we've ridden so far!

1,553 miles behind us. 1,547 to pedal. 30 days to go.

Dr. Jeter Day 28 on Polyvore

According to Katherine: Day 26 Recap

After a breakfast of scrambled eggs, with spinach and cheese added, and some of that delicious tabouli from the other day, we left Brackettville in a dark, dense fog at 8:00 a.m. The temperature was a refreshing 67 degrees for the 49-mile ride to Camp Wood. Cycling on the chip seal was slow going and painful to the rear end. I was thrilled and thankful to have the bike gears working well enough for me to complete today's ride.

We got our first taste of the Hill Country this morning: The trill of  mockingbirds, the rugged landscape punctuated by majestic live oaks, lacy mesquite trees with their branches swaying in the breeze and scruffy cedar trees. Along the way, we saw some gorgeous ranch gates, typical of Texas.

Ranchers around Camp Wood raise sheep and goats. There was a shop in town that sold custom-designed mohair garments.

Our 1960s motel was a worrisome sight in this town of 709 people. We were so pleasantly surprised to open the old door and find a very commodious and clean room.

We strolled a block or two to a restaurant that had just closed for the day. The nice lady said she'd fix us some tacos to go. They were potato, cheese and onion, and about the best tacos I have ever eaten. The iced tea was fresh and rejuvenating.

Marge and I came back to the room. We each soaked for a long time in the bath tub. A much-needed sitz bath! I'll try not to post any more complaints about the road surface after I say this for the benefit of the continence nurses who are following the blog: The vibration excites every nerve and exhausts every muscle of the pelvic floor, so there are relentless urgency and frequency issues that require frequent stops and slow our progress even more! We have eight more riding days in Texas, so I just need to buck up and quit whining.

I took a three-hour nap this afternoon, and got up just in time for a delicious dinner of poached tilapia, quinoa with lots of nuts and fruits in it and tossed salad. There was cheesecake for dessert, but I didn't eat it.

One group of riders did an adorable song about the misery of the chip seal to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad." Another woman sang a cute ditty to the tune of "Hey Jude."

After dinner, we returned to our room to try and find a comfortable position to sit or lie on our sore bottoms. We don't have cell service, so I can't call Jack and can't upload my post. Oh well, that means we will go to sleep earlier.

1,465 miles behind us. 1,635 miles to pedal. 32 days to go.

Dr. Jeter Day 26 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 25 Recap

We awoke at 5:15, as usual, and I walked across the highway for coffee for Marge and me. When morning came, it was 67 degrees and overcast -- our first day without sun.

My hopes were high for a quick fix for my bike shifter. I gave Carol my credit card to pay whatever it would cost.

After a breakfast of scrambled eggs and a few bites of hash browns, I checked off all the riders and drove 10 miles down the road to the Wal-Mart. Almost all of them had some shopping to do, so I watched over their bikes, prayed for the repair of mine and received their purchases so they could ride on unencumbered. (There was a very light mist so everyone put on their rain jackets. It didn't last long and I collected all the gear at the next SAG stop.)

I stopped at a home health agency to verify my directions, and told the nurses all about the WOCN, the ride and the fund raising for scholarships -- and left them with a card with the various websites.

We all convened for lunch at Julie's in Bracketville. I had perfect Texas cheese enchiladas, and listened to all the riders grouse about the discomfort of the chip seal road. The highway patrol had shooed some of them back on the rougher shoulder when they were riding in the middle of the lane looking for the smoothest surface.

Mexican lunch at Julie's in Bracketville.

Just as yesterday, we saw lots of Border Patrol vehicles, since we're so close to the Rio Grande and the border.

There are miles and miles of dirt roads parallel and proximal to the Mexican border. The Border Patrol trucks pull these tires along to create a pattern in the dirt. More Border Patrol trucks come along with the driver hanging out the window inspecting the pattern to see if there are footprints or any other evidence someone has crossed over the swath created by the tire dragging.   

Border Patrol is driving his vehicle and peering down out of his window looking for evidence that someone has disturbed the pattern created by the dragging tires!

Just a mile past Julie's, 43 miles from Del Rio, we arrived at the charming Ft. Clark Springs Motel. This is an old Army Post dating back to 1854. Our rooms are in the original enlisted barracks! The officers' quarters are on the other side of the central parade ground. The temperature never reached 80, and we were grateful for the relief from the hot sun and the 93-degree heat from yesterday.

A stunning monument at Ft. Clark.

I got the bad news that the bike wasn't fixed in Del Rio, but the good news that Carol would spend her whole afternoon putting on a new shifting mechanism that may enable me to ride to Kerrville. I will set out tomorrow morning with high hopes and fierce determination to do the 49 miles to Camp Wood with limited gearing.

We had chili over polenta, slaw and honeydew melon for dinner.

1,416 miles behind us. 1,684 more to pedal. 33 days to go.

Dr. Jeter Day 25 on Polyvore.com