Day 44 - Silsbee, TX to Merryville, LA

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​I crossed into Louisiana today. I am more proud of riding across this state than the entire Southern Tier!  

Azaleas have replaced wildflowers and the rolling hills of east Texas have gradually given way to flat coastal plains.

With one small exception Texans treated me extraordinarily well. The only bad experience I had in the entire state occurred four days ago as I was entering a tiny Texas town. A motorist going the opposite way spotted me and honked his horn. This is a common means by which people express support. As always, I waved appreciatively. But it quickly became apparent this was not a friendly toot of the horn and this guy was not expressing support. When he got directly across the road from me he slowed down, leaned his entire head and left arm out the window of his pickup truck, and flew the bird at me, all the while continuing to blow his horn, presumably with his right hand. I found this a little unnerving until it occurred to me how lucky I was that this irate bastard was not going in the same direction I was!




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