Day 14 April 7, 2006

Day 14
April 7, 2006
Plano, TX to Houston & Katy, TX

Morning came all too quickly, but the smell of freshly-brewed coffee and an egg casserole made it easier to get-up-and-go.



Gary and Lisa had been amazing hosts for the night, and paused for a picture during their morning routines. Thanks again guys!



The bikes had been parked on the back patio overnight, so getting them out into the driveway and loaded became our first chore on this, our last day on the road.



The lack of excitement was evident, but we made the most of the day and tried to avoid highways and boring, straight roads. We headed farther east before heading south to Houston, and were soon surrounded by lush greenery. The closer to home we got, the more we could feel the humidity of the gulf coast kick into action.



We’d complained about dry, chapped skin during the trip because moisture in the air is a constant for us at home. We’d missed the humidity’s ability to keep our skin and hair nourished. Now that we were getting closer, it felt almost unnatural to have it all around us again.

We ended up in Grapeland for lunch, and Erik was excited to announce that one of the most famous Texans was born near here in Crockett. Davey Crokett? Daniel Boone? Some other founder of Texas? Not quite. It was Erik himself whose family had lived around here when he was born and he was two when they moved. His granny had even designed the painting on the water tower.

The City Street Café had great food, as did most (if not all) of the mom and pop shops we’d frequented these last two weeks.



Erik was shocked to find that he was the proud bearer of the golden fork. Nothing special came of it, but it sparked talk of Willy Wonka.



We opted for a run through the Sam Houston National Forrest on our way down into Houston. It was a beautifully sunny and warm day, and none of us wanted it to end. Actually, we didn’t want the trip to end. As good as it would feel to sleep in our own beds, the return to our jobs and lives was not something we were necessarily looking forward to.



Splitting off in Tomball, Erik and Deb waved goodbye and headed for Katy. Gavin and Rebecca continued down 149 to northwest Houston, arriving at Gavin’s house in short order. Tired wrists and aching backs beckoned for a nap, but Gavin was intent on getting out of his gear and into his truck to pick up his Beagle Winston.

Back home with his dog by his side, Gavin parked the bikes in the garage and quickly unloaded them, piling the gear, supplies, and luggage into the living room. A mess to be cleaned up later… now it was time for a long overdue nap in a comfortable bed, air conditioning, and soft sheets.