| Page 11 Day 49 - Sun. 3-3-02 - mileage today 0 - climbed today 0 REST DAY IN RAYMONDVILLE - IT'S A SMALL WORLD Like many of the RV parks we’ve stayed at this one also had a gathering of men in the rec. hall for coffee in the morning. As we were having coffee this morning Wendell asked us if we would like to join him for breakfast in town. We not wanting to ride our bikes, we quickly said yes. While we were eating Wendell asked what we were doing for the day. We had no plans other then resting. Wendell suggested that we see the IWO JIMA monument in Harlington if we hadn’t already. We hadn’t so Wendell kindly offered to drive us the 20 some miles to Harlinton. The monument which depicts the famous photo of the flag raising on Iwo Jima is simply breathtaking. We watched a film giving the history of the most horrific battle the Marine Corps has ever had. Here is the small world part. Wendell was there. Wendell was a young Marine sent to take Iwo Jima not knowing the horrific trap he was about to step into. Many of Wendell’s friends and fellow Marines never came home. Many of them never got past the beach. Wendell himself was shot but not wounded, he stay until all the fighting was over some 30 plus days. The film and the museums exibets tearfully moved me. We owe a lot to those who served and saved our great country. That is not all that happened to make me say small world. Myron was picking out post cards in the gift shop when the assistant director of the visitors center walked by. Myron said you remind me of somebody. Who, Myron said someone I know who is a lawyer. The director said, I'm a lawyer. Myron said he lives in Encinitas, Ca. The director said I used to live in Encinitas. The two stopped and in silence looked closely at each other and all of a sudden it hit home and the two laughed and I thought they were going to hug. They shook hands and introduced themselves. As it turns out the man Myron met today was Monte Catterlin, Myron’s ex-wife’s lawyer in their divorce. The two laughed and joked about the awkward situation. Myron is such a wonderful person that he made light of the whole thing and in fact was happy to see Monte. I myself am not that big of a man, I probably would have held a grudge. We had a good laugh and followed up with a good lunch with Wendell. Day 50 - Monday 3-4-02 - Mileage today 46.5 - Climbed today ? (Not much) On the road again. After a wonderful layover in Raymondville at the Gateway RV Park, we are on the road again. It feels good. We would like to thank all of our new friends at the Gateway RV park. You were very kind to us and we thoroughly enjoyed meeting you. We must be on our way. We have to be in Huston by the 14th. This is where Denise, Myron's daughter will fly into to celebrate Myron’s 70th Birthday. We are guests of the king today. We have been cycling all day and we are still on the king Ranch in Texas. The King ranch is the largest ranch in Texas and one of the country’s largest at around 800,000 acres. It is somewhere around 50 miles long and almost as wide. We aren’t guest in a palacious guesthouse or even a small 3,000 sq. foot spare room in the mansion. But, we are camped at a fancy rest stop with running water and inside flushers. What else can a couple of bike bums like us ask for. Day 51 - 3-5-02 Tue - Mileage today 55.0 - Climbed 410 Oh Good No Shovel We camped last night at a roadside rest stop. Myron’s first comment was, "oh good no shovel". We have been camping in the desert without facilities. When nature calls you grab you shovel and search for an appropriate spot. We are now in the low flats lands near the gulf. It is getting more humid. Most days are overcast, but comfortable. We will be in Corpus Christy tomorrow. We camped at the Chapman Ranch at the crossroads of hwy 77 and hwy 286. Myron tried to call a friend Cathy who was the leader of the great divide ride he went on. He hopes to hear from her and maybe get together. Have I mentioned lately that I'm ready for the gulf coast. SPECIAL MYRON AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO, THANK OUR READERS. WE HAD 4,500 HITS ON OUR WEBSITE IN FEBUARY. WE ARE VERY HAPPY YOU ARE FOLLOWING US. WE HOPE YOU ARE ENJOING THE JOURNEY AS MUCH AS WE ARE. THANKS AGAIN. KEEP IT SIMPLE, MYRON AND JIM Day 52 - Wed 3-6-02 - Mileage today 43.6 - Climbed today 850' - Alt. 3' above sea level BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS We made it. I finally have seen the Gulf of Mexico for the first time. I cant tell you how great it is to see the ocean again. We rode thru Corpus Christy along the waters edge. It was wonderful. We crossed THE BRIDGE!!! The harbor bridge was not made for cyclists. It was too narrow of a walkway to walk with your bike; you had to be on your bike in order to fit in the narrow walkway. There was a short railing in-between you and the troubled waters below. Way below. Even Myron whom never gets bothered by traffic was uneasy. We cycled over several bridges today, but the harbor bridge was by far the worst. We continued on to Aransas Pass. We are camped half way between Aransas Pass and Port Aransas on a peninsula. We stopped for dinner on a floating cafe. The fin and feather cafe and RV park on the gulf. Myron had a Rubin sandwich, chips and washed his vitamins down with a beer. I'm having a good influence on him. He also had a malt and pecan pie. Myron is interested in a high quality military grade pop up self-erecting tent. Does anybody have any info about where to get these tents? Write us at biketrip2002@pocketmail.com. Day 53 - thurs.3-7-02 - Mileage today 63.8 - climbed today 710' TEXAS STOPSIGN Isn’t your normal stop sign. We had our suspicions that it wasn’t the same. In fact we were adhering to the Texas stop sign with out even knowing it. We saw a billboard today that had a large dairy queen logo on it with a caption that read TEXAS STOPSIGN. Like I say we were adhering to it, we stopped at every Dairy Queen. We rode thru Rockport, dodging cars in a road construction area that weren’t clear as to what to do. There was roadwork being done but the flagman or signs weren’t clear in directing the traffic, consequently we were riding in the fast lane and the autos in the slow. Then without notice a car would enter the fast lane and all other cars would follow. This went on back and forth for 15 minutes. We continued on to Port Lavaca. Along the way we rode thru many marshy areas. I was getting an idea of what Louisiana is like. Special Thanks Myron and I would like to extend a special THANKYOU to Rob and Jeannie at the Texas Baptist Encampment. The camp is located in Palacios, TX. You took us in housed and fed us as if we were family. You certainly made an impression on us. For anybody interested in the camp you can book a retreat at 361-972-2717 or email them at tbe@wcnet.net. Once again, Thank you - Myron and Jim |
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