Richards

I forgot to mention the ice cream parlor in Brenham. We arrived in Brenham just after five. The Almost Heaven ice cream parlor closed at five. We begged for three root beer floats. The staff graciously made us floats which we guzzled gratefully.

Steve found some beautiful back roads to get us to Navasota. Along the way, we encountered a man taking his pet heifer for a walk. He walks her every day. I'm sure he had the poop bag ready to use.

The bank has the old-fashioned wooden tellers' cages with wrought iron bars. Crossing the Brazos River seems to have changed thecuisine. We had our first experience of Southern comfort food at Rattler's Pit, built at an old gas station. Steve had chicken spaghetti, a mass of pasta with some kind of melted cheese mixed in with chunks of chicken. It was a culinary experience, hopefully not soon to be repeated.

We are settled at Checkpoint Harley (ala Checkpoint Charley in Berlin). It's a working ranch operated by a retired military person and his German wife, Doris. They have some cabins and some tent space for wandering bicyclists and motorcyclists. Doris gave me a ride into Richards nearby to pick up sandwiches for dinner.

We are on a new map...no more showing of elevation. That does not mean there are not lots of rolling hills. We did have a view today that showed no hills or mountains in front of us. Steve stopped at one point because pwe were at an elevation of 100 feet. Hopefully that portends good things for the future!