Day 564 – USA (TEXAS): From Dolen to New Waverly


Today’s distance / ???????: 46.5 miles / 75km
Average speed / ????: 7.5mph / 12.1km/h
Time on skateboard / ????: 6h 11m
Total skateboarding distance to date / ????????????: 2328mi (plus 266mi) / 3747km (plus 430km)
Ascent / ??: 305m
Descent / ??: 270m
End-of-day GPS coordinates: N30.32.04.2, W095.30.06.3

Farm and Market Road 150. Would have been very nice had I been on a bicycle. The rough chipseal was tough going on a skateboard though. Tough, tough going. But hey, I’ve averaged less than 12km/h on my bike before.

Rough rural road near Dolen, Texas, USA

Before the rough road madness began, Liz treated me to a great ‘Southern Breakfast’ if biscuits and sausage gravy. Basically a thick white sauce with great big lumps of tasty sausage meat mixed in, the gravy is smothered over freshly baked scones (they have funny names for things here in this part of the world). Stick-to-your-ribs type breakfast that promised to keep me going.

With Warren and Liz in Dolen, Texas, USA

Warren and Liz Henley are a retired couple who since retiring have settled just out of the small town of Dolen. Their 100 acre property is made up of 50 acres worth of water. Old gravel pits have since filled with spring water, and are home to all sorts of wildlife; one of the Henley’s dogs got eaten by a 9-foot alligator. The alligator didn’t last long. After it’s second visit, it got aqcuainted with a blob of lead. As did another that decided to grace them with its presence. Harsh, it seems, but I’m sure an alligator with a mouth the size of your leg would make you reconsider your nature-loving tendencies.

Warren and Liz's home in Dolen, Texas, USA

Skating out of Dolen, I passed numerous ranches, all with glamorous main gates, in grand Texas style.

Texas star in Dolen, Texas, USA Skull in Dolen, Texas, USA

Cowboy image near Dolen, Texas, USA Texas star near Dolen, Texas, USA

The roads are being re-surfaced however, and just out of Coldspring, I had the downhill of the skateboarding trip so far. Super smooth blacktop, brand new. The downhill was only all of half a mile, but it was great stuff.

For the 13 miles approaching New Waverly I had to share the road with heavy traffic, and very narrow shoulders. In times like this, it is a process of skating a few hundred metres, pulling off the road for the approaching traffic to pass (I skate towards traffic when the shoulders are narrow), and then resuming skating for another few minutes before I have to get off the road again. Very frustraiting.

I ended up camping just outside of New Waverly in a thicket of woods. Dinner was tuna, cheese and hot sauce tortillas. Very good.

Tuna, cheese, Louisiana hot sauce on tortillas - great!


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2 thoughts on “Day 564 – USA (TEXAS): From Dolen to New Waverly

  • Nana

    No doubt you will come across a few ups and downs in Texas – very minor elevations – but I can remember from my stay in Texas many years ago that there are some small hilly areas here and there. How are your skateboard wheels coping with the rough surfaces? Looks like you need sort of mountain bike type treads!