Hope you get the clunk figured out, but I'm glad you got out for a ride. I think you would have loved this ride!
FM 1414 was good. I think that when we were out last, the roads were a bit wet, and I know the temps were about 20 degrees below the forecast. That may have skewed my perception... I was thinking there was an issue on 353, but it was great... my favorite of the day yesterday. I was riding 1414 with a bit of caution, looking for issues. 330... last time it had a lot of bad patch sections, and they are all gone now. The signs say loose gravel and no stripes... there were no stripes, but the gravel seems to have set well, and I didn't detect any loose on the surface. We went in careful, and then I wicked it up bit by bit on the way through. Next trip it will be great! In my opinion, those are the best of the San Augustine Area.
Now... for the "new" roads on the route. We crossed Sam Rayburn Lake on Hwy 147 and cut off on FM 1277. It was decent up to Hwy 103. We cut west on 103 to 95 north. 95 wasn't really exciting, but then we cut back east on Hwy 21 from Chireno to FM 1196 south. 1196 was a nice road. It took back to 1277, just a mile or two short of 103, and we took 1277 into San Augustine. 1277 goes on the good roads list as well! Maybe not as tight as 353, 330, or 1414, but 1196 and 1277 are good!
Another "new" route... after running 353 out of San Augustine to 87, we figured we would see what the conditions were on 330. It was cut out of the route, but it was great. That takes you back to Hwy 21, and then a 4 mile jog west on 103 takes you to 2784, and then 1592. to Hemphill. those two roads are a lot better than taking 87 from Milan to Hemphill. similar to 1277 and 1196... another good "discovery" (actually, Tourmeister recommended these roads to me a long time ago).
Note to self. The fuel stop in Lumberton... I couldn't use my fuel app... couldn't get a signal, so I gave it the SS1000 test. told it to give me a receipt. no receipt. That would mean having to go in to get a receipt inside, and burn more precious time at the stop.