Day 26...Goodbye Mississippi, Hello Louisiana!

I didn’t sleep well last night and I knew today was going to be a grind. We rode 250 miles in the past 3 days and my body was screaming for a rest day…please! Jim agreed. We should keep the mileage low. 50 miles or less. BUT, after looking at the maps again this morning, we realized that we would be biking about 70 miles before we hit civilization/a campground. Argh. The sky was ominous and, although it felt warm this morning, the forecast called for rain, wind and cool temperatures. We packed the rain coats and agreed a cooler day might be nice.

Leaving Natchez Trace Parkway

About 15 miles into the ride we left The Natchez Trace, crossed the grand ‘ol Mississippi River and entered Louisiana. Jim and Jeff met us over the bridge and we agreed on a route to take us about 50 miles through Louisiana and, ultimately to the start of The Southern Tier trail (which is the Adventure Cycling bike route that takes us due west until we reach San Diego!).

Crossing the Mississippi River

Entering Louisiana

After lunch the rain came and, oh did the winds pick up! We were heading south mostly and the winds were whipping wildly from the west at 30-35 mph. The cross winds sent me flying across the road. I gripped the handle bars tight and purposefully listed to the right into the wind in order to keep my balance for the next 30 miles.

The wind pushing over Kevin's flags

It was windy and cool day. It felt like fall and a perfect Halloween night! The wind definitely took a toll on me. I was ready to call it quits when, like an oasis, we saw Jim standing on the side of the road waving us down and pointing us to our campsite for the night. Old River Lock Recreational area adjacent to a bridge that is, indeed just a spit away from The Southern Tier trail! A deep exhale for finally reaching this point in the trip!

68 miles in the saddle today. I need a good nights sleep tonight as tomorrow the winds are supposed to be wild!

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Tonight my mom, her best friend Patricia and my Aunty Sylvia head to Italy for a 2 week vacation. Safe flight and have fun! Lots of love to you all!

Day 25...It's Hot Down Here

It was a hot one today! 90+ degrees and nothin’ but blue skies.  I had read the weather forecast wrong yesterday. Today was indeed supposed to be sunny. And it was! Boiling hot! On the phone tonight my mother asked if there was any way I could ride with an umbrella to protect my skin from the sun. That's what happens after 40+ years of marriage to my father, a dermatologist. Laughing, I said I’d work on finding one to put on my helmet. I do have spf sun sleeves and a sun proof cap (with an attached neck guard) some where around here. I didn’t think I’d be needing that stuff until Texas! I guess not.  

We set off a tad late this morning (9:30) back onto the Natchez Trace Parkway. Were in no rush as Jim had to wait a few hours to go to the airport to pick up our newest team member, Jeff Gregor.  Knowing we probably wouldn’t see the fellows until the early afternoon, Kevin and I packed some extra snacks and planned to make our first real stop 50 miles in at Port Gibson, MS. I couldn’t get comfortable on the bike today. Every little thing was nagging me. My wrists. My seat. My quads. Frustrating! 

We stopped to stretch at mile 25 and made it to Fort Gibson for a decent lunch and a very needed liquid replenishment.  We were back on the road in about 30 minutes and received a text from Jim saying he and Jeff were about 40 miles behind us on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Sure enough, about 45 minutes later, the RV made its way up the road behind us. They pulled over, we said hello to Jeff, grabbed a few cookies and pedaled our way through the hottest part of the day, 25 more miles.

82 miles total today. The heat sapped us but we made it! 250 miles in 3 days. Not bad for a few amateurs ;-). Tomorrow will be an easy day I hope cause I need it. 

No Reception at camp site so tonights post will be posted tomorrow!

Day 24...Flying, literally

This morning's pre-ride warm-up was a 30 minute flight, care of our new friend Allen Ross, in his Cessna 172 single engine, 4 passenger plane. We flew 1,000 feet over Kosciusko, MS on a beautiful morning, not a cloud in the sky.  Jim and I, the "little people", sat in the back and Kevin sat with Allen in the front.

The Gang, airborne 

We flew over Oprah Winfrey's church! Allen showed us the house he grew up in and we even saw an aerial view of the Mexican restaurant we ate at last night.  Too funny!

Oprah's Church + Runway

Allen (our pilot) and I

After the flight we said our goodbyes and hit the road. Back on The Natchez Trace Parkway, headed southwest. Another gorgeous day. But, dare I complain (as I know it's going to rain tomorrow), it was a wee bit too hot and VERY sunny.

Leaving Kosciusko, MI

My biking tan lines are getting darker each day, despite the use of high spf sunscreen...even have tan lines on my hands from my fingerless gloves (what?!). I can only imagine what they will look like by the time we get through TX, NM and AZ. I have a feeling they will be a statement at my dear friend's Steph's wedding which is at the beginning of December, in England. Ha! Sorry Steph! I definitely need to ask my sister, Hilary, if she can find me a dress that will cover all the obvious spots!

Ross Barnett Reservoir, Natchez Trace

Jim met us about 60 miles into the ride right where the parkway meets the Ross Barnett Reservoir. We enjoyed a rolling (and hot) ride back to the RV, another 19 miles, to Clinton, MS. Tomorrow it's back on the Natchez Trace!
Today's total: 79 miles.
Grand total to date: 1,666 miles!

Day 23...Natchez on My Mind

Today was a big day! We rode 89 miles all on The Natchez Trace Parkway from just outside of Tupelo to Kosciusko, MI. Another sunny day and temperatures in the low 80's! For the most part, the parkway roads are flat and smooth and extremely well maintained (and recently repaved)....EXCEPT for a 14 mile stretch of "old" highway which was VERY bumpy (full of expansion joints)! But we grunted through the "rough patch" and eventually hit the smooth roads that followed.

There was a very low volume of traffic, even on a Saturday and the parkway was lovely. We did come across a 10 mile stretch of road where the trees lining it were bare. This area had been hit by the tornadoes and violent storms that struck the area on April 27, 2011. Over 20 miles of trees had been destroyed and the Parkway was closed for some time. This tornado, known as 2011 Super Outbreak, devastated parts of the Southern, Midwestern and Northeastern United States.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_25–28,_2011_tornado_outbreak

Natchez Trace Parkway, Tornado destruction

Natchez Trace Parkway, unscathed

Since there were no gas stations to stop at en route we planned to have Jim and the RV meet us for lunch. About 45 miles into the ride, sure enough, we heard the low, steady hum of the RV approaching us. After lunch we set off again, unsure how far we would go today, but hoping to get in at least 85. Jim met up with us on his bike about 75 miles into the ride with a few cold(ish) sodas in hand. We all road back to the RV together marveling at what a gorgeous day it was.

Jim had been waved down by a nice fellow, Alan, earlier when he entered Kosciusko. Alan turned out to be the airport manager in town and offered a spot for us to park the RV right next to his house, which was next to a small hanger and a 5,000 foot runway! The four of us went out to dinner (Mexican) and in our parting conversation for the night, Alan asked if we would all like to take an airplane ride tomorrow morning. Of course! Who wouldn't want to fly the sky before getting on a bike?

The Hanger!

Day 22...Back on the Trail...

It was a chilly morning in Hamilton, AL. Temperatures were in the high 40's ...!!!!....but at least it was sunny and it was SUPPOSED to reach into the upper 70's! We put on our arm warmers, packed up our bikes and set off, headed for a new state: Mississippi. Our first stop was 50 miles away in Tupelo, MI, birthplace of Elvis!

Sitting outside the house Elvis was born in!

We battled some head wind (traveling west) and a few hills but the terrain was definitely an improvement from yesterday. The sun blazed and, indeed, it warmed up to 80! The black bike kit I was wearing (Spokespeople bike kit, of course) absorbed all that sun and made my internal temperature rise. We stopped for fluid refills and when we reached Tupelo, we had a nice lunch with Jim. 

Holding Elvis' Hand :-)

About 5 miles out of town we turned onto Natchez Trace Parkway. We were FINALLY back on the Adventure Cycling bike trail (we had spent the past 5 days finding our own way between the Transamerica and Great Rivers trails so as not to head unnecessarily north, which would add over 200 miles). 

Riding on Natchez Trace Parkway

The Natchez Trace Parkway follows the approximate path of the Natchez Trace which extends 444 miles from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN. This is a designated bike route (very bike friendly) and no commercial traffic is allowed! We will be riding this road for the next 155 miles or so! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez_Trace

Today was a short day, only 61 miles in the saddle. Tomorrow we plan to hit the road early and get at least 85 miles in. Oh, by the way, my bike computer is STILL not working. I've put a call into the Cateye people and despite urges from my dad, Kevin and Jim, I refuse to get a new bike computer. I can fix this. I just need a little help ;-) 

Day 21...Wall of Wind

Approaching a climb

The day started off cloudy and dreary. There wasn't rain in the forecast but we packed our rain coats just in case. The route was easy: go West on Route 258 until we reach Hamilton, Alabama, about 75 miles away. No turns. One road. One direction. I guess riding West means riding into a wall of wind. Add a few thousand feet of climbing to that, and you've got yourself a tough 75 miles. And that's exactly what it was.

It was just us and the road for the first 20 miles. Finally, we found a gas station. Closed. OK, keep pedaling. Next gas station....open! Great. Time to use the toilet and refuel. We stopped for a quick lunch at the half-way point (40 miles) in Double Springs, Alabama and were off again 20 minutes later pushing our pedals against 15-20 mph wind gusts. Ugh!

On some of these tougher days we tend to just put our heads down and push through the miles and not deviate from the course (for sight seeing etc). But when we saw a sign for The Natural Bridge of Alabama, the longest natural bridge East of the Rockies, we had to check it out.

The Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge, AL

Close up of The Natural Bridge

This Natural Bridge is situated in a forest in the town called, coincidentally, Natural Bridge, AL. Natural Bridge (the town) is the smallest populated town in Alabama (only about 30 people live there). The Natural Bridge (the bridge) was formed by an underwater river some 200 million years ago. It is a sandstone arch that spans 148 feet long and 60 feet high over the forest. Within the forest are 27 varieties of fern and Hemlocks dating to the Ice Age. Adjacent to the bridge was whats called The Indian Stone Head which is the profile of an Indian etched into the rock. I was an amazing sight.

Indian Stone Head

The sun FINALLY came out for us in the last 30 miles of the ride. Jim found a nice community parking lot in Hamilton to park the RV in. This afternoon the sun is warm and the winds are slowly dying down. We are cleaning our bikes, repacking the RV and watching pee-wee football practice. Then dinner + bed! Off to Tupelo, Mississippi tomorrow!