This was as pretty a day to ride a bicycle as you can
imagine. It had all the ingredients for a great ride. Since Bogalusa is short
on restaurants, last evening and early this morning we had cooler meals. We
stayed at the Magnolia Garden Inn & Suites where rooms were equipped with a
“full kitchen” and a separate bedroom. The accommodations were very nice. The
hotel was serving pre-wrapped rolls and day old coffee, and it was served
between 6:30 and 7:00, so the cooler food worked better for us.
We were on the
bikes at 7:00am, both wearing our lime green shirts, as the sun crept over the
horizon. Four miles from the hotel we crossed the Pearl River that marks the border
between Louisiana and Mississippi. Since we were on a mission, the nondescript
rivulet didn’t even warrant a picture. So inconsequential was this river that
the state of Mississippi had barely a sign indicating that we had entered it. Not
until we were a mile into the state was there a large sign declaring such.
Early in the ride we had a choice of staying on a
bermless state highway or taking back roads. We chose the latter and to our
surprise we had as good a ride as I have ever experienced. Except for a few
connector roads totaling about a mile, we did not ride on any numbered
highways. They all had names. In fact, most of them had two names, a first name
and a surname, something common in Mississippi.
We traveled down shady lanes with houses dolloped here
and there. We traveled down pitch and tar roads with horse farms reminiscent of
Lexington. We traveled down roads with new growth pines, soon to be
neighborhood power poles. All of this beauty was peppered with a few dog
encounters. The native canines here are sneakier than the ones back in Ohio. They
wait until you pass by, stealthily creeping up behind you before announcing
their presence.
Last evening we discussed the weather situation making
arrangements to deal with it. It was agreed that we would ride until the rain
or wind prevented us from moving along. Rain was expected after 11:00am and the
wind was to pick up after 1:00pm. We carved the route into a dozen 5-6 mile
pieces with Susan stopping at the end of each so that we could assess whether
to continue. We were in fact in a race to beat Nate to Gulfport. As the miles
piled up, the rain and the wind held off, so we kept biting off the miles.
Fortunately for us Nate’s presence kept the winds calm
north of Gulfport allowing us to make very good time. Four miles from town we
started feeling raindrops falling on our heads. The accelerating wind trimmed
dried tree branches that began to pelt us. Finally, just as the weather
worsened, we rolled up to the Black Oasis with St. Susan waiting. All three of
us marveled at the fact that we finished a 75-mile ride when we initially
expected to ride half that distance. It was the wind that was (not) a factor
today.
We are not sure about the next two days. Nate arrives
at midnight with its storm surge and accompanying wind and rain. We will assess
the weather for the next few days before making any decisions. Stay tuned.
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| New growth pines |
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| Storm rolling in as we approached Gulfport, MS |
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