After Flagstaff, this is nothing!!!  I think I heard that a couple times today.  The weather caught up with us as the low that’s been churning to our west caught us just after lunch.  The last 55 miles were pretty juicy to say the least.  Come to think of it, it was pouring for a short while.  Everyone sloshed on with aplomb...nothing’s too tough for these folks now. 

I’ve affectionately referred to my job as “herding cats.”  Today was a good example as several riders got bonus miles on what was already a long day even without miscues.  I think I’ll use that title when I write my memoirs someday. Tom made a couple wrong turns early and when his mileage got off, missed a couple more late in the day.  I was afraid to ask him how many miles he logged today.  Steve, on the other hand, was zooming with GPS precision well ahead of the group as he was trying to stay dry...not even he could outrun mother nature, but he gave it a good try.  Yep, they all got soaked, but they were all still smiling at ride’s end.  It’s the “hard” that makes this worth doing...if it was easy, why bother?

We started out on a non busy highway for about 2 miles then we turned out into the Mississippi back country.  Our route was much more rural than our first taste of Mississippi.  Today we rode several miles on roads that didn't even have a centerline...those are the kind I like.  Although some of them get a bit rough in places, I think it's worth it to get out in the country and relax without all the traffic of the highways.  At one point on our route, we had noted a short area that we identified as "Rough in spots" and last time through it didn't even have any pavement.  Luckily, they had fixed that section so we didn't have to ride through gravel this trip.

The terrain was rolling to say the least, but nothing big.  We just had constant rollers of 50 to 100 feet that just kept coming at us...on the flip side, we also had just as many down hills as we did up so it evened out.  If I had to describe the landscape and scenery, I'd say it was very rural with smaller farm lots than in the delta.  There were small houses scattered all along our route and every so often we'd come into a small village of 100 or so people.  We also saw many abandoned shacks and old houses that probably had a great story to tell if they could talk.  But now, they just sit rotting under the Kudzu and the families they sheltered long ago has long since departed.  Small businesses like filling stations and country cafes were also unable to escape the changing times and population flight.  Many filling stations probably never even saw gas over $1.25.  It's sad, but a sign of the times.  I guess agriculture is the main source of income out here, but we saw small horse or cattle ranches among the crop farms too. 

To say this part of the ride is a little depressed would be an understatement.  I guess there's a little life around here in Aberdeen, but not during a weekend.  We had trouble finding eating places when we got to town.  The only things open were a McDonalds, a food store deli, and a Subway.  The two restaurants were closed on weekends and the restaurant that used to be at the motel was also permanently closed.  Most of the riders stopped on their way to the motel to eat, but those that didn’t eat early found themselves high and dry...not even a pizza delivery available.  The nearest pizza joint is 25 miles from the motel.  We ran a food shuttle at 6:00 for those who hadn’t eaten.  We needed a gun to hunt for dinner...now that’s an idea.  The rest of the way we'll be in much more vibrant areas...Tuscaloosa, Prattville, and Columbus are all happening places...if we can just get enough food here to get us on our way.  But in spite of the boarded up Main Street, there was some beautiful architecture as we rode through...there were several Antebellum homes as we rode through town.

Even with the long mileage and the foul weather today, people got in at a reasonable time.  It's amazing how much easier it is to ride 130+ when you don't have a headwind and you have 2000 miles in training in the last 18 or so days.  Even with all the climbing, it's not as bad as headwinds all day.  Tomorrow we get to my hood...Alabama!  There's lots of turns and plenty of climbing to wile away the day...definitely a good day not to get bonus miles.  Y'all come see how we do...see you then.