Day 21
Last Night: Today:

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.

But our morning departure wasn't without its challenges.  Everything was going well, the riders had departed, and the vans were starting their movement down course when I got a call from Sandra.  "We're at the T intersection but we're a mile and a half short of the published distance...and the street signs don't match the cue sheet."  She wasn't the only one who missed the first turn out in the country...to include the mechanics van who drove up on them when they were standing at the intersection wondering which way to go.  By the time we got them back on track, they had become the "new" back end...but they made up time well.  But before they could sneak back on course, I greeted them with a note on the road to let them know we were happy to see them (above right).  After that call, I spent the rest of the day riding with a can of spray paint to mark the rest of the route.  There were lots of turns out there today and extra miles on an already long 138 mile day aren't desirable...even with tailwinds.

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.  Just before the first SAG, I came upon this sugar cane farm complete with press and tractor.

To say this part of the ride is a little depressed would be an understatement.  I guess there's a little life around here, but not on a Sunday.  We had trouble finding eating places when we got to town.  The only thing open was a McDonalds and a Subway.  The two restaurants were closed on Sunday and the restaurant that used to be at the motel was also permanently closed.  I think there was a run on McDonalds and they almost ran out of Big Macs before we were through.  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 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.  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.  Y'all come see how we do...see you then.