Periodic Progress Report Southern Tier Cross-Country Bicycle Tour

Date(s): Nov. 7, 1999
Day: Sunday
From: Bogalusa, LA
To: Airey, MS
Lodging: Airey NationalForest Campground
Segment Mileage: 65.1
Cumulative Mileage: 2774.2
Actual Riding Time: 4:55
Average Speed: 13.2
Weather: Warm, sunny
Temp: Low 80's

First I want to thank Kerie for making this web site possible by taking my email messages that I send daily using the Sharp TM-20 Pocketmail computer and posting them to the web site. It's been hard for her, dealing with her parents' health problems, working full time, and still finding some time to help me out. Thank you Kerie.[You're welcome. --kjh]

Today we crossed the Pearl River (and another USGS gaging station) and entered Mississippi, but we'll only be here a day before crossing into Alabama tomorrow, and a day later into Florida. Breakfast was moved up to 6:15am so that we could get on the road early to ride the 67 miles to Airey, MS. Oliver, Jimmy, Todd, Mike and I met at the Mississippi sign for a picture and then a fast run into Poplarville. There was a lot of sprinting up hills, etc. and I've finally learned to hang back and let the younger guys compete.

At the Poplarville bakery Lynne and Spike met Spike's friend and they had a 91st birthday party with his family. Most of the group stopped for coffee and donuts and I joined them, all of us sitting outside in the warm sun. After a while Spike's friends brought over their leftover donuts and we gorged a bit more. Now that we're nearing the end of the trip we're thinking about trying to cut down on the food we eat. Withdrawal will be difficult. To top off the second breakfast, a woman from the store brought out a loaf of freshly baked bread that we all shared.

Since Suzanne and Spike are cooking tonight, Suzanne wanted to get to the store early. She, Oliver, Mike, Jimmy and I rode at a good clip to the store in Franklinton, and it was hard for me to keep up with the group. I think everyone is getting stronger and it shows when we ride together.

We're camped at a beautiful National Forest campground under pine trees next to a small pond surrounded by yellow flowers. Like Cyndi said, it finally feels like we're camping. Which also means that there are pit toilets and no showers or sinks. We have water which is all we really need, and we all tried to get cleaned up as best we could after our ride.

There were several dogs on the route which meant that I could try Oliver and Mike's latest trick, to stop pedaling when the dogs start chasing. It seemed to work most of the time, but it takes a lot of faith as the dogs can get very close before stopping.

Tomorrow is a 54 mile day to Grand Bay, AL, just 10 or so miles from the Gulf of Mexico.