Month: April 2017

April 4, 2017

Posted on April 4, 2017August 31, 2020 by mikebike

April 4, 2017. Franklinton Louisiana to Poplarville Mississippi 69 miles. 2210 miles from the Pacific. A great day to be on the bike pedaling my way through Eastern Louisiana and Southern Mississippi. From Franklinton the route takes me Southeast through Springhill, Plainview, and Bogalusa. I dare you to try to find them on a map. I stop in Poplarville for lunch followed by a root beer float. I fill my food bag for my evening and morning meals since I will be camping between towns. The roadsides are covered with purple, yellow, red, and orange flowers. The winds are light and so is the traffic. The route wines up-and-down and all around this forested area. there are pretty Estates along the way with ponds horses and cows. I could live here. By afternoon the Mississippi sunshine brings the temperature 90°
. It is less humid today and the roads have many shady spots that feel like air-conditioning when I ride through. Well not real air-conditioning but at least it’s cooler in the shade. Camp happy to set up next to a beautiful little lake. The owner of the property is 91 and she loves to host bicyclists. She has had people from all over the world visit her beautiful little camping park. She is my inspiration for the day . I pay her the five dollars for the campsite which includes a shower and access to the bathroom. I think these are 1970 prices here. I hope you found someone that inspired you today.
Cheers,
Freebird

That’s mine. You can have one if you pedaled 69 miles today.

April 3

Posted on April 3, 2017August 31, 2020 by mikebike

April 3, 2017. Clinton Louisiana to Franklinton Louisiana 60 bikers bliss miles. 2141 miles from the Pacific. My little detour off route yesterday to stay at the Wildflower Inn B&B turned out to be a good decision. It stormed all night long and a tornado touched down in the area. All this while I was sound asleep in my nice comfy bed. I awake about 6 AM and it’s still raining, so I went back to bed for another couple hours of sleep. The rain moves off to the north and Horse and I hit the road by mid morning. It’s sprinkles on and off for the first couple hours. The sun pops out and drier air moves in after the storm. Every river, ditch, and parking lot is flooded. Frogs, snakes, and cute little lizards are on the roads trying to escape the fast-moving floodwaters. Many of them don’t escape the fast moving cars. There are beautiful old plantation homes and pretty county courthouses along the way. The road meanders through this beautiful Louisiana Hillcountry. The highway is like a giant roller coaster with fast-moving stream in every valley. I keep busy shifting through the gears as we climb and descend repeatedly. I thoroughly enjoy this day with relatively smooth roads and a pretty good tailwind. And I am grateful for the lower humidity. About 3 PM horse and I pull into Franklinton and start looking for a place to stay for the night. I look on the warm showers app and find out the local police department Hosts bicyclists. So I’m camped in the back yard at the police department. They have a nice shower and a full kitchen and are close to a couple restaurants. Life is good in Louisiana. One of the blessings of this type of travel is that you never know where you’re going to end up. And I am reminded once again about the blessings of uncertainty. I hope your life is good wherever you end up tonight – planned or unplanned.
Cheers
Freebird

April 2, 2017

Posted on April 2, 2017August 31, 2020 by mikebike

April 2, 2017. Morganza Louisiana to Clinton Louisiana 48 stormy miles. 2081 miles from the Pacific. I packed up camp happy in the misty morning Mississippi River Delta. I ride 10 miles to New Roads for breakfast. During breakfast I hear thunder in the distance. I checked radar and it looks like I’ll be here a while. By 11 AM the thunderstorm moves north and Horse and I giddyup across the Mississippi River bridge. OMG what a view from the top. It even had room for a bike lane. I pedal hard against strong headwind. The humidity is unbearable. I sweat from every pore of my body. It’s an up-and-down ride through a pretty forest area near the Audubon historic site. I get to Jackson and have some lunch. I checked radar and it looks like I’m good for an hour or two. Horse and I get about halfway to Clinton when thunder and lightning show up in my mirror. I put him in the storm running gear and we arrive in Clinton just before the storm hits. I am soaked with sweat and exhausted but the nice innkeeper at the B&B lets me in anyways. The Wildflower Inn is a huge old Louisiana house complete with swimming pool. The owner lives off site and there are no other guest tonight, so I have the place to myself. Horse even has a spot in the garage. This is some good living. I am doing my laundry and listening to the rumble of thunder outside. The storm is expected to last all night. I hope you are safe, warm, and loved wherever you are tonight.
Cheers, Freebird

Mississippi River bridge shrouded in clouds

Selfie from the top of the mighty muddy bridge

April 1

Posted on April 1, 2017August 31, 2020 by mikebike

April 1, 2017. Chicot State park Louisiana to Morganza Louisiana 72 miles. 2033 miles from the Pacific. The ride through the state park this morning was gorgeous. This Bayou is like another world. I stopped in Bunkie for breakfast and lunch in Simmeesport. After lunch I took a deep breath and cross the bridge over the Atchafalaya River. It’s just two lanes with no room for a bike. It’s a beautiful old arch bridge so it’s like climbing over a hill. The traffic was light. the view from the top was amazing. Too bad I could stop and take pictures. I then turn south east into a strong afternoon breeze. The last 25 miles really wore me out. Camp happy is set up in an RV park just outside of town. It’s Looking like I’ll be crossing the Mississippi River tomorrow morning.
Cheers
Freebird