Daily Miles: 79.4
Total Miles: 717.77
Max: 34.9
Avg: 14.1
Time on the bike: 05:37:14
Today wasn’t that great. Let me explain:
When you camp on the gulf coast and the humidity is 95% it isn’t fun. When I came back from dinner last night everything was basically wet. This is different from damp. Damp is “okay”. When things are wet, it sucks. I crawled into my tent and the inside floor and walls were soaked. Beads of water were rolling down the walls and the whole tent looked as if it had suffered through a torrential downpour. I crawled in eerily and managed to blow my air mattress up. As long as I was on the air mattress I would be okay.
I kept my sleeping bag inside its waterproof sack and only slept in my sleeping bag liner. Eventually though it got cold enough where I needed to take it out. Down materials and damp environments don’t work well together so this made me angry.
In the morning I had the pleasure of packing up everything in a damp, wet mess. Not to mention my bike, also soaked through, dripping with a salty damp humid coating of slop. I tried wiping off some of the moisture. It can’t be good for all those working parts. A tiny spec of rust was on a few chain links and this made me upset. Thankfully I was able to wipe them clean.
I put on a wet shirt and damp shorts and finally got the hell out of there around 8:00 AM. A low fog enveloped the island and as I peddled north away from Daughin a fierce wind blasted my face. I road over the nearly 6 mile long bridge from the island to the mainland and it was like I was in a dream, floating with the clouds above still waters. It sounds fantastic but it wasn’t. I was happy to be over it when I reached the other end.
I went through a few small towns and stopped at a convenience store to buy some snacks. The lady working there asked me about my trip and where I was heading.
“California,” I said. Her eyes lit up really wide.
“Why would you want to do something like that?” She howled. She didn’t smile.
“It’s a good way to see the country,” I said. “And it’s fun…some of the time.”
She seamed satisfied with this response and said, “well…you be real careful. There’s a bunch a looney toons in that New Orleans. You watch yourself and be safe!” With that she walked back into the store to help a customer.
I finally rode out of that town and got off the Southern Tier again. I would now follow highway 90 west which would again take me by the shore on my way to New Orleans.
Highway 90 was mostly okay up until the bridge out of Pascagoula and into Beloxi. The bridge had a nice bike path and then on the other side it just ended. Stuff like this happens all too often. Imagine putting together a 1000 piece puzzle but your missing 30% of the pieces. That’s how this route has been. Frustrating.
Highway 90 had turned into a major thruway that was lined on all sides by casinos. I rode in the traffic for awhile until some cars came way too close to me. I thanked them and gave them the thumbs up. Three feet people! Three feet! People sometimes suck. Please, give cyclists sufficient room for comfort. What’s the goddamn rush anyway?
My options for accommodations in the evening were lackluster. I ended up staying at a Motel 6 in Beloxi that overlooks the beach from across highway 90. Not looking forward to the ride out of here. I think I may have to ride on the side walk and beach walk for awhile unless a shoulder reappears or I can get on this other side road.
Bike touring is fun at times but it depends a lot on the roads. Bad roads do not lead to a very fun time.
Tired and exhausted today. I really need a day off.
Awesome, the walls and bedding match the new drapes!
Really enjoying the daily doses, thank you.