| DAY 65 Saturday May 4th, 2002 New Orleans, LA Late start to this day of continued fun. Had dinner with RPCVs Sarah and Tom in their Uptown home. They had both served in Ecuador so we had much to talk about. Tom's son is hoping to begin his service in Morocco in 2003. Always nice to meet fellow RPCVs and prospective PCVs. There is always so much to talk about and this was no exception. Also had an extended talk with RPCV Shelly Bankston who had hoped to join this ride but her medical boards are coming up just next week. Good luck Shelly!! DAY 66 Sunday May 5th, 2002 New Orleans, LA Another day at Jazz Fest, and why not since i am in town right? I started off the morning with a danceable latino group called Los Babies, followed by a Native American Reggae group where we participated in a rain dance. I could almost feel the rain come down...only it didn't. Spent the evening with friend RPCV Jodi Berger who just recently returned from her service in Ecuador. She is actively making arrangements to become a rider in this Third Goal Bike Ride as i pass through Atlanta, GA. Yeah, Jodi!!!!! First step is to get a bike all you interested candidates!!!! It is THAT easy...just ask Jodi. DAY 67 Monday May 6th, 2002 New Orleans, LA to Pearlington, MS Mileage: 44 miles, total of 2,339.64 And why would we leave 'Nawlins without a last leisurely morning listening to a great band play some classic tunes from an outdoor cafe? And that is exactly why we left this charming city in the afternoon. Good bye for now. HELLO Mississippi! And to Mississippi we went, all the way to Whites Bayou RV Park. We were not alone, there were thousands of frogs competing for the first chair of this night orchestra. No kidding, I was beside myself with awe and giggles. On a pier at the Bayou I sat and listened to the little frogs make surprisingly big noises. What a riot! It brought back fond memories of my PC service in the Caribbean. Ahhhh. DAY 68 Tuesday May 7th, 2002 Pearlington, MS to Ocean Springs, MS Mileage: 63, total of 2,402.78 It sure gets hot early in Mississippi! If the heat did not wake me, then the woodpeckers did. Plenty fine with me considering the annoyance of curious biting insects to put these two cyclists on the road ASAP. Nice friendly chat with the owner of the park who says indeed there are alligators in the Bayou, so he recommends NOT swimming in it. I concur. Now we are riding along the Gulf which is beautiful and refreshing with semi-cool breezes. So far the folks in Mississippi have been just as surprised and full of questions/comments as any other state. A gamblers paradise in the Biloxi area as the coast is full of casinos. We camped out at the David Bayou National Campground in Ocean Springs, on recommedation from some nice folks in the local convenience store. I saw my first LIVE racoon this evening as he stole my only banana, some cookies, and a Twix candy bar, making up nearly all the provisions between Jay and I. You can imagine how unacceptable that was. No fear whatsoever, unless, of course you are talking about MY fear. Shhhhhhh!. DAY 69 Wednesday May 8th, 2002 Ocean Springs, MS to Dauphine, AL Mileage: 67 miles, total of 2,469.42 Today I saw an alligator bigger than i imagined alligators to be. No kidding, how creepy to be so close to something that could potentially eat you. Another state down...as we entered Alabama TODAY!!!! What a joy! A 3.4 mile bridge took us to the island of Dauphine where we set up camp at the only campground and took a walk to the nearest restaurant (some 3+ miles). The long walk, coupled with an intense day of riding against the wind, made for some tired cyclists. DAY 70 Thursday May 9th, 2002 Dauphine, AL to Fort Pickens, Santa Rosa Island, FL Mileage: 80 miles, total of 2,549.59 A good morning 45 minute ferry ride to Fort Morgan, AL then it was on to Pensacola, Florida!!!! I cannot believe that i am in Florida! I realize that i still have quite a journey of great significance to go, but there is something very powerful about having entered a state that stands on the opposite side of the continent. I am speechless. Today we took a 4 mile bridge to head south to the island of Santa Rosa, just south of Pensacola...again not the most direct route to get from point A to B, but then again THAT is not the point. The point is that this island is home to the National Fort Pickens Park and Campground which was about 9 miles even farther out of our way but a ride WELL worth the extra effort. A beautiful ride along the narrow island with Gulf on one side and the Bay on the other. No development and plenty of white sand on both sides. A detour that everyone should welcome. Again, we were robbed of provisions by the fearless racoons. This time we lost a sleeve of crackers, and some Gu (gifted by a friendly couple on the road). DAY 71 Friday May 10th, 2002 Fort Pickens, FL to Destin, FL Mileage: 61 miles, total of 2,610.38 Today is a special day. Why? Because Jay has successfully reached his 1,000 mile mark. This calls for a roadside celebration in the form of an ice-cream party! It is a HOT HOT HOT day. Had a flat on the BOB trailer. Arrived late to Destin, 'the luckiest fishing community in the world.' Found the most inviting spot to sleep on the white sand beach at Henderson Beach State Park. What a great sleep it was. DAY 72 Saturday May 11th, 2002 Destin, FL to Panama City, FL Mileage: 71.5 miles, total of 2,681 Passed through Seaside, FL where the film The Truman Show, with Jim Carey, was filmed and modeled after. They were in full swing with their annual wine tasting festival, making for a nice place to take a rest by strolling through community of pastel painted homes and matching picket fences. Each home was marked with the name of the home, its owners and the origins of its occupants. Cute. Met a couple of cyclists who informed me that there was a man walking the perimeter of the USA whom we were bound to cross paths with today. I looked forward to this encounter that never came, though who knows...we may meet tomorrow??? Also met a hitchhiker whose appearance prooved that he has been 'on the road' for quite some time. A wandering soul indeed. Nice guy. Had trouble finding somewhere to camp for the night until we decided to accept the invitation to be led by an intoxicated fellow on bicycle, to the nearby Wal-Mart. A dream come true, we pitched the tent on Wal-Mart land to take advantage of their RV policy (recreational vehicle's are permitted to stay one night). If you ask me, my bicycle certainly is a recreational vehicle. Another flat on the trailer. DAY 73 Sunday May 12th, 2002 Panama City, FL to Apalachicola, FL Mileage: 59 miles, total of 2,740.43 A peaceful ride through the US Air Force Base until Mexico City Beach. Met a man who referred to Jay's tires as Maypop tires, "they may pop at any moment...just a redneck joke," he explains. Very hot 90' with sunshine and winds against us. Had another flat on the trailer, making this the third flat in three consecutive days. I was forced to ride for 5 miles with a flat because i could not stop long enough to fix it without being attacked by biting yellow flies. It was awful...at one point i was dancing around the middle of the highway trying to run away from the swarm attacking me. There I was waving my bandana trying to stop traffic, keep the flies off and ultimately get assistance (aka ride to the next town) but NObody would stop for this funny roadside dancing cyclist. Please let this be a lesson, if you see someone waving a bandana like mad, dancing a funny jig in the middle of an old highway...please stop to ask if you can help. Chances are... Many thanks to Jay and his reassuring hug when my trauma was over. Jay was busily negotiating our overnight stay to camp at Gary's place for the night. An eye-opening experience and peek into life as i didn't know it existed in this very country i call home. Gary and his friend David (recently turned 21 and still celebrating) told jokes and stories, while I cooked 'noodles' over the open campfire just outside his trailer home. Hoooo-eeeeeey, as Gary says. previous page next page home |