Day 271
Mississippi
Today we left Alabama and entered our third US state, Mississippi. We started out on reasonably quiet roads, then approached a big bridge, again with road works taking place. We nervously approached. Just as we got there Tom spotted a no cyclists sign on the road. We then realised the wonderful people of Mississippi had built a separate lane for cyclists and walkers. Before we could start to ride on the bridge we got chatting to Ruby. She asked about our trip and told us how she had encouraged her daughter to spread her wings and go for her dream job in New York. It’s hard to explain how much we appreciate these chats, though brief they help us to feel at home and welcome here, and so many continue to keep in touch via this blog, we love that.
Now for the bridge, and oh my! Instead of 3 miles of terror, with Tom shouting pedal, pedal, pedal faster, we had 3 miles of joy. We had time to slow and enjoy the view towards Biloxi and over the bay. We even sat and ate lunch at a viewing area! We loved the railway bridge opposite, we had been riding near it for a day or so, last night we had heard the train’s whistle blow as it past our campsite. The bridge designers of Mississippi we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
We then noticed that we were riding on a cycle path that Komoot hadn’t picked up. So we decided to leave the Komoot route we had planned and stick with the cycle route. This meant at times cycling with the highway to our right, but it also meant we had the stunning view of white sand and the Gulf of Mexico to our left. We passed some fascinating sights, I managed to escape from the jaws of a rather large shark, we found possibly the largest guitar in existence, saw an alien’s house, an art gallery that was housed in a piece of art, and on a more sombre note saw the signs showing the tide heights reached when hurricanes have hit these shores.
All the while we continued to ride along a traffic free boardwalk. Well over 20 miles later we reached another bridge at the Bay of St Louis. We had to re-join the highway for a mile or so but then, being in Mississippi, we had a traffic free separated lane to cycle over the bridge on. Bliss.
We now have three whole nights in a motel. Our bodies need a break from the bikes, but as any touring cyclist will tell you, we won’t actually get a lot of rest. There will be laundry to do, pannier bags to empty and clean, two bikes to wash and service. Those that have heard Tom tell the tale of how he knew I was the woman for him will understand how they will be washed! Blog to be updated, emails and texts to be answered and maybe even a film to be edited.
Life on the road, it’s a holiday but not quite as you know it!
