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Monday, 23 April 2012
Pleasant Meander to South Kentwood, Louisiana - 46.1 miles
Good nights sleep at Perry's despite a distant coyote howling and bullfrogs in the lake. The tent was quite wet with condensation in the morning but as Perry said ' That's Louisiana for you'. Helped by a few choice words I bundled it all away. The first thing I do, when I reach camp in the afternoon, is spread the tent out and dry it in the hot sun. We were following an untried route today and the surface was smooth tarmac, no chipseal or rumble strips and little traffic. Perfect. I passed the Dixon Correctional Institute and stopped to take photos of the inmates playing baseball, all encaged in heavy metal fencing. Within minutes a truck appeared, a warder said 'Can I help you Ma'am'. I tried to play the Arran card but it didn't work, 'This is a prison, Ma'am, move on'. Apart from that it was a pretty uneventful ride, rolling hills and the continuing lush countryside. There is some serious money here but also a lot of poverty. We cycled along Springfield and Liberty roads used in 1863 by two Union Regiments as a diversionary raid prior to Vicksburg. We are just slightly north of the Gulf of Mexico and tomorrow we cross into the dogleg of Mississipps State. A bit of useless information to finish - Britney Spiers was born in Kentwood and comes back to the area regularly..... still loving this life....
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Camp Site just south of Kentwood, Louisiana. Inspirational Prayer Gardens near Camp Site - Unusual?
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Sunday, 22 April 2012
The Mighty Mississippi - Jackson 64.1 miles.
For those of you following my schedule there has been a slight change of route. We are just south of Jackson, Louisiana so we could try out a new camp site, guinea pigs for ACA. It rained through the night so we woke to an overcast day. I am greatly amused how the threat of rain affects my colleagues, cloud gazing and much discussion of whether to wait or go. Needless to say I don't have that problem and just head out, knowing that if it does rain the worst that can happen is, I'll get wet but it will be warm. It didn't rain but we had an alternating head and tail wind, could have been much worse. The first 40 miles just flew by and I enjoyed the longer distance again, the wheat was no longer swaying but bent over in the wind. Passed an old Colonial type house with colonades, on the porch. Apparently, due to flooding, this house has been moved 3 times. The last time in 1930, they found 8 union canon balls, in the walls. I stopped at an old church built in 1848, the grounds were consecrated by Bishop Polk, the 'Fighting Bishop' of the confederacy. The church is made with handmade bricks and the stained glass windows came from England. I stopped with Todd and Robert M. at New Roads, for lunch - huge plate of fries and chicken/salad croissant. Just eating sooo much, need to watch. Levee's towering above us, at the side of the road, indicated that we were getting near the mighty Mississippi. Then, an imposing bridge loomed and there it was, a big broad muddy river, much photo taking and excitement. Our camp site tonight is the large grounds of a couples home. Like many houses, in the area, the roof is made of metal. This is so it can be securely hammered down, to prevent peeling, in the strong winds. For the first time we had an outside shower,interesting. The garden is decorated with old rusty bikes which is actually quite effective. Moving rapidly across country but.....loving it still....
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Saturday, 21 April 2012
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