Almost to New Orleans

We are in southern LA, and hope to be in "Nawlins" Wednesday. It seems that I started this Odyssey just a few days ago. The farther south that I've traveled, the hotter the weather has gotten. My friends from GA arrived Saturday and we started riding on Sunday.

NO 'MO TRAILER TO TOW

yesterday was the last day to tow that trailer-65 #'s of stuff.I have spent much time in this motel room resting.
This is so nice and cool. The GA crowd arrives on Saturday, so I will have friends to ride with and talk with.

Let the PARTY begin.

On to Vicksburg!

The  weather has been less than kind since leaving Memphis. The past two days, thunder storms were pretty bad-Cathy would have loved  it. The rain was coming down in sheets-what fun! With much thunder and lightening. I have learned to watch the storms approach, and get to cover ahead of the storm, then just wait it out. Today I could see it coming and found a large barn with a shed, which I took advantage of. I even took a NAP on bales of hay while it rained-pretty cool. The owner came by and said more storms were coming, so he gave me a ride to Vicksburg.

THIS CROSS COUNTRY CYCLING IS PRETTY EASY IN A PICK-UP TRUCK!! I left the Garmin on and had my best average time ever for a 50 mile ride.

Wind and Heat

Friday and Saturday were unbelievable.
The heat index was 105 +, with a headwind from the south at 15-25 mph.The forecast calls for more of the same on Monday. It really wears a body down-must make frequent stops, get in the shade for a few when possible, and to stay within one's limits. The net result is long days. The wind must take at least 20% away from one's speed.
Net result I am in a Patel Motel in Clarksdale,MS, and may be here until Tuesday when the wind and temperature should be lower - Boy that a/c feels so good.
If this plan does not work, then it may be "Thank God and Greyhound to Greenville and/or Vicksburg,Ms.

Not a good day today!!

Spent the night in Ripley, TN last night.I have been motelling more than camping.The temp has been so hot.
I rode on US 51 today. When I began, I had an 8 foot shoulder, which decreased to 3 ft after about 50 miles.
The cars were coming unnecessarily close, so I stopped, stuck out my thumb, and the first pick-up truck that came by gave me a ride into Memphis. It was getting dangerous, so I bailed. My new friend Ken took me to the area where I needed to go. His driving was terrible, so I'm not sure if I was more safe or not.

Still very hot!!

I have been getting up very early-a la  The Natchez Trace Ride. It is a good way to beat the heat. I rode from Reelfoot Lake/Tiptonville to Ripley TN today. There was a lot of very flat country-you know pedal, pedal,then pedal some more. So far I have ridden 1,743 miles, and should be in Memphis in a day or two.
Elvis is still in the building-Thank You Very Much.

There is a campground on the premises at Graceland, I wonder if they will let a Georgia RedNeck hang a hammock there-we shall see!

Long day yesterday

  I rode from Cairo,IL to Reel Foot Lake in Tennessee yesterday-260 miles in the last four days. It seems to be best for me to only think about what must be done the next day-one day at a time. When I look too far ahead it can be discouraging.

This photo is for Michael, and tell Carl this Waffle House has the LITE menu.                                                                      

Mui caliente here!

Boy, is it ever hot here. Been in the high 90's for several days.
Will start getting up very early and be on the road by 6:00 am in the morning.
Today's ride was 49 miles to where Forrest S. spends some of his time-seeing customers.
It was a very hilly ride. David left to go back home this morning, so I am back at it alone.

I hope tp make Memphis an about one week.Have ridden over 1,400 miles so far.

Some of the people that I've met-my new friends

I don't know his name, but I met a young man at a Farmers Hardware in Wapello,IA. He helped me find a part to repair my very "old" backpacking stove. You see, I never throw anything away. I will probably never know his name, but I have thought of him as I ride countless times. He had a severe disability-only partial movement with one arm, slightly better mobility with the other, and walking was quite difficult for him, yet there he was with a SMILE, great ATTITUDE, such INTEGRITY and Spirit working away. I am sure he qualified for much disability yet he was trying. It just made me realize how very small the things that I call problems actually are.

The photo of My Benefactor is of the handyman at the campground where I stayed for the past two nights He had fallen on hard times-lost his job, evicted from their apartment, living in a one room RV with wife and dog, yet he shared part of what he had with me.