Day 3: Saturday

Dst: 65.42 mi
Avg; 12.4 mph
Mx: 27.8 mph
Tm: 5:14:31

I began my day with the Breviary and Mass before packing up and heading out.   Then we rode up the street a ways to Hardees for breakfast.  It occurred to me that there are very few “café” type restaurants here, but there is a lot of fast food. 

It was a cool morning, so we had to don our winter weather gear for a bit at the start, but it was sunny.

Soon we were crossing the Pearl River on a long bridge (the river looks high now) and leaving Louisiana behind us, we entered Mississippi.

The roads once we turned off highway 26 were mostly empty, which was nice.  Some were rough and most were hilly, which was tiring since we were fighting headwinds and crosswinds today.  I was tired and slow today, often climbing at only 6-8 mph! Somewhere along the way, I spotted this soda-guzzling gator and met up with Jesse for a short break..

As we entered Mississippi the houses, lawns, etc., cleaned up considerably.  I was kind of grossed out by all the trash in yards, the trucks with flat tires rusting away in yards next to washing machines on their sides, etc., in parts of Louisiana.

Everyone has been very friendly and helpful so far, but as I rode through rural Louisiana I found myself wondering why they couldn't clean up the place … granted, the place was trashed by Katrina a while back.  But lots of this stuff has been laying around a lot longer than that, by the looks of it.  I do feel bad judging these kind people so harshly. But why the trash everywhere? I realize that part of Louisiana is quite poor, but does that have to mean the yards fill with junk?

Anyway, back to the riding.  There were a lot of turns on today’s route.  We rode by cow pastures, forests, and many big lawns (and dogs, who chased us).  This is rural, but never empty, country.  Houses and trailers are everywhere, but spread apart, on big lots.

Soon we arrived in Poplarville, were we had lunch at McDonalds (ugh… we missed the Subway).

After we were on the road again, it was more hills, some trees, and quiet roads.

Along the way some pickups pulled over, the men got out, and walked into the woods.  Soon, they passed me and did the same thing again.  They seemed to be checking or setting some traps for some kind of critter.

Once in Perkinston, I headed north to Wiggins where Jesse had reserved a room at the Best Western.  We did laundry, had supper at a Mexican place, and relaxed.