Stage 7 Report: Ol' Man River Run

Friday, June 2, 2017
Start: Oxford, MS
Finish: Stuttgart, AR
Bike Mileage: 104.4
Cumulative Bike Mileage: 703.9 miles

We awoke to a steady rainfall while hoping for an earlier start, Huckleberry and Sawyer, juiced up from the impending excitement of crossing the mighty Mississippi River 60mi westward.

After breakfast we departed by van to put in away from the downtown Oxford city streets at the corner of Rt278 and Rt315 (Blackjack Rd). Pleasant start for the day after the rain passed leaving slightly cooler and overcast skies. Very nice winding country road, farmland, usual hungry yard dogs but we dodged and weaved, eyes scanning on patrol duty for any further canine encounters ahead which, inevitably "dogged" us today as well but not nearly as much as the day prior.

We passed directly over the Sardis Lake dam, extended good morning greetings to our Turkey vulture friends observing our progress westward as they aired their wet wings. Beautiful park around the Lake (MS version of Lake Lanier north of Atlanta).

We passed through the town of Sardis, the seat of Panola County, then through mild roller coaster hills as I pointed out some interesting animal-shaped kudzu features (who doesn't like seeing things in the woods or clouds?, what do you see in the kudzu photos attached) as we relaxed for the day's century ahead of us.

By 25mi in the skies opened again and steady rains soaked us for the next hour. A few miles further and the topography opened to flat lowlands with soybean and rice fields as far as the eye could see on either side. We took a breather to reexamine our intentions on thus epic trip across our great country at the small river crossing into Quitman County. What a name!!! No sir! We stop in the service station at Sledge for a stretch and snack. "We are Family" playing in my mind - especially with the continued kindness offered to us by local folks all over. The lady at the counter, shmoozing with Mike about our Blaze journey, didn't even charge him for a few items. We are family, we are all Americans, we are all humans with the desire to make room for goodness and kindness. It is great fun seeing the expressions and amazement in people when we inform folks in any and all places of our cross country journey, and especially adding that we are raising funds for children and military veterans. People are genuinely good, I feel, but their life situations may not allow that goodness to exude. Take tractor trailer drivers - we've probably been passed by thousands already and yet there is the handful of close encounters in narrow shoulders that have been harrowing enough to wonder if Quitman County is a a good place to rest on our limited success and return home to our wives and family.

But stopping in Sledge was invigorating to our spirits. We were high on soul-energy in the lowlands of Mississippi, the temperature was relatively cool, intermittent rain now, and about 30mi to the great river. Continued flat terrain passing rice and soybean fields. We crossed a carcass on the road, yet another roadkill for an atomic inspection as I document the fauna of our nation through the roads we travel (hoping if sheds light on both the species that inhabit these various parts but also the need to preserve and protect and be mindful of nature's beautiful creatures on our paths).

It was a dead chicken who died trying to cross the road. How about that-the mythic tail played out right here along Rt315/Wellington Rd, looked peaceful on its side right snack in the middle of the road-neither to the right or left, perhaps confused which way to go before mortally struck. Confused chicken-how many people are confused in life paralyzed by indecision, unwilling to take the leap in faith in their abilities, to pursue their dreams, to forge a new relationship or venture into a new job or career. Don't be that confused chicken! My life story is forward looking, not side-to-side confusion. If U can inspire any child or adult from this cycling journey it is - Don't be a Confused Chicken!" Think about it-then act appropriately and smartly and with the best of intentions. Make the works a better place for you, for others, for the animals and birds and fish and the air we breathe and the good we consume and the love and laughter will be ever present in our lives.

The bridge came into view ahead. Like a spiny mirage. We were hungry men-first a stop at the Isle of Capri Casino on the MS side of the river. The crossing needed to wait a bit-we turned in, met Patrick in the parking lot, and entered the casino lobby at 2:08pm. Buffet drool already causing the stomach acids to churn.

"Good afternoon Mam, we are here for your world's finest casino buffets. We haven't eaten in 3days and would sure appreciate your hospitality."

"Why thank you, you handsome sweaty man," she said, "but the buffet just closed a trifle 8min ago. What a shame?!"

"But we've ridden 660mi just for this buffet Mam, and Las Vegas is still over 2000mi ahead!"

"I'm so sorry, closed from 2-5pm, but there's a snack bar just across the way for the same price meal."

"OK, thank you Mam" as we sullied over to it. 2:08pm. Shouldn't have stopped at Quitman County sign or in Sledge for that matter...

Food in. Rested. Buffet Blues (sort of) forgotten, Huck and I rolled up the ramp and crossed the Mississippi River into Arkansas. Three states completed.

Energy level high, I paced us forward along Rt49 to Poplar Grove, then headed southwest Scenic Rt316 heading towards Saint Charles. Turned out to be one of the most picturesque flat open winding country roads we have been on to date. Just beautiful in the late afternoon slightly cooling temperatures. Chatted with a nice farmer and took some photos (of his pigs in a pen). I felt like the illustrated children's books in my youth were jumping off the page - ah, the oinks and aromas. Not just three little pigs, a whole happy muddy family. And so photogenic!

Mike was having some seriously low blood sugar concerns sapping his energy despite snacks. Stopped u see a cool shady oak tree in a farm house yard, knocked on the door to see if a soda might be had, no one home, rummaged in an outside freezer (full of meat, pork?...). Mike snacked done more and gradually rebounded. Type I Diabetes is tough. I respect him anyway (most of the time) but doing this ride despite the challenges is really amazing to me. Stand up and clap for him because he deserves it and is an inspiration (I may not say that again the rest of the journey so there you go Mike).

Continued on through the White River National Wildlife Refuge, great swampy wetlands teeming with critters, snakes, bugs, songbirds, hawks, and even spotted the cutest young inquisitive raccoon. Tried to catch his photo but he had other intentions, and after a few seconds of curiosity in a sweaty cyclist, he scurried back to the swamp. No refugee - this was him home town. I was the one just passin' thru...

We finished the ride at the exit of the refuge near the town of Saint Charles. Patrick met us there, pa led the cycles into the van, and zoomed gown a few minutes to the town of Stuttgart, AR; checked into the Day's Inn and Suites, scanned the town for anything open for dinner, and settled on some tasty fish and chips in town at Captain Hooks; very kind lady who helped make our selections; I chose the mixed plate of fried catfish, tilapia and cod; side of fried okra with green beans. Crunchy, light, and tasty. I closed my eyes; thank you for this feast for a hungry man, a pleasurable buffet indeed to the end the incredibly scenic, Mississippi milestone day.

Bikeoo

Painter's Paradise

Cyclist's eyes etch memories to draw

Beautiful Arkansas!

Indexes-Stage 7:

Weather: (8)
Rain in am, overcast, then partly cloudy mixed with sun showers, muggy in afternoon-evening

Terrain: (8)
Rolling hills in am, then flat to the MS River; the last 5-10mi stretch of cement laid disconnected sections was rough as each 10ft section of so was jarring at the section joints causing uncomfortable pressure on your hands/wrists and extending to your upper body. In fact, the pressure I exerted caused my left metal armrest pad bracket attached to my aerobars to snap off. Remainder of day was very nice largely flat sections to the finish.

Scenic: (9.5)
AR is shaping up to be quite a nice mix of hills, flats, and farm country lanes. Passing over the Sardis Lake dam in the morning was just beautiful! Great swampy area passing through the White River National Wildlife Refuge at end of the day! Yes, buggy and muggy but all part of the territory. Bugs have their needs as well. Dalai Lama, when I once had seen him interviewed, and I paraphrase here, said he doesn't squish the mosquito on the first or second bite. But after that the mosquito (or biting flies or noseeums ever present in the swampy areas) has pushed his look. Squish happens!

Wildlife and Roadkill:
W-cranes, Turkey Vultures drying spread-winged at Sardis Lake, turtles, rabbits, deer, young curious raccoon, songbirds (this was truly a day to enjoy their beautiful voices-so many birds enjoy flirting from pole to pole, fence post to fence post, trekking us, traveling westward and simply singing full-throated like an innocent kindergartener at a school play). Singing back sometimes helps when tired or frustrated. They do respond-we must never forget the joy from just singing, it was our first language from our mothers, those heartfelt lullabies. White ibis feeding in the wetlands near the MS river and in soaked rice fields

R-raccoons, armadillo, skunks, snakes, ONE CHICKEN crossing the road (see stage story), songbirds, variety of snakes, Boa constrictor snake, beautiful hawk

Endurance: (10)
High energy all day

Bike Report:
M-all good
D-broken L aerobar armrest. I arranged for Judy to purchase new setup at Performance Bike in Roswell (very helpful store manager-Richard, as always) as well as the bolt piece that covers my L peddle crank arm; the next van driver, Api, will deliver to Little Rock, AR on her flight tomorrow; rear tire has a good deal of wear and a small gouge out of the rubber-it will need changing soon

Medical Report:
(I am henceforth changing the title here from Injury Report to Mefical)
M-wounds from bike fall on Stage 4 healing well
D-some scapula muscle tightness, L mid-plantar sensitivity, some nerve numbness to 4th/5th fingers due to the jostling road conditions before the MS River crossing and hand on handlebar position

Still Having Fun: (9.9)
Great mix of terrain, scenery, and weather today with high energy; no buffet at casino deserves a 0.1 deduction-Bummer!
Quads are rock solid now!

Photos

Progress map. click to go to interactive map.

Missing crank bolt at center (shouldn't see a hole)

Kudzu the Elephant!

Time to return home?

Armadillo Roadkill. Sadness every time these beautiful creatures are seen; their covered shell is actually quite leather in texture, mobility, not like a turtle shell's hardness