Day 36 - 69.4 miles - Perry, FL

     The $30 motel I picked last night in Tallahassee was one of the worst I have been in this trip. Believe me, that's saying something as I have stayed in a few I don't care to admit to. I guess it's part of being a frugal bicycle traveller. Due to the incredibly warm temperatures and high humidity my camping has all but disappeared. To bad, because I have loved camping on all of my past trips but I just can't sweat all night and not sleep well and expect to ride the next day. 

     The only good thing about that cheap motel last night was that it was right on route and a short ride through some backroads of Tallahassee to the St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail. This newly paved trail is 16 miles long and begins in Tallahassee and heads south to the City of St. Marks. It was such a pleasure riding on this tree lined trail for 13 miles before heading east on Highway 98. I decided yesterday to make up my route using my AAA maps and not to follow the Adventure Cycling maps. Sometimes I just like to venture out and try something different. I have been both pleased and disappointed with my choices in the past. Today I was very pleased. The Adventure Cycling maps only had me on the rail trail for 6 miles before heading east on a small country road. I am sure it a good route but I wanted to maximize the rail trail. I was so happy I did this, as it made today's ride so enjoyable. I had to exit the rail trail just 3 miles from its southern terminus and take Highway 98 east. To my surprise, Highway 98 was a super road. It had very little traffic, a good sized shoulder, and the pavement was brand new. That was a blessing because I was worried about the unknown of this route, as it could have turned out to be horrible. 

     The only problem with my route change was that it didn't go through many towns for re-supply. So I was prepared from the start with enough food and water for the day. Tomorrow I will be following my own route again so I hope it works out like it did today.

     I made it to the town of Perry, by early afternoon but I was done for the day. The main reason being, that the next real town is tomorrow's destination and over 75 miles east. As I pulled Into town, I met a husband and wife who just couldn't believe that I had bicycled from California. They just didn't think it was possible and had a hard time believing me. I wish I could have switched legs with them, then maybe they would believe it. Not to say they thought I was lying, but they had never heard of someone bicycling across the country. I assured them that many people do this, and that I have done it a few times. I think I lost them there. I told them about the reason, and my breast cancer story, and of course they had their own story of a family member with breast cancer. Why I am I not surprised. It's everywhere.

     I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I only have about 200 miles to reach my goal of bicycling across America from coast to coast. It don't think it will sink in until I take my last pedal stroke. It's very exciting to think back at all I have experienced during my time on the road and the people I met and place I've seen. Right now it all seems surreal.

Photos: The northern terminus of the Tallahassee - St. Marks Rail Trail - Working my upper body for a change doing pull-ups - Me riding the rail trail around Wakulla - St. Marks river - Econfina River State Park ( last 2 photos )

Day 35 - 71.8 miles - Tallahassee, FL

     Leaving Marianna was harder than I thought it would be. Even at 6am the 4 lane highway going through this town of 6,230 people was very busy. On the east side of town I stopped at Salt Spring Park which had a lake on one side of the street and then a dam and a river on the other side of the road. I took a walk around the boardwalk that went into the woods and along the river. 

Back on the bike and once outside of town, the road seemed less travelled and the shoulders become wide and smooth. Another day of many small towns and country roads. I could have stayed right on route 90 but decided to ride the the route my maps have laid out. The country roads were rolling hills but had little traffic and the pavement was very good. I had in my mind that Florida was going to be flat, but so far that's not the case. It's not like I'am climbing mountains all day but these rollers add up, and believe me there are a lot of them. 

     Once I crossed over the Apalachicola River I was back on home time. I finally crossed into the Eastern Standard Time Zone. Now thats a good feeling. Another milestone down and that much closer to my destination. The town of Chattahoochee is on the border of Georgia. I have never biked in Georgia and had thoughts of going through the border just to say I biked there. The border is only about a mile north, but after thinking about it I decided to past on it. I continued on route and pushed into a headwind towards the towns of Gretna, Quincy, and Midway. Next I was into Florida's Capitol City, Tallahassee, and my days end. I just made it to the far west side of the city, where tomorrow I pick up the St Marks Bike Trail which is 20 miles and then I may go off route for a day or two.

     Towards the afternoon I could barely sit on my bike seat. My rear end is killing me. Not just because I have been sitting on this bike seat for the last month, 8 hours a day. It's not that, and it's too gross to go into detail here but I had major problems biking the last 20 miles today. I had to stand and pedal most of those 20 miles which is not what you want to do. I hope things heal up over night and tomorrow I'll be fresh. I really hope so, because I was in a lot of pain this afternoon. Just another crazy thing to think about while bike touring. No one ever said this was going to be pain free and easy. 

Photos: Salt Spring Park in Marianna (photos 1-3) - Apalachicola River and Eastern Time Zone - Mural in Chattahoochee, FL - Quincy Court House - Hello Tallahassee, FL

Day 34 - 88.9 miles - Marianna, FL

     It's exciting being in Florida, knowing this is my destination. Not so fast, Florida is huge and I will be traversing the whole state west to east. Though I may be in my last state, I am still over 400 miles from the Atlantic Ocean where I hope to finish in St. Augustine. 400 miles may not sound like a lot but on a bicycle, it is. I think back to my interview with Bob Babbitt, and how I said that its one day at a time and that you can't look at the big picture as its to overwhelming. How true it is. 

     Today's ride parallelled I-10 and the railroad for most of the day. The scenery was that, plus plenty of tall trees and a small town every 10 miles. I was happy about the abundance of small towns because today was hot (surprise), and I needed to stop at each town to replace lost fluids. It's unbelievable just how much I must drink to keep from passing out by the side of the road. The worst and hardest part of today is a story I have repeated many times on this trip and everyone is probably sick of hearing it. Well to be honest, I am sick of fighting all day into a constant 15 - 20 mph east wind which is a headwind for me. If I knew the winds were going to be easterlies for a month straight, I would have started in Florida and finished in California, but who knew and they can change at any time. I just wish they would change now. I don't see that happening and it's something I have come to realize and accept.

     Two new issues have come to my attention regarding my bike. First, my front wheel is rubbing  against my brake causing me to slow down and work harder. It's gotten worse over the last few days. Today I had to release my front wheel brake, so now I just have my rear wheel brake to stop me. I will try and work on it tonight to resolve this issue. Second, my bottom bracket (which is the axle where the cranks attach) are making a loud noise with every turn. I'am thinking I might have a few broken ball bearings inside the bottom bracket. I don't see these few things being a major problem but I will have to keep an eye on them.

     

Photos: Riding the railroad, to bad it wasn't moving - Lake DeFuniak - The train coming through DeFuniak Springs station

     

Day 33 - 83.5 miles - Crestview, FL

     It's official, I'am a year older now. The problem is, I feel 84 not 44. Well not really, but my body is fatigued. My legs feel super strong, but tired. I'am probably more tired of cooking in this southern sun all day for the last month. It's amazing what the human body is able to endure. Once I'am finished with this tour, I will have plenty of time to rest and recover. Knowing me and my inability to sit still, I doubt I will be at rest for long. When I'am on a bike tour such as this one and all I do is bike day in and day out, I crave other activities such as running, rolling blading, and kayaking to name a few. Those days are coming and my main focus has to be on the present.

     I break down my camp, chomp a quick breakfast, and sing happy birthday to myself. That quick I'am on the road. It's 6:30am and muggy already. My first objective this morning is to get through Pensacola. Traffic was heavy but the city has bike lanes which makes things so much better for cyclists. A beautiful city which sits on the Gulf and Pensacola Bay. I am back on my Adventure Cycling maps and they took me along the scenic coast for much of the morning. To my surprise, today had hills. I haven't seen a hill since Texas. They were rollers and nothing to write home about. To be honest, it felt good changing elevation a little. In the town of Milton, the route uses the Blackwater Bike Trail. The portion of trail I would be riding was only about 7 miles, but some how I took a wrong turn and got spun around. By the time I realized it, I was to far off the route to go back. I just hooked back up to the main road and continued east. I was a little disappointed as the part of the trail I did ride was very enjoyable. 

     Today was a day of equipment failure. First, I noticed 2 holes in my bike shorts near the groin. I only have 2 pairs of bike shorts with me. Second, I noticed the soles of my bike shoes are coming apart. Third, my sunglasses broke in 2 pieces, so I has to replace them instantly. Last but not least, I got my 7th flat of the trip on my front tire. That tube had 5 patches on it, so it was time to replace it all together. I was a metal wire that punctured the tube. At least I'am getting fast at changing tubes. 

     I stopped at the crossroads of Route 90 and the Florida Trail to take a look around. The Florida Trail starts in the Everglades National Park in Southern Florida and travels 1,500 miles to the Pensacola area. The Florida Trail is a National Scenic Trail, just like the Appalachian Trail. Of course, an interest was sparked but one adventure at a time.

     I was pleased to pull into Crestview, FL which is my destination for tonight. It's still early enough to relax a little, do some food shopping, and enjoy the remainder of my birthday. I bought a pumpkin bread to celebrate my birthday. Who knows, I might even sing happy birthday again. "Y-Knot" it's my day isn't it?

Photos: Pleasant Grove, Florida - I-10 over Pensacola Bay - Me cycling on the Blackwater Rail Trail - This is where I took a wrong turn off the Blackwater Rail Trail - The Florida Trail crossroads - My 7th blow out - Glad I didn't need a drink here at the abandoned service station in Milligan, FL

     

Day 32 - 67.9 miles - Gulf Beach, FL

     "What will today bring", I said to myself just as I woke up this morning. I can feel it, today's going to be a great day. Why shouldn't it be a great day. Everyday is a great day, but more important I believe you get out of it what you put into it. In my case, riding the bicycle everyday can get repetitious but today I am going to see new things. Explore places I have never seen and may never see again. Today section of the route may be the most scenic of the trip, and I'am not going to fly by it with my head fixed to the white line. Something I like to call " White Line Fever". That's not going to happen today. Today is more about the smiles, and not so much about the miles. I can do that on a less scenic day.

     I left Bayou La Batre around 6:45am and I was treated to brand new pavement, smooth as ice. I told you it was going to be a good day. After 15 miles I reached where the Mobile Bay meets the Mississippi Sound, which I crossed using the Gordon Persons Bridge. Another wonderful bridge, with huge shoulders to cycle on and just amazing views of the bay. I notice a sign for the ferry I must take to get across Pelican Bay. First ferry departs at 8am. It was 7:40am and I had a few miles to go. I started to push the pace but had to stop myself. Hold on, what am I doing? It's beautiful here and I'am going to race to catch the first ferry? No way, I slowed to a crawl and enjoyed this section like I said I was going to first thing this morning. I'll just catch the next ferry, which was at 9:30am. That's what I did, and was pleased with my decision. On the far side of the bridge was Dauphin Island. A beautiful small island connected by the bridge on one side and the ferry on the other side. I arrived at the Mobile Bay Ferry dock with time to spare so I continued biking to the far east of the island to visit Fort Gaines Historic Site. I biked back to the ferry and just minutes after the boat pulled in. This ferry takes vehicles as well as walk-ons. The ferry takes about 30 minutes and only cost $5 for me and my ride. Cars were $25. 

     I really enjoyed the ferry ride. It was a beautiful day, gorgeous views of the bay and I was getting plenty of wind on my face without putting out any effort. That's a first. The ferry drops you off in Fort Morgan which is just across the bay. There is another Fort on this side as well, called Fort Morgan Historic Site. History has it that between these two Forts, they where supposed to keep the bay safe from attack. Today's ride just kept getting better, and more scenic with the Bon Secour Bay to my left and the Gulf of Mexico to my right. Pretty hard to beat a combination of those two.

     I noticed a loaded cyclists coming my way on the opposite side of the road. As we neared each other I pulled across the street and stopped. I met Stefen, from St Petersburg, Florida. He started out a little over a week ago and is heading for Washington State. We both had lots of questions for each other. I really hope Stefen is going to be ok going across Texas as late as he will be. I know how hard it was for me, and I just hope he plays it safe as the temperature will only rise. Stefen is young, has lots of energy and I am sure he'll be fine. He did say this was his first tour. That's a pretty long first tour. I wished him well and pushed on. At least Stefen had a tailwind, as I battled another day of east winds. 

     I took a short hike in the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. The trail ended at the Gulf of Mexico, where I just stood and looked out at the beauty. I arrived at Gulf Shores, Alabama which is an extremely popular white sand beach. Thousands of beach goers lined the vast beach. This beach is so wide, it didn't matter how many people were using it. I parked my steed and took a walk to the waters edge. All kinds of beach activities were going on all around me. People skim boarding, playing frisbee, tossing a ball, or just lying under an umbrella. It was a little to busy for me as was the road I was biking. The good part is that I had my own bike lane for miles, which made cycling this hectic area a breeze.

     Not long after Gulf Shores, I pedaled into my 8th and final state "Florida". I can't believe I am in Florida. Don't get me wrong, I know I still have over 500 miles to cycle in this state so I wasn't jumping for joy yet. It has been a long time awaiting this moment and it has arrived. I started reflecting back to my first day of this trip in San Diego, California. Now I'am in Florida, this is crazy but a good crazy. I was all excited the rest of the afternoon. I pulled into Big Lagoon State Park where I am camping tonight. The ranger didn't charge me the $26 dollars it normally cost campers because I was biking across the country. That was very nice of "Mike" the ranger in Big Lagoon. I didn't even set up camp, I made a bee-line for the lagoon. I took a swim in the lagoon and it was just right for cooling down my overheated body. I like this place already. After my swim, it was the showers to clean up and ate my dinner which I bought at a store a few miles before the park. Most parks don't have food, so I knew to be prepared. Now I am a well fed and squeaky clean happy camper. Time to set up the tent. I am starting to get bit by these deer flies. A think it may be a good night for a movie. I downloaded movies to my IPad before if left home and haven't watched one yet. Maybe tonight's the night. I already know tomorrow going to be a great day. It's my 44th birthday! Happy Birthday to me, and I'll be doing what I love to do. It doesn't get any better then that.

Photos: Gordon Persons Bridge - Looking out towards Dauphin Island - Welcome to Dauphin Island - Me on the Mobile Bay Ferry - The ferry loaded up - Stefen, biking to Washington State - The white sand beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama - Heading over the bridge to Perdido Key, Alabama - The Gulf State Park - Beach goers in Perdido Key - My 8th and final State, Florida - Big Lagoon State Park, no swimming and my swimming spot

Day 31 - 83.6 miles - Bayou La Batre, AL

AND THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS CONTINUES...

     I was up later than normal last night working on my blog. It showed this morning as I didn't wake up until 6am. I am usually ready to ride around then. I was a little alarmed because I wanted to get an early start because its the holiday weekend and I am sure the Gulf Coast will be a popular place for both locals and tourist. I am excited about today's ride along the Mississippi Gulf. Today's first highlight will be biking over the Bay St Louis bridge. It is a brand new bridge thanks to Katrina, and was re- built with a huge pedestrian path on one side of it. The new bridge rises 85 feet above the bay at its highest point, 55 feet more than the old. The cost of the new bridge was $267 million, as construction workers worked around the clock for 10 months to connect the towns of Bay St Louis with Biloxi.

     I really enjoyed cycling over this bridge, but couldn't help but feel for those who suffered through one of the worst storms in U.S. history. The bridge drops you off right at the Gulf Coast, and my first time seeing an ocean since I left San Diego a month ago. I was a beautiful site of wide white sand beach and hardly a soul around. Most people are either still sleeping or getting ready for church. I stop for a minute to enjoy the moment when another cyclist comes wheeling up to me. Glenn, was out for his daily morning ride and was willing to show me a few side streets to ride on until I could be on sidewalks and bike paths. The Route 90 that hugs the coast has no shoulder, and will get busy later in the day. Glenn and I pedaled away as we talked about adventures we have taken, and some local history. After a few miles of frontage roads we were back to the coast. We pulled over to take a break before we were to go our separate ways, and I told Glenn about my trip and that I was raising money for breast cancer. Glenn, no sooner heard that and he had his hand in his bike bag pulling out money to give to me. I couldn't believe it. He insisted that I take it. Glenn, it was a pleasure riding with you this morning. Thank you for leading the way, and filling me in on the local history. I really enjoyed it. Of course, thank you for your donation towards the National Breast Cancer Foundation, it means a lot to so many.

     I am now back on my own heading east along the Gulf Coast. The problem was that the sidewalk / bike path was beat up in spots and had massive amounts of beach sand in other areas across the path. At times it was slow going but hard to beat the view I had on my right, which was nothing but sand and sea. I biked through Biloxi which I thought was going to be worst than it was. I think I was still early enough to beat the late sleepers and the church goes. I had another huge bridge to cross between Biloxi and Ocean Springs. This also was a new bridge and had the pedestrian path off to the one side. A lot of walkers, joggers, and other cyclist were using this bridge than spans the Biloxi Bay.

After this bridge, my route angled just inland and had wide shoulders and smooth roads.

     I was cycling into the town of Gautier, when I notice a woman getting out a car and walking towards me waving for me to stop. I come to a stop and she says "my husband and I wanted to know if you have had lunch yet". "We live right down the road just off your route if you want to eat lunch at our house". Well, I learned a long time ago to never refuse an offer of generosity. " I would love to" I replied. I told her that this is the second day in a row that I have been invited to lunch. I really can't believe this is happening, but she explained that her husband had hiked a large portion of the Appalachian Trail and that they want to give some trail magic back. Right then I knew we were going to hit it off, as it told her that my wife and I had also hiked the AT and I know all about trail magic. We introduce ourselves and her husband gets out of his car to say hello too. Their names are Natalie and Garrett and they just happened to see me biking by and spare of the moment jumped out of to offer me trail magic. Natalie put their address into my phone, so that I can use the GPS to lead me to their house. It really was just a mile down the road. I ended up biking by their house but came back to find it with no problem. I couldn't believe the lunch spread that Natalie and Garrett put together in their dinning room. A full Mexican buffet, and it was delicious. They both made me free so at home, and we had lots to talk about. Natalie is an 8th grade Spanish teacher and Garrett works in Biloxi for a small motors company. It was hard to leave as I enjoyed their company and hospitality. I thanked both Natalie and Garrett as much as words could. You don't get any friendlier people than the south, and my last two days prove it. 

    It was mid-afternoon by the time I hit the road again. I had around 25 to 30 miles left to get me to my planned town for tonight. I was excited to cross into my 7th State, Alabama. Both Mississippi and Alabama are narrow on the southern end of these state, so crossing them is about a day each by bicycle. A far cry from a state like Texas. My legs were saying no more as I pulled into town, so a good rest is a must for tonight. 

     I am so thankful for how I have been treated on this trip. It's still hard for me to imagine how a total stranger one minute can become a long lost friend the next. I can only hope that it continues as I cycle east towards St Augustine. Thank you Glenn, Garrett, and Natalie, you made my day, a special day. With tomorrow being Memorial Day, it's a great time to give thanks to those who gave their lives to protect the freedoms we all enjoy so much today. 

Photos: Cycling over the Bay St Louis Bridge - The Bay St Louis Bridge - Glenn, my guide through the side roads along the Gulf - Me enjoying the Gulf for the first time - The sidewalk / bike path in Biloxi - the bridge over the Bay of Biloxi - Natalie and Garrett inside and outside their home in Gautier, MS - Welcome to Sweet Home Alabama

Day 30 - 91.4 miles - Waveland, MS

     What an interesting day it was today. Today was one of those unknowns around the next corner days. After filling my belly with an early motel breakfast, I was off. It was just after 6:30am. It was somewhat cool and pleasant. The morning hours are the only time I can bike and be somewhat comfortable. Even that can be debatable. In this high humidity, I can be sweating profusely within minutes of hopping on the bike and as early as 7am. 

     I am now using my AAA maps to get me down to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Alabama. My Adventure Cycling maps had me biking more north through farm and country roads. I am sure they have less traffic and nice scenery, but for some reason I just wanted to ride along the gulf. I am going into this blind. Meaning, I don't know the roads, the condition, the width of the shoulder, or the amount of traffic. I must admit, this makes me nervous. Reason being, some roads can look great on paper but can be horrible to bike on. Never mind down right dangerous. I have asked a few locals, about the roads I will be traveling and received mixed reviews. Unless its a bicyclist I am talking to, it is hard for me to take advise from your local motorist. No offense, but most motorists don't think about the roads, and especially how the roads would be for cycling.

     This morning got off to a great start. I took Route 22, which was an absolute pleasure to cycle on. I was cruising on smooth, wide shoulders, thinking to myself how smart I was to pick such a great route. I cycled happily into the town of Madisonville. Madisonville is a beautiful small town on Lake Pontchartrain. I got chatty with a local who was interested in my trip. He gave me a local history lesson about his town, and proud to call it that. Apparently I just miss a huge boat race on the lake that brought thousands of people to this small town. I wasn't to disappointed that I missed the races.

    After leaving Madisonville, my luck ran out. I turned onto Route 190, and instantly knew I was in trouble. You guessed it, zero shoulder. My heart sank, and my mind wondered what to do. I was stuck. I just had to go forward and hope for the best. It was 20 miles of white knuckle biking. I hated it. I felt like I was in a lemon squeezer for those 20 painfully miles. I will say that most drivers were as kind as they could be. A few closer calls then I would have liked also. As I was biking along this route a woman pulls up next to me and slows down to my speed, yelling something out the window. I really couldn't make out what she was saying, but I had a feeling that she was yelling at me to get off the road. She pulled ahead and off to the gravel shoulder and stopped. Now I'am going to get yelled at I thought. "What are you doing biking on this road" she says to me. Before I could respond, she pointed towards the side of the road and informed me that a brand new rail-to-trails bike path is just a hundred yards away. My heart skipped a beat, maybe more. I was in shock, just couldn't believe it. "Are you kidding me" I nearly cried. I have almost been killed out here and there is a bike path I could have been on all this time. Needless to say, I was so mad at myself. I was thankful for this kind woman to stop and tell me. The bad thing was that there was only one mile left of paved path. My heart sank again. I think she saw my distress, and said to me " how would you like to come to my house for lunch and you can rest". I didn't even have to think about it. "That sounds great", I said. I introduced myself, and as did she. Her name is Johanna, and is from the Netherlands. Of course, now it's making sense. The Dutch a huge fans of cycling. Johanna pointed me in the direction of the path and said she would wait for me at the end of it, and that she lived just around the corner from the paths end. Sure enough, she was there waiting for me, and I followed her on a loose gravel road to her house.

     I pull into her driveway and I see her talking to her son before she even got out of the car. I think I knew what she was telling him. I introduced myself to Rene' and his wife Sapora who were both young and had just moved back here from Washington DC. Johanna and Sapora are heating me up red beans and rice, while Rene' and I are going over the maps and the route I should take from here. The lunch was delicious and the the company outstanding. I just couldn't believe that I had gone from total hell on that Route 190 to total heaven sitting in Johanna's kitchen all within minutes of each other.

     I overheard them talking about having to moved a couch into storage that was just down the street. I insisted that I help Rene'. Sapora, is expecting a baby in September and of course doesn't what to lift anything heavy. I was more than happy to help. The plans got drawn up. Johanna wants to cycle with me for a few miles to get me on track out of the busy area. So Rene' and Sapora drive the U-haul to the storage unit and Johanna and I bike to it. It took a total of 10 minute to move these two couches into the storage unit, and I was so happy to be of some use to someone else for once. Cycling across the country is pretty self-centering, and it feels good to help others. Plus, I have been helped countless times since leaving San Diego.

Johanna and I hop on our bikes and we are off on all kinds of backroads that I would have no idea existed if it wasn't for her. We zig zagged our way across the town of Slidell, until we ended up the towns park. We jumped off our bikes as Johanna wanted to show me something. We walked across the parks grass to a large metal structure with a white line drawn on it about 12 feet above the ground. Johanna went on to tell me that, that line is how high the water came during the Katrina storm in 2005. It was extremely hard to believe that the water could have rose that high, and gave me a sense of just how bad it was. Johanna pointed me in the right direction from there, and I hugged my newest friend, and thank her as much as words would allow. I cycled away waving good-bye. This confirmed what I already knew. That the world is full of kind people who are just there to help others. I also thought back  to when I left Nimblewill a few days ago. I remembered that poem he read to me and the 2 angels he put on my shoulders that morning, that he said would be with me all the way to St. Augustine. I believe in angels now, I just left one. Johanna, I am so thankful for you stopping me along the road and the rest goes without saying. Thank you, my friend, thank you. 

     I still had 30 miles to get to my planned destination for today. It's later in the afternoon and the sun is burning bright. I pumped into a strong headwind and made good progress. Before I knew it, I was pedaling into my 6th state, Mississippi. I am always happy to see and new state sign and Mississippi was no exception. I rode about 15 more miles into the town of Waveland and called it a day, an amazing day. 

Photos: The town of Ponchatoula, LA - Beautiful Madisonville, LA and the Fairview Riverside State Park - Road construction drainage pipes - Fontainebleau State Park - The Rails-to-Trails path Johanna told me about - Rene', Sapora, and Johanna outside their home in Slidell, LA - Myself and Johanna getting ready to bike together - Welcome to Mississippi, my 6th State