We left just after 8 a.m. this morning and it was already 70 degrees when we left, with a predicted high temperature in the low 80’s. I used sunscreen on my face and should also have applied it to my arms and legs. This was our last day of riding in warm weather – both Thursday and Friday will start out at about 30 and end up at about 50 degrees. It was also humid today, so we were soaked in sweat in no time at all. Our roads were mostly good, with smooth surfaces and wide shoulders, at least until we got into Mississippi. There the shoulder on MS 26 disappeared and there was just too much traffic, so we decided on the fly to change our route, which added a few more miles but they were on safe roads. We ended up riding 74 miles and made it to our destination, the Shallow Fork Lake and Cabins, at around 2:45 p.m., so we averaged just under 11 miles an hour for the day. There were lots of hills, especially when we were headed east. But aside from that, the ride was not very remarkable, so here are the photos for today’s ride.
Getting ready to depart from Amite City, LA. We usually meet at the car at 7:45 a.m. and it always takes us at least 15 minutes to depart.
Mark at break on LA 16.
Matt at a break on LA 16
Tim in his Alabama Biking shirt at our break along LA 16
Sign indicating we were entering Pearl River County in Mississippi, just after we had crossed the Pearl River. At first we thought this would be our only notification that we had entered Mississippi, but a few miles down MS 26, we encountered the sign in the next photo.
Welcome to Mississippi sign along MS 26. I certainly didn’t know that Mississippi was the birthplace of America’s music. Do the people in New Orleans know that?
Mapping the alternate route on the way to Poplarville, MS. Once we crossed into MS the shoulder disappeared and so we needed an alternate and safer route.
Logging truck along MS 26. We have been seeing dozens and dozens of these trucks every day once we left Conroe, TX, including today. I never knew that this regions of the country is a big resource for pine lumber.
Pine trees along our alternate route into Poplarville, MS.
Model T car outside of Swallow Fork Lake and Cabins. This was our landmark to finding our lodging for tonight.
Swallow Fork sign along Oak Creek Road, leading us to our cabins.
View from the deck of Beth and Brian’s cabin at Shallow Fork Lake and Cabins.
Swallow Fork Lake
View from the back of Tim, Mark and Matt’s cabin at Shallow Fork Lake and Cabins.
Tomorrow’s ride to Lucedale, MS will be colder and probably wetter, but we will be as safe as we can!