Yup, made it. Well, actually yesterday evening around 5pm. Yesterday was grueling – rain, rain, rain and sometimes a road.
Not sure what to make of Mississippi. As with every state, the people have been super nice all the way along, and especially interested in the bearded, semi-showered, hardly-clean bike-rider. The thing is, with the “trusted” ACA map, I spent the majority of the time in parts of Mississippi that most residents of MS wouldn’t know about. At one point, I rode about 40 miles between gas-stations. That, and the road conditions varied from not so good to something hardly a road at all. No problems to speak of, plenty of waving from the local residents, just way out in the middle of no where.
I spent the night in Bogalusa (I’m here still at the moment.) The camping opportunties are non existent, which meant that I was up for the night at the only place in town – the Cottage Guest House. BADASS!!!!! Holy hanna, like something out of a movie. Mrs. Tina, who runs it, was amazing. “Inlaws and outlaws and shit…”
I realized something as I made my way into LA that I hadn’t really thought about before. Much like most people living outside of LA, I had no personal reference to Katrina (short of the hotels in Atlanta being used as safe-havens) – just a head full of CNN’s “personal coverage…”
After refusing to let me leave without eating something this morning, Tina went on to give me her story of the storm. To survive it, honestly, seemed like a chance in a 1000; to survive, then go so far as to help those in need is something few people were able to muster – even FEMA. Tina not only survived, but worked through the storm to help residence in neighboring towns, etc – people she’d never seen before… Please keep me mind that this information was provided after I played Barbara Walters for about 10 minutes – not something she went on and on about. Simply “we loaded up a car with everything and anything we could find, and started driving around…” Sadly, the coverage most of us received all but missed this when the storm hit.
I thought about something esle, too, that Mr Collier shared with me (one of many life lesson over an amazing 25 min. breakfast) about entering LA just as I saw the sign. He was quick to mention that an eyebrow or two would be raised by seeing me come through on a bike. He went on to explain, though, that if I found a guitar and learn only one Hank Williams song, I’d be set for life (should I decide to relocate to LA.)
I hit the two week mark back on Tuesday which came as surprise to me because I’m really void of any sense of dates/days. For a two-week celebration, here’s something funny: Tuesday was October the 13; when I arrived at the campsite that evening I was thinking about asking Rob and “J” whether Jason would pay a visit. I kid you not, this place was a definite location had Crystal Lake not been available. Just the same, they may have been thinking the same thing since a Jason showed up out of nowhere and asked for a chance to stay the night.
I think if I can swing about 80 miles of rural LA today I should be able to make it to a campsite. The “guesthouse/B&B” tour is not something I had planned on, so I need to get back to tent-life.
Trust everyone is doing well. And hopefully I can come up with some decent photos – given the camera of choice at this point, I’m going to blame it and not the photographer.
I know I say this after every posting, but I really do appreciate the comments and words of encouragement. Yesterday proved to be the most trying since leaving Atlanta – though it’s nice to be able to yell and scream in pain at the top of your lungs in nowhere MS without a single soul hearing you… Being able to come to a random library and check what good words have been offered makes today that much easier. Thanks
Cheers everyone,
J
