Mustache On Wheels

Total trip mileage: 1,410

Emm eye ess ess eye ess ess eye pee pee eye!

I have arrived in Mississippi. It’s going to be a short stay though, I only have 50 miles or so to the border of Mississippi and Louisiana. 90 miles to New Orleans! So, I’ll likely do a short 60 mile day today after exploring Ocean Springs, which is where I stayed last night.

The problem with yesterday for me was the weather. If you ask any cyclist, most will say the worst thing to deal with is wind, not rain. Now, rain for hours while the temperature is 33 degrees might be worse, but at least one can dress for that. Dressing for wind isn’t possible, with a bad headwind you’ll work twice as hard to go half the distance. Or, well, it at least feels that bad

Also, I love the internet. I am staying with the family of someone I know through instagram who is also on a bicycle tour at the moment. (www.instagram.com/lacipantz) It was wonderful to be inside from the 30 degree weather last night! It was also wonderful to be treated to some pasta and wine last night as well as bacon and eggs this morning. I think I was spoiled a little bit by this even though it was just one night, time to rough it in a tent for a week to get used to that again!

I did catch a tiny bit of Alabama fun on the way out of the state yesterday, some sort of domestic dispute type of thing. I pulled off to check out an antique/junk store to see if there was anything I could use on my trip. After unsuccessfully browsing for a bit, I exited to the sound of yelling. We’ll call this guy in his early or mid-20′s “Bro Redneck Dude”. He was repeatedly yelling at a woman of a similar age to “Get back in the truck!” and kept moving his vehicle beside wherever she was walking to.

This was going on for a good ten minutes before she unfortunately ended up getting back in the truck, but not before some great quotes by Bro Redneck Dude. After being told by someone working at the store that he had been seen trying to hit the woman, he shot back with “If I woulda wanted to hit her, I’d knock her the f–k out!”. He also informed her “I’m not leaving you here with these homeless motherf–kers!” at which point I’m pretty sure I was the only person outside. My facial hair hasn’t quite entered the homeless stage, so I’ll just assume he thinks all people who ride bikes are homeless. I mean, I technically am, but I don’t REALLY look like it

Anyway, I hope she ended up being okay, that guy had some roid rage anger built up. I also was yelled at by a passing car in Alabama to “get a car!” – Not my favorite state to bike through, but there were some great bike lanes all the way to the ferry the other day.

It was cold! 48 may not seem bad, but throw in a strong wind and then extra wind caused by moving on a bike and it’s a bit rough!

Southern Alabama farmland. Am I back in Ohio or something?

I ride miniature bicycles.

I was trying to show the ridiculous size of the Mississippi sign (it’s on a two lane road) but excessive belly exposure happened during this photo.

I love pine trees. Caught this on the way in right before dark, fortunately I only rode for about 30 minutes in the dark to make it to where I stayed last night.

This poor great dane, Gracie, had (if I remember right) Osteosarcoma or some similar type of bone cancer. A leg amputation is the only chance one has of giving the dog a chance, so she has had to learn to move her large body around on three legs.