White-Hot Heat, White-Hot Lightening

We were up early and a little groggy in Bayou LeBatre. Due to Bruce’s bad back, Kelley had to carry each heavy bike down a narrow staircase with a 90 degree turn halfway down. Then she hoisted the four heavy panniers down the steps and attached them to the bikes. She was exhausted before even beginning the day’s cycling!

We knew we had a lot of ground to make up- we should have made it to Grand Bay, AL the day before. It is 25 miles past Bayou LeBatre. This looked to be a 100+ mile day in intense heat to get back on schedule, because we had reservations down the line for the days ahead.

What we didn’t factor in were hills. Lots of them. By late afternoon we were only about 45 miles finished and spent, even though we had passed into Mississippi. We stopped at Sassy’s Restaurant in Hurley, MS and refortified with a couple of burgers and beers. The locals all discussed the heat- record highs for this time of year.

As they were leaving, a couple greeted us and told us to be safe. When it was time to pay, our server, Randon, informed us that the couple had paid our entire tab...anonymously!!!

Back on the road, we were again slammed by hills and heat, where pedaling becomes painful and the heat is suffocating. As we entered VanCleave, MS, a huge, dangerous electrical storm appeared. We had to seek immediate shelter, as the lightening was so close you could smell it. It was a deluge. The storm lasted for a long time-into dark, so we knew we couldn’t go further. In desperation, we rode to the VanCleave Fire Department, as we have heard fire departments often allow cyclists to camp on their grounds. Sure enough, we were able to set up our tent on the soggy field behind their firehouse, battling mosquitoes the whole time and listening to the thunder for signs of more bad weather.

Totalcycing iles:  52

Total hiking miles:  2