Rose Pedals . . .: A Cold Day in . . . Hello, Alabama!

Day 22
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Kosciusko, MS to Livingston, AL
115 miles
5,262 feet of climbing

Autumn has definitely arrived in the south! When we rode out of Kosciusko this morning, the temperature was a chilly 52 degrees, and didn't rise much higher than 60 degrees for our entire ride. There was a slight breeze, but the fact that the cloud cover kept the sun from warming things up was the main reason for the all-day chill. Most everybody wore jackets, arm warmers and leg warmers to stay warm. Fortunately, we had a good amount of climbing on our route, which helped me stay warm while I was riding. But as soon as I stopped - for a rest stop or lunch - it wasn't long before I was chilled again. So, I kept my stops as brief as possible today - just long enough to grab a couple of Oreos and get back on the road. It was another fun-filled day of rollers mainly through quiet country back roads. Passed numerous churches and, it being Sunday, numerous church-goers. At mile 102, we crossed into the eighth state (of nine) of this tour - Alabama! There was no "Welcome to Alabama" sign (probably because we were on a small country back road), but there was a demarcation in the pavement that we decided must be the state line. In spite of the cold, it was a pleasant ride. The dogs were super cute again today, and provided a delightful distraction on the ride. The absolute best dog story of the day, however, goes to Robert K., who, during a conversation about foods we like to eat at rest stops, explained that he sometimes grabs a handful of beef jerky as he leaves a rest stop and sticks it in the leg of his shorts to hold so he can eat it while he rides. His closing comment was, "Maybe that's why all the dogs are chasing me." Yep, that would explain it, Robert!