Across the Mighty Mississippi

Day 20
Friday, October 2, 2015
Monticello, AK to Indianola, MS
108 miles
955 feet of climbing

Today we crossed into the seventh state of our tour - Mississippi.  We crossed the state line from Arkansas to Mississippi at mile 64, directly after we crossed over the Mississippi River via the Greenville Bridge.  That was probably the most exciting event of the day.  The most contentious event of the day - which lasted the entire day - was the strong cross headwind coming out of the north we faced the entire ride.  It was quite the bear, let me tell you.  On paper, this was to be one of the easiest and flattest days of the tour.  But with that cross headwind (which, by the way, gained strength as the day wore on), it was a fairly tough day in the saddle.  I've found the best way to handle a headwind is to just resolve to yourself that the ride is going to take you longer than it normally would, and then just pedal through it and enjoy the ride.  After all, even a headwindy day on the bike beats sitting at a desk, right?  Can I get an "amen"?  Tune in tomorrow for the next episode of As the Pedals Turn. 

Elevation profile of today's ride (looks easy, but does not reflect headwind)

We bundled up for the start of today's ride - the temp was 50 degrees, and with the wind, it felt very chilly.

Cotton fields

Eddie from Belgium crossing the causeway over Lake Chicot in Arkanses

Lake Chicot (those are cypress trees that grow right out of the lake)

Art crossing the Mighty Mississippi

Peter and Art crossing the Greenville Bridge over the Mississippi

View of the Mississippi from the bridge

Art looking debonair posing with his Moots

Art getting into position to toss me and my bike into the Mississippi (he did not succeed)

The road leading to Indianola was closed due to construction - but not to us.  They allowed us to carry our bikes over the construction.

Me & Gerry - still standing (we kicked the headwind's a**!)