Southern Tier Section 6

via bicycle from St. Francisville, LA to Crestview, FL

April 17 - April 23, 2008

345.5 miles with 7,431 feet of elevation gain and 7,494 feet of elevation loss

Date	Location	Miles
Section 6
April 17	Bogalusa, LA	127
April 18	Wiggins, MS (stone county)	61
April 19	Pascagoula, MS	67
April 20	Dauphin Island, AL	42
April 21	Dauphin Island, AL - rest day	0
April 22	Pensacola, FL	68
April 23	Crestview, FL	56

Remember, the first map is the Adventure Cycling map and shows our actual route; and for the 2nd map I used the AAA online mapping service to print a map that shows their suggested highway route to each night's stop--of course these highways are not always the best highways for bicycle riders and are NOT indicative of our route, but it gives you another view of the area we are traveling.

Section 6

Day 43 Day 44 Day 45 Day 46 Day 47 Day 48 Day 49

Day 43 - April 17, 2008

St. Francisville to Bogalusa, LA - 127 miles

info (back to beginning of section 6) weather

The route for today and tomorrow was changed because WomanTours no longer wanted to use the motel in Franklinton. We were notified shortly before the trip began of the motel change and told that we would be staying in Bogalusa, LA instead of Franklinton on April 17. We knew this would make a long day even longer (a 107 mile day became about 127 miles) and wondered how it would be handled.

On our first evening in St. Francisville Linda handed out the routes for the 17^th and 18^th and explained that we could stop at the end of the first day’s route and be sagged to the motel in Bogalusa or we could ride the entire 127 miles if we wanted.

I wanted to ride the whole route but knew that time would be a factor so I started at 7 am and things were going well. There was little traffic on the country roads and it was cool; however, there was one hill after another. Then about mile 25 a bridge was out. We had been told that we would have .4 of a mile of gravel and should walk our bikes across the wooden bridge, but in actuality there was a large pile of dirt and cinders at both ends of the bridge and there were planks missing in the bridge. When I got there the sag driver was on the phone talking to Linda and said that everyone else had carried their bikes across and asked what I wanted to do. I looked at the situation and thought about the gravel on the other side for .4 of a mile and said I wanted to sag around the bridge. But the sag driver couldn’t get my bike on the rack although she tried for over an hour. Finally I just decided to start riding the route backward. I didn’t have to ride far as Linda met me with the van and trailer and drove me around the bridge, but it was a LONG detour. By the time I was finally back on route and on my bike I had lost two hours of time and 10 miles of the route. I didn’t mind the miles, but the time was a big problem.

Since it was a LONG day and we were on country roads with very few services available the sag had extra food items today. At the first sag stop there were hard boiled eggs, cut up fruit, and chocolate chip cookies. There wasn’t any sag stop at mile 40 because of the long bridge detour that the sag had to drive. Then at mile 60 the sag had items to make a sandwich with and still had hard boiled eggs left. At mile 80 we finished the fruit.

When I arrived at mile 100 for the route Linda was there with the van picking up the riders and the sag vehicle was there also. But it was only 6:05 and because I had lost 10 miles on the detour I was only at mile 90 so I told Linda I wanted to continue riding and complete a century. Then I started riding again. At my mile 96 Linda stopped along the side of the road and told me that Carol would pick me up at mile 100. This was great news as I would be able to complete the century and Carol has no problem putting my bike on top of the Subaru.

When Carol and I arrived at the motel there was pizza, salad, and apple pie. Unfortunately the door to the food area swung shut on my hand and I now have a big bruise below the wrist and behind the thumb, but I feel good!

St. Francisville to Franklinton map

we had views like this for much of the day

Day 44 - April 18, 2008

Bogalusa to Wiggins, MS - 61 miles

info (back to beginning of section 6) weather

Today's ride was shorter than originally stated as the first 20 miles were included in yesterday's ride. Rain threatened all day, but luckily it didn't actually start raining until about 5 pm and as I'm writing this at 8 o'clock it is still raining.

Bogalusa is right on the Louisiana/Mississippi border so about 5 miles into the ride we crossed the Pearl River and entered Mississippi. And we were able to turn around and get a picture of a nice welcome to Louisiana sign as we exited the bridge and shortly afterwards get a good Welcome to Mississippi sign.

Today's ride was not as hilly as yesterday's which had one hill after another ALL day long. The chart below is now correct, but it shows the old Franklington to Wiggins route instead of the new Bogalusa to Wiggins route. I will try entering a new route that incorporates the change from Franklinton to Bogalusa when I get home.

Today we had a choice of a shorter or longer route that differed by 10.5 miles, but I didn't even consider the shorter route because it ended with 23 miles on SR 26 which is a busy 2 lane road with no shoulder. The longer route continued on seldom used country roads and had only 3 miles of SR 26 at the end and I found out when I rode those 3 miles that I made a good choice as I didn't like those miles.

Three riders had mishaps today. Two riders were bitten by the same dog and the sag driver drove them to the hospital to have the wounds cleaned and to get tetanus shots. The sheriff said the dog will be quarantined for 14 days, and he will notify them if there is a danger of rabies. A third rider went over the handlebars of her bike. I don't know how the accident happened, but she seems to have suffered only extensive road rash. Her bike got the worst of it, and Michelle was working on the bike when I finished riding.

Since Michelle and Linda spent a lot of time at the emergency room and at Wal-Mart getting prescriptions filled, Linda served spaghetti and garlic bread with a salad and 3 kinds of dessert--biscotti, leftover apple pie from last night, and cake. Carol's birthday dinner and cake were postponed until tomorrow when Linda has more time.

Franklinton to Wiggins map

we crossed into Mississippi and Penny is posing on the Pearl River County sign

welcome to Mississippi sign

Carol is opening her birthday gifts

we are performing the Beaver song for Carol's birthday

Day 45 - April 19 2008

Wiggins to Pascagoula, MS - 67 miles

info (back to beginning of section 6) weather

This was not a good day for me. Last night Mickey and Michelle changed my tire on my small front wheel. The old tire had a slit in the side wall and had a bubble. Mickey started changing the tire, but she couldn't get the new tire on the wheel. The Continental 406 mm. tires are very difficult to remove and put back on especially when they are new. Michelle came over to help and togeher they got it on. However, today I only rode 17 miles and had a quick loss of all the air in the tire. Barbara S. and Genie stopped to help, and Barbara finally managed to get the tire off. Then while she was inserting the new tube Michelle rode up, and she finished changing the tube. She said it looked like I had a pinch flat. So I started riding again, but I rode less than a mile and had another quick flat. This time when I looked at the tire I saw a bulge in the tire. So I called the sag to get her to come back and help me then I removed the front wheel. When I examined the tire I saw that the edge of it was damaged. When Carol arrived and saw the tire, she said the bead was damaged and just as I expected said the tire couldn't be used. So I spent the rest of the day riding first in the sag car with Carol and then the van with Linda--it wasn't much fun.

When we arrived at the motel Belinda, one of Kathy's 12 siblings, was there with her two young boys. It was a treat for Kathy to be able to have a visit with her sister and nephews and it turned out to be a treat for us too as she brought a big cooler full of crayfish along with some shrimp and boiled, seasoned small red potatoes. She also brought a big jug of frozen daiquiris. Belinda showed us how to pull the head off the crayfish, peel off part of the body, and then pull the meat out while pinching the tail. I liked the crayfish better than the shrimp.

For dinner Linda fixed Carol's choices since yesterday was her birthday. We had lasagna, fresh baked bread, salad, and birthday cake for dessert.

I called the bike shop in Terre Haute and they had a tire for my bike and will overnight it via Fed Ex to me on Monday for delivery at our Pensacola motel. In the mean time I put my spare wheel from my Bachetta bike on the bike. It is the same size tire and has a Velocity rim, but the tire is a smidgen wider and wouldn't turn because it was rubbing the brakes so Michelle adjusted the brake cable.

Wiggins to Pascagoula map

entrance to Black Jack property

Welcome to Pascagoula

the Singing River

Belinda, one of Kathy's sisters, brought a cooler full of crayfish and showed us how to peel them

crayfish and shrimp

"some" of the shells remaining after our feast

Carol's birthday cake

Day 46 - April 20, 2008

Pascagoula, MS to Dauphin Island, AL - 42 miles

info (back to beginning of section 6) weather

This morning everything seemed good, and we didn't start until 8:30 because it was a short day. I found out right away that my computer didn't work, and when I checked I instantly knew why. The sensor on the new wheel is not positioned correctly for the reader. I tried to move it but it was too tight and a tool will be necessary so I decided to ask Michelle to do it tonight and in the meantime I would just rely on my GPS computer.

The ride was great! No hills other than the one in the middle of the bridge. Don't let the chart below fool you--look at the elevation scale on the left. Hardly any wind and a beautiful day.

We entered Alabama after 10 miles, and if you turned around there was a great welcome to Mississippi sign but no welcome to Alabama sign. After 36 miles we came to the "long" bridge. The city limits of Dauphin Island starts at the bridge, and the bridge is 3.5 miles long with three 400 foot sections in the middle that are high so boats can pass under. Everyone rode across the bridge!

We are staying at the Dauphin Island Beach Club Condos. There are two 2-floor buildings with 10 apartments in each building, and we have several of them for two nights. There are 6 people staying in the apartment that I am in. Two of us have private bedrooms and then there are two bedrooms with twin beds.

Pascagoula to Dauphin Island map

Carol, Ellen, and Pat eating breakfast

a thistle that has gone to seed

two of the small rivers we crossed

the Dauphin Island bridge

the high center spans of the bridge

Candace and Sandra at the top of the bridge

Dauphin Island from the bridge

Welcome to Dauphin Island

pictures of our apartment in the Dauphin Island Beach Club condo - I, Sandra, Debbie, Clark, Jane, and Katie stayed here

Day 47 - April 21, 2008

Dauphin Island, AL - rest day

info (back to beginning of section 6) weather

Today was a restful fun day. After a late simple breakfast I rode my bike to the east end of the island to visit the Audubon Bird Sanctuary, the Estuarium Sea Lab, and Fort Gaines. On the way I met Sue, Hanna, and Debbie and we went to the Audubon and Estuarium together then I went on to the fort by myself. Bienville Blvd goes from one end of the island to the other, and our condo is right on the Blvd. on the west end. It was a 7.5 mile round trip from the condo all the way to the fort at the east end and back.

Even though it is a rest day off and we are responsible for our own meals on rest days Michelle is fixing dinner tonight as there are not very many places to eat. This night will be traded for one of the night that we ride. No one could find anywhere to buy breakfast this morning, and finally bought some items in a little convenience store and used the microwave.

info about Dauphin Island

the beach side of our 2 condos

ducks in our swimming pools

an alligator we saw at the Audubon lake

and a turtle we saw at the same lake

energy from the sands of time

natural gas drilling platforms

Fort Gaines

granite track supports on which the guns were revolved to change their field of fire

one of the firing stations

pictures of a pelican

Day 48 - April 22, 2008

Dauphin Island, AL to Pensacola, FL - 68 miles

info (back to beginning of section 6) weather

Although today was 68 miles it was not a hard day. Thanks to good weather and basically a flat terrain it was VERY enjoyable until almost the end. The last 5 miles on Scenic Highway US 90 were not enjoyable because the shoulder was all torn up and not usable so we were on a busy 2 lane highway essentially with no shoulder. Almost all the drivers were very courteous and would wait until it was safe to pass us--it helped that there were signs about every mile telling motorists to "share the road." However, one motorcyclist who was in a hurry was cutting in and out of traffic using the shoulder and grassy area to pass cars on the right. He passed a car on the right and unexpectedly came upon a bicyclist and attempted to pass her on the right. He clipped the bike, and she fortunately was already unclipped and went over the handlebars and into a roll. She is OK except for some road rash and a stiff neck. Another rider also had a close call when a driver wasn't paying attention. When a car in front of him slowed down he swerved to the right to avoid hitting the car and almost hit the bicyclist. Praise the Lord everyone is OK!

We started the day riding a ferry from Dauphin Island to Fort Morgan, AL. Then we rode along the coast all day crossing 4 bridges with beautiful views. After entering Florida at about mile 34 we passed Peridio State Park which had some great ocean views. We had the opportunity to visit the Naval Air Museum or Imax Theater, but I passed on both.

As I mentioned earlier the highway became difficult after we turned on to US 90 and there were also a few hills, but they were rollers except for the last one which after 60+ miles was a little difficult. However, I'm much better on hills now and can spin going up hills of 6-8% without even going into my lowest gears--I never could actually spin before no matter what gear I was in and was forcing the pedals around. Spinning is much more fun!

Dauphin Island to Pensacola map

the ferry boat we rode on to Fort Morgan

Judy, Penny, Kathy, Jan

Fort Gaines

a sea gull

views from the first bridge

views from the 2nd bridge

an interesting mailbox

views from the 3rd bridge

view of a LONG bridge across Escambia Bay from the Dairy Queen across from the Ramada Inn

Day 49 - April 23, 2008

Pensacola to Crestview, FL - 56 miles

info (back to beginning of section 6) weather

Unfortunately we had to start on US 90, but we had only 3.5 miles of the bad part with no usable shoulder then 12.5 miles with an OK shoulder. Then we were on the Blackwater Bike Trail for 6.5 miles, and it was real nice. After the bike trail we stayed on country roads with little traffic until we got to Crestview then we got back on US 90 for 12.5 miles, and it was OK. Today the mile on US 85 to the Quality Inn was a problem as there was lots of traffic and no shoulder. Even though there were 4 lanes many of the drivers were not willing to share the road.

The profile below looks bad, but the hills were not bad. Last year I would have probably felt differently about a couple of them, but after this ride I'm much stronger and didn't have any problem spinning up all of them.