Most unlike me to have nothing to say--but George tires me out so much each day, I find the words as drained from my brain as energy is from my body. However, today's been a short day, and I'm well-fed on a chocolate brownie sundae from a delightful restaurant in Fulton Miss., having only cycled 24 miles--so getting a chance to add my two-bits!!!!
Have been most pleasantly surprised by this route--so different from last year where stops were so far apart; eating hugely problematic; and the people friendly enough, but not exceptionally so. Just the opposite now. The people blow your mind with their helpfulness, friendliness and hospitality; little towns occurring every 10 miles or so (just like in France!)--and the eating (having vowed not to to do fast food) surprisingly good. One of the best meals was in a gas station in Nanafalia Alabama, where tables were set up amongst the gaskets, fan belts and batteries, and we had freshly fried chicken, collard greens, fresh baked corn bread and black-eyed peas. We resorted,literally, to licking the bones clean--I've never had food that tasted so delicious!
And the scenery is just gorgeous. Despite the attempts of us humans at every available opportunity to destroy it in the name of progress, nature just comes back and persists. The towering long leafed pines, the live oaks bedecked with Spanish moss, the honeysuckle in bloom with its perfume blowing on the breeze as we pass--fields of cattle standing in the shade, the spreading branches of an enormous oak tree. I could go on forever!
Just some final philosophical thoughts about this manner of travelling--every uphill (tough bit) has a downhill (easy bit) (surprise! surprise!) and those downhills wouldn't be nearly so nice without that hell of a slog first. And then speed--from whence our modern day obsession with speed? We see so many drivers who gun their engines to zoom by us, so they can wait at the same traffic light as us--or sit that little bit longer in the Dairy Queen packing in the calories they don't need. And then the obesity epidemic which appear to be wiping out the lovely people of this part of the world. (It is a common occurrence for us to hear that a shopkeeper, or restaurant owner mentioned in last year's cycling journals has passed away--heart attack, etc.) Why don't more people get out of their cars and onto their bikes? They might discover that it is actually fun, once you get over the initial stages of being puffed out and having a sore bum! But the best things in life are like that--they come at a price!
Enough from me!!! The kids called these my Jerry Springer moments. Apologies. Plus ca change.....
Will probably be silenced now for a while. Some big hills and long days ahead!
Mary
1 comment:
Hi Mary and George,
We are so happy that you seem to be having such a good time and VERY IMPRESSED with your 85 mile day! That must have been fun, but hard work too, even with tail winds! Glad to hear that you are experiencing the same Southern hospitality that we so enjoyed. Makes you want to consider moving to the South, doesn't it? - except that you already live in such an amazing place! Glad to hear that your back is doing well, Mary. I, too, am feeling well. My back seems to get stronger the more that I pedal. Are you aware that the Adventure Cycling group (only 5 riders this year) and another even larger group seem to be just one day behind you? We have been following Steve Fox's journal, Retracing the Underground Railroad, on crazyguyonabike. Take care, be safe, and have fun!
Love,
Joan (& Mike)
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