March 3, 2025
Day 17: Jackson to Simmesport
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Last night we had barbecued chicken for dinner. It was very good and I was very full, which was a good thing. We stayed at Perry's Bike Hostel. She has been running it for more than 20 years. There was a heated outdoor shower, a couple of bathrooms, and a field to camp in. There was a nice area to set up for cooking.
I went to bed early (around 8:30) and woke up at 5:30. It wasn't quite ac cold as the previous night, but it felt cool in the morning. I leg warmers, sun sleeves under my long-sleeved jersey and used my medium weight gloves. It looked gray and never really warmed up. The wind felt either like a tailwind or neutral all day. It was also flat most of the day: after we crossed the Mississippi, at about mile 10, we were on the delta the rest of the day. It was also as shorter day. I took a detour through New Roads, a small town on an oxbow lake. They were preparing for Mardi Gras festivities. I stopped at a convenience store at about 22 miles and filled my water bottle and got a payday. I ate a kind bar, a clementine and some trail mix. I stopped a few times during the day briefly and ate some trail mix, but I didn't eat my lunch until I arrived in camp. I felt a little hungry the last several miles. The temperature never warmed up. I think it was still in the 50s when I arrived. There were a few sprinkles and I was chased by 3 sets of dogs. One of them was running at me from the left front. I sprinted and was able to get away from all. The other guys were chased by even more. I have seen some dogs on the two previous days, but this was worse than those times. I'm glad there was a tailwind. I drank about 1.5 bottles on the ride and never felt thirsty. I kept having to urinate, so I think I was well hydrated.
I arrived about 1:00. The part of Simmesport I drove through doesn't look very prosperous. The church is nice. We have the Sunday school classrooms and the fellowship hall, including the kitchen. BW offered to go shopping for me. AH was my partner. I decided to cook shrimp creole. I spent most of the afternoon cooking it and it turned out well. The rice wasn't perfect (it is hard to cook 3 pounds of rice in a single pot, IMHO). The worst thing about the creole is that the shrimp were frozen and it took a while to get back to a boil. It was good, I thought, and I was plenty full. AH got some pound cakes for desert that were also good.
There is a big storm forecast for tomorrow (thunderstorm, 20 mph winds with gusts to 47 mph, possible tornado), so we are staying here for 2 days. This means we will give up our rest day on Friday, but it is well worth it. I means out next rest day will be in Austin after riding 8 straight days.
One thing I am learning is that I have to eat and drink even when I don't feel like it. I ate basically two breakfasts: two packets of oatmeal with raisins and walnuts, and a bowl of yogurt with a banana. It felt like it was going to come out of my ears. The same with hydration. If I wake up hungry it is going to be a bad day.
Today's ride: 59 miles (95 km)
Total: 874 miles (1,407 km)
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