Weather improved by being overcast most of the day and only reaching 80 F with the usual shirt wetting humidity. 🙂 Locals say it’s a moderate spring, and can be a lot hotter. Next convenient campground in Reelfoot Lake State Park had us doing another 80 miles – 133 km day, fortunately most of it on level road on or near the levee.
Carrie, age 31, has a biology degree and works as a fisheries observer in the Bering Sea on boats for 2 – 3 month contracts.
She had no bike experience, no training rides, arranged Warm Showers family in New Orleans, and went to their local bike store to buy Trek hybrid for $550, added paniers, and rode off to do MRT to Minneapolis. Had to figure out shifting during first week and got flat on day one. She prebooked campsites and Hosts, and had to cancel or change all as reality got her on a realistic schedule.
Was discouraged and tired when we met at the Welcome Center in Natches. Has got into the rhythm of riding with my easier pace, and has got strong quickly due athletic and soccer background. We start slow and easy in the morning, and then she leads most of the day. That’s the story of my life in riding – I tend to go at a steady and slow pace.
So if her pictures stop showing up on this blog you can assume she is riding on happily ahead of me.
For now I’ve included pictures of a well deserved rest after supper at Blue Bank resort, next to the campground on Reelfoot Lake.
