March 19: Wiggins to Moss Point, Mississippi

Every morning a group of about 10 riders goes out about a half-hour early.  They call themselves “Parker’s harem” because co-leader Steve Parker leads them down the road like a little line of ducklings.  Yesterday, we had six more riders with stomach flu, so this morning, a day after a 24-hour digestive upset, a new train, called “The Flu Train” started early as well.

Parker’s Harem and The Flu Train swim through the early morning mist of gulf coast Mississippi.

The Flu Train kept a nice leisurely pace along empty country roads through the DeSoto National Forest of southern Mississippi.  We averaged about 15 mph and spun along at a pace tender tummies could maintain.  The boys still led, but seriously, that’s what they’re bred to do, right?  That and change flat tires.

Stu, Deb, Bob, and Pat ride the Flu Train with Parker’s Harem of Marcella, Katrina, Emily, and Geni behind.

Just after lunch the Flu Train glommed on to the Czar and Czarina of the small country of Lestikow (Polly and Mark) who upped our pace t 17 to 20 mph and pulled the train nicely into Moss Point, Mississippi.  As we climbed a long bridge over the Singing River, we snuck a distant view of the Gulf Coast.  Actually, we just saw several huge ships with loading cranes in the distance, but unless they were sitting on dry land, we’re very close to the coast itself.