Day 32

Day 32: October 30, 2021 (McCombs MS to Poplarville MS)

Last night at dinner, I received a text from a close friend.  He said he was so impressed with what I was doing and wanted to do more than he already has.  He said he was going to donate $50,000.00 and hoped that would encourage others to donate more.  I started crying.  I’m crying now as I write this.  I was so moved and grateful by my friend’s generous gift.   

As for today, it was just a shit day for me.  I’m so tired of unloading and the loading the RV, I could scream.  I haven’t slept well the last couple of nights, so I’m physically tired.  Also, the roads in Mississippi are not bicycle friendly.  Most roads are narrow with no shoulder.  We spent 30 minutes on Google Maps finding a decent route to our next destination.

When we started this morning, it was 50 degrees with 85 % humidity and a headwind.  Another f-ing headwind.

We got to the launch point a little after 8 AM.  I start on the bike and Kelly drove the RV up the road about 7 miles or so.  I’m not 2 miles into the ride and I get a flat.  I hit a 1.5 inch long self-tapping screw and it tapped its way into my back tire.  

I called Kelly, no answer.  I texted Kelly, no response.  I called Kelly again and again no answer.  About 10 minutes later he called me; his phone was on silent.  By the time Kelly got back, I was chilled to the bone.  The cold dampness with a wind, went right through me.

This was my first flat on the gravel road bike and, overall, flat tire number 13.  Unlike the road bike the other day, I was able to easily get the back tire off.  Kelly got the old tire off in a few minutes.  Ok, things were looking up.  

Nope, we couldn’t get the new tire on.  It was just too tight of a fit.  We finally get it on with both of us pulling, pushing, and using the tools to pop the tire onto the rim.  We start pumping up the tire.  It wouldn’t hold air.  We popped the tube getting the tire on.   

We started over.  It took another 20 minutes to get the tire on.  We did not pop the tube and the tire held air.  We got the wheel back on the bike.  From flat to ready to ride was just short of two hours.  

It did not warm up during those two hours.  If anything, it felt colder and damper.  I rode for a while and the traffic was heavy.  It was not a fun ride.   I packed it up and we drove the rest of the way to the hotel.  Here’s hoping day 33 is a better ride day.