By David Freeze

  Bettering my position, too restless to sit still!

  Last night, I decided if I woke up to nice weather in Wiggins, Mississippi, then I was at least going to consider moving farther east today. I woke up to what I think was a pretty much full motel, and the owner had already tried to convince me to stay at least a couple days. I watched the Weather Channel and confirmed that New Orleans was still Ida’s target and that the same nice weather was also along their coast.

    I went early for a couple breakfast biscuits and a map and a few things from Family Dollar, not Dollar General as I understood.  I got the biscuits and not much else. The clerk at the first convenience store showed me an empty rack for the maps, “where they used to be”.

    So I talked to another customer who recommended going to Lucedale, Mississippi. I called the two affordable motels and the largest one’s owner took some interest in what I was trying to do. Surprisingly, he owned another Western Motel. But he thought that it was unlikely that anyone would leave with the forecast. I told him that I didn’t feel good about pedaling his way unless a room was available. The owner asked, “What time can you be here?”. I told him 1pm if all went well and we hung up.

    I hurriedly packed up and start pedaling directly east on SR 26, surprised that there were no rumble strips over the 35 miles. Part of the scenery was a pine filled DeSoto National Forest. I found out this afternoon that Wiggins used to have the world’s largest pickle producing factory.

    When I started, at almost 9am, there was very little traffic. By the time I finished at 12:55 pm, the traffic on my side was almost constant, car after car with Louisiana plates. I had seen the photos of the logjam of traffic leaving New Orleans this morning.

      The constant traffic was very polite to me, giving me plenty of room except for a couple tractor trailers. I said several prayers that the owner would have found a room for me. I walked in and he said, “Can you take a smoking room? It doesn’t smell bad. And there won’t be any rooms until this is over. Nobody left this morning.”

    Here is what I gained by going 36 miles farther east. Siri says now that I am 141 miles east of the projected landfall at New Orleans. I got a better room, on the second floor. I didn’t get a convenience store to eat from, but got a huge Walmart two tenths of a mile away. There is always a trade off, this time just a little bad. My connectivity is very poor. WiFi is weak and neither Verizon or AT&T has a decent signal. By using my phone’s AT&T hotspot, I think I can get messages out.

    Post nighttime editor Paris Goodnight says there is always at least some good, so here are the best things.  I have a big picture window to see the wind and rain coming. And I have used Walmart so far for the supplies I need for a couple days here. Most businesses are already closed or closing by tonight, so I plan to go back and get the things I need until Monday morning. Including the Road Atlas that will help me make up a new route to Florida from here. By the way, Walmart was packed like Christmas Eve. I got ice cream, pine air freshener for the room, a new friend in the cashier who asked why I was in Lucedale.

    By riding some this morning, I feel better about finishing this ride safely. And I am excited about seeing some of the effects of Ida. I will also have my route planned for a spectacular finish in St. Augustine.

    Ida is predicted for landfall about 7pm Sunday, but most of the day will have rain and increasing wind. Then most of the wind and rain will have passed here by Monday afternoon if the hurricane remains at its current speed.

    This book is going to be like no other! I expect plenty to tell tomorrow and Monday. Thanks again for the support and communication!