Tupelo to Kosciusko

Click the map for route details

Are we there yet?

Grass on the left, grass on the right. Then trees. Same as yesterday. Same as tomorrow, I suppose. Let's see what else is happening on the Trace.

There are scenic overlooks, which are anything but scenic. Usually you cannot see very far, and if you can see, you cannot see what is advertised. Like here, where is the limestone? The black prairie? Whatever.

A scenic overlook

Scenic overlooks are somewhat rare, historic sites much more common. All of these sites are advertised half a mile out, then there is a pull-out, a marker plaque, and nothing else because whatever is being remembered is long, long gone. Like the Tockshish historic site below. I even left the marker in the picture, click on it for an enlarged version.

The Tockshish Historic Site, looking left

The Tockshich Historic Site, looking right

Wonderful. This kind of information would be much more easily relayed in a little notebook. I do not have to stare at a plain forest to imagine what the post office might have looked like. Whatever.

French Camp

Louis Leflore established French Camp in about 1812, which was called French Camp because he was French. The village of today retains the name. Go figure. Exciting stuff.

So I pretty much just kept riding. Staying in a motel was exactly the right thing to do, I left at 6am, felt fresh, and finished less than six hours after that. During the ride, things got so boring that I became really reckless and tried something new. I'm so crazy!

Centerline violation!

By the time I got done with my ride, it was already way hotter than it should be anywhere. Another motel, and Pizza Hut again for lunch. All-you-can-eat lunch buffet, it was great. First I had all-you-can-eat pizza. Then I had all-you-can-eat maccaroni and cheese, then all-you-can-eat salad, then all-you-can-eat bread sticks, and all-you-can-eat pizza again. The best $4.49 I spent in a long time.

Ride with Ben
Do you want to experience what it is really like to be riding down here? Well, you are in luck. I have just the thing for you. Click on the picture below for a higher-resolution version, display it full-sized on your computer, place your trainer in front of the computer, turn off the air conditioner, turn on the heat, and ride for six hours.

Tour Simulator

Road Kill Tally
Two dead raccoons and one squirrel today. All are suspected suicides as a result of depression brought on by complete boredom. Poor fellows.

Are horsies pretty?

1. Raccoon: 86
2. Opossum: 52
3. Frog: 31
4. Skunk: 26
5. Snake: 22
6. Squirrel: 19
7. Deer: 18
8. Cat: 17
9. Turtle: 14
10. Groundhog: 13
11. Bunnywabbit: 10
12. Armadillo: 9
13. Mouse: 7
14. Fox: 3
15. Lizard: 3
16. Dog: 3
17. Mole: 2
18. Porcupine: 1
19. Chipmunk: 1

• Bird: 119