Everyone slept pretty well on the 2x4 bunk beds with foam mattresses. We all got up in the dark dorm,, trying not to awaken or disturb the volunteers who were sill sleep. We were ready to leave after breakfast, but there were some bike tire issues to be dealt with. It was so bizarre, because just last night I had said to Sherri that it was amazing that so far no one had had any flat tires. Devon discovered a flat tire this morning, then later on today Sherri had a flat tire partway through the ride. Gary also had to get a rim strip replaced on one of his bike tires.

Finally got on the road at 6:30 am leaving the Aldersgate Church. It was great to have 6 riders all starting out together. It was a great stay, with being able to mix with the volunteers who were there doing work on Katrina-damaged homes.

We followed US 190, Louisiana 90, and then US 90. Pretty straight forward. There was very little traffic on the initial highway routes. Crossed a couple of rivers. After we crossed the East branch of the Pearl River, we were in Mississippi. Lots of "road change"along the way. Found over $1 in road change.

We rode past the Stennis Space Center Buffer Zone; Surrounding America's Larget Rocket Engine Test Complex."

It was exciting to see a peleton of five riders arrive at the juncture of US 90, the major non-interstate road across the south. Four lanes, and pretty busy. Stopped in Waveland at a c-store. Came to the Bay of St. Louis bridge which is over 2 miles long. It was built in 2008, 3 years post Katrina. It's quite a bridge, with a special lane for walkers, joggers, and bicyclists. Right after this bridge crossing, Sherri noticed that the rear tire on her bike was going flat. Sherri is very adept at minor bike repair. Her nickname is "Wrench Babe" from 2006 when we were about 3 miles from the end of the "Midwest Meander forHD" in Milwaukee.

After crossing the bridge, there was one town right after Gulfport, Biloxi, and Ocean Springs. Pass Christian calls itself "Nature's Gift to the Gulf Coast." There is a dedicated bike/jogging path parallel to the highway (between the highway and the beach/ocean, but in many places it was unrideable due to broken slabs of concrete and accumulation of sand.

Ate lunch at a Wendy's in Gulfport, then continued East toward Biloxi. It seemed like there used to be floating casinos there, but perhaps Kattrina knocked them out, too. Saw the Biloxi lighthouse (white, not too tall, maybe 85-90 feet). One more major bridge to cross. {See the fourth paragraph below this one.}

By this time, we had a nice tailwind which helped us along. The route ended up being about 12 miles further than what we thought.

Arrived in Ocean Springs, a city in Jackson county, about 2 miles East of Biloxi, MS. I was in Biloxi in 2000 with Scott Springer, when we rode across America.

The name "Ocean Springs" was coined by Dr. William Glover Austin in 1854. He believed the local springs had healing qualities. It became a prosperous resort town. The forerunner was Fort Maurepas in colonial French Louisiana, and was begun in April 1699 by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville. It was the first French outpost in French Louisiana and was established as a foothold to prevent Spanish encroachment on France's colonial claims. Fort Maurepas was maintined well into the early 18th century.

Ocean Springs has a reputation as an "arts community." Its historic and secluded downtown area, with streets lined with live oak trees, is home to several art galleries and shops. It is also home to a number of ethnic resturants relatively uncommon in surrounding communities.

Ocean Springs was severely damaged on August 25, 2005 by the direct hit from Hurricane Katrina. Many buildings along the shoreline were destroyed. Katrina's 25 foot storm surge also destroyed the Biloxi Bay Bridge, which connected Biloxi to Ocean Springs. That bridge had been completed in 1962, and damaged by Hurricane Camille in 1969. Constructiion for the new bridge was completed in April 2008. The new Biloxi Bay Bridge is 95 feet high at its main span, and supports six lanes of traffic. It took two years before two lanes of the six lane bridge opened (November 1, 2007). The new bridge has a curving roadway due to the implemented design-build process. To speed up reconstruction, the main body of the bridge was moved outside of the previous bridge's debris area, but the landing points for each side of U.S. Route 90 correspond with the previous bridge.

The church is on the East side of town, kind of like it was in Grand Chenier, LA. Nice newish facility, St. Paul's United Methodist Church. One of the female pastors, Sheila, met us and showed us our quarters. Lots of nice couches so everyone can sleep on a couch.

Showers for everyone; felt so good after a long day "on the road." Gary, Devon, Heather and Hope went out to dinner at Denny's. Sherri, Mary Ann, and I had leftovers (spaghetti/sausage) from Grand Chenier, and Charlotte ate her peanut butter and lettuce sandwich. Mary Ann and I went to WalMart on a food run.

Another day under our belts. A week from tonight we plan to be in Jacksonville at the HDSA National Convention.

Today's route was about 75 miles. Lots of "road change ($1.17) bringing the total up to $2.38!!!

With love from the road, in MIssissippi,
Marie