Day 32 Pictures - Vicksburg, to Pelahatchie, MS

Audrey, our support driver, says this is Mississippi's version of Devils Tower. Looks to me like a large anthill.

Click on this picture to enlarge it. This is what kudzu does when it overtakes an area.

More kudzu

Purple flowers along the highway.

Close up.

Closer up. I can't focus it with my camera.

Day 31 Pictures - Monroe, LA to Vicksburg, MS

This is how I envision the Louisiana bayous

One more pic.

Waiting for the bridge commissioner to open a restricted bridge to cross the Mississippi River

The bridge is over a mile long

This is the bridge before the real bridge.

Now we're on the big bridge.

The mighty Mississippi River

The ubiquitous casinos all along the Mississippi.

Good bye Louisiana. 

Interstate traffic used the bridge at left, we used the one on the right.

Day 26 Pictures - Mesquite to Mineola, TX

Below are some of the pictures from day 26 that I was not able to upload due to a weak internet connection.

Some of Ladybird Johnson's wildflower beautification efforts alongside Texas roads.

More

This picture in a DQ reminded me of what the first Wheels trip might have looked like at one of their favorite stops.

This is the "Salt Palace" in Grand Saline, TX, home of the Morton Salt Co. and one of the largest salt mines in the world. The exterior of this building is made entirely of salt.

Here is a closeup of one of the blocks of salt from the "Salt Palace".

This picture gives you an idea of the size of the salt mine.

Grand Saline was also the home of adventurer Wiley Post, who died in a plane crash with Will Rogers.

In the church we stayed in in Mineola, we were treated to a spontaneous piano concert by Ken, a very accomplished musician.

Days 27,28 Pictures - Mineola to Marshall to Minden, LA

US Highway 59 takes us to Atlanta, TX where I pastored a small EFC church for 4 years 1986-90.

The school gymnasium was home for us on Thursday night.

The lady (lower right) was freehand painting a mural of the school's mascot on one of the gym''s walls.

Ed and Sherry are one of the couples in the Atlanta church whose wedding I performed. We enjoyed dinner and catching up on the last 20 years over dinner in a delicious little Italian restaurant.

This is the kind of pavement marker that Wheels puts on the pavement to  keep us routed in the right direction.

This little country store and the pictures below are from Jonesville, TX. This store has been in business 160 years!

A 450 lb. bale of cotton like they used to bale it.

The man on the left is the 7th generation of the original owners of the store.

Knick Knacks from the store

East Texas topography is much different than West Texas

Finally done with Texas, which went better than I would have anticipated.

Dave and Jeri. Dave rode with me coast to coast in 1974. His shirt is the one we rode with in 74. 

This is Dave's bike, the same one he rode in 1974! It's about 35 lbs. worth of sturdy but old technology.

Day 25 Pictures - Weatherford to Mesquite, TX

I forgot to add Joy the other day. She is our 2nd Kiwi from Christchurch, New Zealand and is a part-time rider and semi-full time support

This is the trailer map collage that grows after each day's adventures.

We rode right by the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

A historic looking building in downtown Dallas that is actually a museum.

I am told the tower is an upscale restaurant

This is the infamous old book depository where Oswald shot  President Kennedy

Dallas skyline

This is the view the president would have had of the book depository if they had looked behind them.

The X in the street marks the spot that Kennedy was shot.

From another angle

The square window on the far right below the top floor is where Oswald made his fateful shot

This is part of Dealey Plaza looking toward the old book depository

Day 23 - Day off in Breckenridge. TX

Once again, it is nice to get a day off after a 480 mile week. Laundry, rest, Walmart and more rest. I also took more pictures of our riding team so I'll introduce the remaining team to you:

Dan is an environmental engineer from Anchorage, Alaska  and our youngest and strongest rider.

Betsy is a fellow Taylor U. grad from Ottawa, Ontario who is crossing for at least a second or third time

Mitzi (left) and Toni are very strong part-time riders from Atlanta whose last day is tomorrow.

Jojo is also a part-time rider from Chicago whose last day is tomorrow.

Janet is from Grand Junction, CO and has the dubious distinction of falling on her bike more than anyone else.
However, she is very resilient and determined.

Al (left) from Muncie is former VP of Finance at Taylor and is on his 2nd trip across. Dick, from Warsaw, is halfway toward completing his 21st crossing and is one of Wheels right hand men.

Bob is an engineer from Goshen, a multiple crossing veteran and an amazing 4 time cancer survivor.

Rodgers, from Penn St.country is a retired geriatric physician and has crossed several times.

Gil is a former teacher and government worker from Anchorage Alaska whose claim to fame is that he cut Bristol Palin from the basketball team he coached.

Robyn is from Christchurch, New Zealand and is doing a great job crossing America for the first time.

Dean is a retired pharmacist from Jacksonville, IL making his 6th crossing.

The marquee on the sign of our motel in Breckenridge. It sometimes makes you wonder why we wander.