Day 6

Columbus to Fulton 

As I was rolling down the main thoroughfare of Columbus leaving town, I was a bit sad. As much as I like the country riding, it’s nice on occasion to be around city civilization. 

Here’s the continuation to the story from yesterday…My phone was ringing quite a bit this morning. Actually yesterday it started ringing with reporters. One of the women who was at the Arches home I toured had made some calls. She thought my story and what I was doing was great so she notified the TV station. They had called me last night and asked if I could stay today in Columbus or at least stay the morning so they could talk with me a bit and get some video footage. Well…it sounded kind of fun but because of my work timeline (the timeline that gets me home so I can keep my job timeline) I didn’t have time to stay any longer in Columbus so I declined. They then said they’d meet me right around when I was leaving. Something came up with Steve (reporter) and he was called out earlier on another story. Someone from the tv station called me to tell me they were sending someone else and they would follow my route till they caught up to me. So a few hours into my ride, a woman calls me and said she is almost caught up to me in Aberdeen and to stay put. So I did. 

   
 Next thing I know she is interviewing me, I’m riding my bike in front of the cameras, etc. Loco! I was a bit nervous, not really my cup o tea to be on camera but figured when else would I ever make it on TV! She said they were the local ABC NBC news channel and I’d be on at 6. It seriously didn’t seem real. 

I then just got back on my bike and went back to pedaling my route like nothing had happened. 

Today was a crazy headwind. It was miserable. I was even pedaling on the downhill stretches or I would have hardly been moving. This gets ridiculously rough because you’re sitting on the seat all day long and can’t get off. Usually on the downhills I stand up or slide off the seat to one cheek it just to change the pressure points a bit if even only for 5 seconds. Usually on some tougher uphills I stand up and pedal. But with the headwind this strong you can’t stand up, you just make yourself like a sail when you do that and you’re tossed around like a rag. (Have a video and may try to post separately of the wind) I kept asking and folks kept telling me this wind was not normal, confirming I was just “lucky”! 

Also with this wind came allergies. The worst of my life. My eyes were watering all day. I can now proficiently open my handlebar bag, pull out my bandana, blow my nose and put it all back – all of this one handed while pedaling. A talent that is surely going to come in handy down the road in life. 

I survived though. 

As I was rolling down the pike, I waved to folks just as I had throughout Alabama. Sadly…the full waves stopped being so consistent after leaving Columbus. It was hit and miss. Still friendlier than my hood but was a bit sad since this had almost become a game to me all the way through Alabama. Who can wave first, me or them??? Also, they don’t seem to be as inquisitive as Alabama. In Alabama I wouldn’t even be off the bike before folks would be coming my way to ask what I was doing and where I was going. So far, in Mississippi past Columbus, not many people ask. I don’t know if this is good or bad, merely an observation. Sorry Mississippi, Alabama wins these but you still are doing alright. 

I had been trucking along for quite some time. Eager to reach Amory knowing there was a piggly wiggly there (highlight of my meals these days) and I could use the restroom and get a beverage or two. I had been out in the countryside for quite some time when I came around a bend and out of nowhere there was a HUGE festival. Almost like a fair going on. 

   
 I actually had to stop and just stand there for a minute to digest all the on goings. It was sensory overload. I got off my bike and walked the Amory festival. Got some ice cream from a vendor. Watched the folks riding the mechanical bull. Ferris wheel. Games. Concessions. I walked the main drag and decided it was time to move on, way too many distractions today to keep a respectable pace. 

For miles before and all the way through and even after Amory there were signs for some Trent guy. Trent for President. Trent is Amory. Vote for Trent. Trent is my idol. Blah blah blah. I had no idea who this guy was. I kept looking at the picture and thought, he is way too young and doesn’t have the right look for a politician. Now I’m sure some of you know who this is. I barely have a TV and my rabbit ears are limited so it barely gets turned on. I actually wanted to ask someone but realizing his signs were everywhere I couldn’t ask. I could foresee the horrified and offended look if I were to ask, so instead I did the next logical thing. Google. Trent Amory. Bingo. “Vote”, “idol” ah ha! Dude won American Idol last week and I’m hanging in his hometown. Got it, all makes sense now! They are SOOOO proud of him it’s awesome. Billboards, signs in yards, on windows of businesses. So cute!

Tonight I decided to camp at a Corps of Engineers campground right outside downtown Fulton. I was pretty spent by the time I got there. I had only pedaled about 75 miles with the least amount of elevation gain yet but with the wind it felt like twice that. Campground was pretty sweet. Right near the water and docs that went out to the water.  I sat at a doc and typed most of this and ate dinner.

  
Set up my tent at a nice little campsite next to Bob and Genevieve, from South Florida in their RV. I ended up chatting briefly with Genevieve in the bathroom (where women often meet) and following that I found Bob at my campsite eager to talk about biking with me. What’s my favorite bike pump…and other random questions that kept me on my toes. I all too late discovered this campground had laundry facilities! Missed opportunity. Party foul. I shall remain stinky.

  
Promptly at 6 I pulled up the news reporter link and streamed the 6 o’clock news on my phone and there I was. My 15 or so seconds of fame highlighting my journey. What am I going to do with all this fame? Guess that’s just another day on the road…