Day 23 – Pine Bluff to Clarksdale

Day 23 of PAC tour takes us across the last major psychological barrier of the trip – the Mississippi River. After this point we are on the home leg. Distance-wise we are well over half way, having just over 700 miles left.

The trip logo on the side window of the SAG van

Great breakfast - sausage and eggs

As we left Pine Bluff it was another warm and humid start to a day which meant that the temperature would get progressively more uncomfortable as the day wore on. Peak temp tends to occur around 4pm but on a hot day it can get very unpleasant by lunchtime. The scenery today was not particularly exciting for photography as it was mainly forested areas that we were riding through. It was however quite nice to ride through as the potential for seeing new wildlife was high and also the many different and varied sounds coming form the undergrowth often led the mind astray! These sounds included the huge variety of birdlife, many insects especially chicadas which are incredibly loud when they get going and of course the multitude of unidentified noises and rustlings that come from the undergrowth. At one point as we passed by a small creek I spotted what I thought at first was a beaver. I stopped turned around and went back for a closer look and it turned out to be an otter. Unfortunately however it swam off before we managed to take a photo.

Forest closing in on the road from both sides - most of today was like this.

The crossing of the Mississippi River and entrance into Mississippi  State did not occur until towards the end of the day (mile 107 out of 134).

Approaching the Mississippi River Bridge

The climb up to the bridge was just about the biggest climb of what was probably the flattest day so far.

Mississippi River bridge - an old steel rivetted one.

Welcome to Mississippi - State No. 10

Stats for the day:-

Mileage: 134

Climbing: 1500ft

Temps: High 80’s and humid