63 miles ridden – 800 feet climbed – temperature 33C.

The moment we walked out of the hotel the heat hit us. At 07:30 it was already 28C so we were anxious to be on our way. After a pleasant ride through the quieter neighbourhoods of Clarksdale we headed out into open countryside.

The first 40 miles was flat as a pancake but more interesting than the day before.

There were lots more small communities and while some railroad track is used as a graveyard for old wagons we saw our first ‘live’ train of the trip when we stopped at a gas station for air-conditioning and Red Bull. Air-conditioning is a wonderful luxury, especially when the peak temperature ATG (According To Garmin) was 41C, but we can’t be seen to loiter. We just spend the longest acceptable time choosing!

We had only one SAG stop today and it was a bit of a sad SAG in that the store we stopped outside of had closed down. The old lady that used to run it was always welcoming to our group but none of the regular crew could understand how she made any money so, not surprisingly, when she died the store closed.

It had obviously fared better than the store at the drinks stop on the corner of Birdie and Lula-Rich:

However hot it is and however desolate it appears the ABB vans are never far away and if not needed for any emergency mechanical issues (we’ve had a few – tubeless tyres that won’t seal and wireless gear systems that won’t communicate) they find a suitable spot and just hang out while we all pass and fill water bottles, hand out snacks or just cheer us on.

Senatobia is a peculiar place. We are staying at the only hotel in town which is quaint in a sort of smelly, 1970s kind of way but despite being told there ‘is nothing there’ I did not have to go to McDonalds today. Lon and I went to Applebees for grilled chicken Caesar salad. How self-righteous can I be? Lon is a good food influence. We were both very hot and sweaty, the restaurant was very cool, and I wiped the seat when I left.

So the hotel and commercial part of town is just like any other Interstate junction but the road we came in on and the neighbourhoods behind are really very nice.

Tomorrow is 65 miles into Memphis and a rest day. My backside is looking forward to it immensely.