The Mighty Mississippi

To be read in the style of Charles Kuralt.

The advance squad had its first glimpse of the Mississippi River from a bicycle at 11:50 am CDT, June 6, 2008 west of Murphysboro, IL on Illinois Rt. 3. We went 811.4 miles; 81 hours, 3 minutes, 7 seconds of riding time; 15 days, 4 hours and 20 minutes total time.

Steaming hard out of Carbondale this morning we were both excited to reach her muddy banks and healing waters. But lo, she would not give up the ghost that easily as we had one last crucible of punishing hills to tease out every ache and pain we have been harboring before she revealed her big, broad bosom to us. Finally speeding down out of the high bluffs we saw her: flat, wide and muddy, just as we had imagined. With Missouri to our west, we raced barges and freight trains north headed for St. Louis.

Le Renard was happy to be entering the Louisiana Purchase and the land of his french ancestors. As we pass towns like Ste. Genevieve and I switch him into a high gear to climb yet another bluff, he now whispers softly 'Mondieu Monsieur!'

And so as Phase One of the journey comes to a close it is a time of celebration and reflection. Our riverboat legs have pushed and pedaled us out of the crowded east. Tonight we camp on the river bank at Prairie de Rocher with but a short victory ride into St. Louis ahead, like the final stage of Le Tour, the outcome never in doubt. We have two fine Cuban puros smuggled in by our commissary man, and maybe a pull or two of good corn whiskey to accompany our cold beef stew.

And so it is that two men with little training or preparation, be they so determined, can reach the mighty Mississippi using nothing but a bicycle.

Manu Forti and God Bless America.