Matt’s Mississippi Manifest

  • Day #61 (Oct 11, Saint Joseph, LA, MM 397): Nobody told me there’d be days like these!

    One word for today: DREARY. Actually, I did expect days like these, but I thought they would be in the Midwest states. It was sprinkling to start my day and it got more wet and blustery as the day progressed. This felt like Wisconsin or Illinois weather, not Mississippi. I anticipated this journey would be…

    junkhager

  • Day #60 (Oct 10, Vicksburg MS, MM 436): All according to plan

    Today’s word: PREDESTINATION. The day off in Vicksburg was productive, relaxing, a little boring, but had a few wonderful bright spots that of course were bound to happen. I thought I would sleep in today, but I was naturally awake around 6 and got up for coffee shortly afterwards. I had a few things I…

    junkhager

  • Day #59 (Oct 9, Vicksburg MS, MM 436): Road worn and weary

    Today’s word: OPPOSITION. After 60 miles yesterday, 40 more to the casino should be a veritable walk in the park. I should know that nothing is quite as to be expected out here, and some unexpected trials would assail me. I again was up before dawn. I made coffee and oatmeal after dinner last night…

    junkhager

  • Day #58 (Oct 8, Transylvania Louisiana, MM 476): 60 is the new 40

    The word for today: ENDURANCE. In fact, I told Strom this morning, we have but one objective today – 60 miles. Nothing else matters. I was bent on making it to the casino in Vicksburg for Monday night football, that’s 101 miles in 2 days, and we needed to get far enough today to virtually…

    junkhager

  • Day #57 (Oct 7, Greenville, MS, MM 536): Romper, stomper, bomper, boom! I see Jimmy, and Sopinka, and Sweetums, and Strom…

    Operative word of the day: KINSHIP. The big plan for today was to meet daughter Sarah’s future in-laws. And I also met a new friend today who will be joining me to New Orleans. So family and friends was very much on my mind. As a semi-related side note: KINSHIP is also the central focus…

    junkhager

  • Day #56 (Oct 6, Benoit, MS, mile marker 568): Wot’s… uh, the deal?

    Word for today: FLABBERGASTED. I know it’s not too different to yesterday, but hang with me. My word for today was going to be ALACRITY, because after the reluctance to start yesterday in the rain, I wanted to prove to myself that I could still get motivated and operate with energy and efficiency for an…

    junkhager

  • Day #55 (Oct 5; Helena, Arkansas, mile marker 607): kank [kahnk] verb – to unwittingly collide small watercraft into channel buoy

    Operative word for today is: ASTONISHMENT. Today was sorta full of surprises. Including right at the start of the morning. Around 1am it started to rain. For the first time in weeks I had my rain fly on as rain was predicted earlier in the evening but never came. At 1am it came, and never…

    junkhager

  • Day # 54 (Oct 4; Friar’s Point, MS, mile marker 651): Paddle your age, not your shoe size

    The word for today is: PROVIDENCE. I went to bed last night expecting 90 degrees and glaring sunshine all day. I woke up this morning to overcast skies, it stayed cloudy with a light rain most of the day. Thank you God for the surprising relief. I made good use of the good weather, earning…

    junkhager

  • Day #53 (Oct 3): Back in the (blue plastic) saddle again

    Today’s word: RECOGNIZABLE. I had gotten bored of sitting in Memphis. Maybe one day off would’ve been plenty. I was concerned how I’d feel getting back into the grind alone after such a break, but it all felt normal. Routine. It was familiar, and it was good. I forgot to say yesterday – when I…

    junkhager

  • Day #52 (Oct 2): Rub-a-dub-dub

    Word for today, similar to yesterday: RECUPERATION. I realized this morning, I was so focused on relaxing and eating, I didn’t shower yesterday. Normally a shower would occur in pretty short order, but yesterday whether I was focused on other things, or I’ve gotten so used to going without a shower, I don’t know. So…

    junkhager