Monticello AR to Indianola MS
9/29/17
Day 20, Pac Tour Southern Transcon: On paper, it looked like an easy day. Practically no climbing, 108 miles. Reality: a mother of a headwind - changed everything! Highlight: crossed the Mississippi River! The bridge accounted for a third of our climbing for the day. We left the forest in Arkansas by the first 15 miles. After that, it was all agricultural land, flat as a pancake. The only crop was cotton. We had about 45 miles of that when we reached the Mississippi River levy and saw the bridge for the first time. It's a new bridge with a nice wide bike lane on either side. We took photos from the bridge, then descended into Mississippi (no state sign). Most of our roads in SE Arkansas were exceedingly rough - kind of like riding a rumble strip - terrible. Mississippi was no better - unbelievably rough roads and by then the headwind was stronger as well. Still in cotton country - wide open flat land with nothing to break the wind! Didn't seem like we'd ever finish as we were cruising at 12 to 15 mph for much of it. Cruising is not the right word - clawing our way forward is more descriptive of out effort. We did of course finally reach Indianola, our destination with 108.4 mles, a 14.8 avg, and 600 ft of climbing!
BIKE: Neuvation road bike; start time: 8:14; end: 17:17; avg:14.8; max: 23.5; climb: 656; miles: 108.42
SUNNY; wind: NE 10-20; start  temp: 66; min: 61; avg: 80; max: 102; end: 78
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2017505495

Kosciusko MS to Livingston AL
10/1/17
Day 22, Pac Tour Southern Transcon: Today was our 6th longest day and 6th highest climbing total for the trip. (The second longest day will be tomorrow.) We did nearly 115 miles today with nearly 5200 ft of climbing. At mile 102, we crossed into Alabama. This is a new state for me in terms of cycling. I'd been to Alabama before but had never cycled in the state, before. This brings my "cycled in" state count to 38. There was no "state line sign" welcoming us to Alabama nor even an indication we were passing into a new state. The only give away was that we were told the road would become rougher, and it did! Shortly after, though, we turned onto another road which was nice and smooth. There was no difference in foliage - pine forest rules in each state!
BIKE: Neuvation road bike; start time: 7:43; end: 15:41; avg:14.3; max: 34; climb: 5194; miles: 114.81
SUNNY; wind: SE 10-15; start  temp: 63; min: 61; avg: 76; max: 100; end: 75
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2030097109

Headwinds?   i didn't notice    
 
i did find some hills though    
 
Just remember, if its flat, or easy, it wouldn't be pactour  
 
 
Quote from square_corners on Oct 2^nd, 2017, 9:35pm:

Eufala AL to Cordele GA
10/4/17
DAY 25, EUFALA AL TO CORDELE GA, PAC TOUR SOUTHERN TRANSCON: This was another day of strong east wind. It was a 12 mph forecast wind but the flags were stretched out taut! 12 my behind! It was more like 24! There were some beautiful views in Georgia and I didn't hesitate to stop and take pictures. The distance was 116 miles, 3900 ft of climbing. Most of the climbing was done by mile 82 (lunch) so then it was just the headwind and that was enough.
BIKE: Neuvation road bike; start time: 7:13; end: 17:19; avg:13.6; max: 34.4; climb: 3937; miles: 116.15
PARTLY CLOUDY; wind: NE 3-18; start  temp: 63; min: 61; avg: 76; max: 91; end: 73
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2044993987

We went right through Vidalia on the way to Metter. That's where we turned off of US 280 onto a quieter road for the remaining miles to Metter!

I know those roads very well. I would not like riding a bike along there with all the logging trucks. Are you going to end up around Savannah, GA? That is where I went to high school and college. Very neat city.

PAC TOUR SOUTHERN TRANSCON, METTER GA TO TYBEE ISLAND GA, DAY 27 (the finale!): I've had a saddle sore since the Texas Panhandle. Part of me thought of nothing else than this last day - an end to the agony. Fortunately there is so much more positive to completing a tour like this than what in the final analysis amounts to minor discomfort. This was a great trip! The people and crew on the trip make it great as does the organization and highlights of the passing scenery. It was challenging and yet satisfying! We left Metter long after the other riders had left. We thought, no problem, we always catch some of the riders. Today, with 24 miles to the first sag, I had a flat at mile 23, my 4th of the trip. By the time we got to the sag, she was closing shop. No one else was around. We needed to be at the next sag, 18 miles away, by 10:00. With our initial slow pace and late arrival, there was no way we'd make that time. Arrived at sag 2 at 10:30 expecting no one to be there. But there they were! Needed to be at lunch, 16 miles down the road by 11:30. I thought, no way, that's possible. We made it despite what felt like a massive headwind! It was 11:29:30. We had made up loads of time! But there was still work to do. We had to be at mile 82 by 1:15 PM and we had to get through Savannah with all those traffic lights. I thought, no chance. But we made many of the lights on green and skirted long lines of waiting cars by splitting the lane between them and the parked cars. After awhile we reached the causeway which starts with a 7.3% climb across a channel to a barrier island and a very strong headwind. Finally, we saw riders ahead and knew we would make it. About then, it started to rain. We got wet but it didn't matter. The coolness was refreshing. Finally we made the regroup point after a somewhat harrowing ride on the causeway with car after car whizzing by. We all rode as a group to the Tybee Island Beach where we trekked across the sand and dipped our wheels and enjoyed the warm water swirling around our ankles. Day was done and trip was done! Today, 86 miles and 900 ft of climbing!  Total trip mileage was 2910; total trip climbing was 103006 ft. I rode every mile and climbed every climb!
BIKE: Neuvation road bike; start time: 7:30; end: 14:03; avg:15.9; max: 25.8; climb: 922; miles: 86.07
PARTLY CLOUDY with rain shower near end; wind: NE 8-12; start  temp: 61; min: 61; avg: 74; max: 87; end: 86
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2053720038

Congratulations on an epic ride with a year's worth of mileage!  And thanks for "taking us along."