January 17th, 2008 | categorizilation: all categories,USA (Mississippi)
Today’s distance / ???????: 22 miles / 36.6km
Average speed / ????: 7.5mph / 12km/h
Time on skateboard / ????: 3h 02m
Total skateboarding distance to date / ????????????: 1755mi (plus 266mi) / 2825km (plus 430km)
Ascent / ??: n/a
Descent / ??: n/a
End-of-day GPS coordinates: N30.23.42.2, W088.56.37.7
Well, the day is not over yet, but I am currently inside the temporary Biloxi Public Library, doing my updates. This whole area is still a bit of a mess with reconstruction still going on after hurricane Katrina.
I started the day in good spirits after I found a nice back road as an alternative to US90 with its rough shoulders. These good spirits didn’t last long. The back road incresed in traffic, and I was forced to get off the road on numerous occassions to avoid holding up traffic. No shulders seems to be the story of my life here in Mississippi.
The road above was closed, so there was no traffic. It was all torn up ready for re-paving however, so it was a mile or so of bumpy skating scum.
Eventually I made it to Ocean Springs, and to the newly constructed Biloxi Bridge.
I rolled into Biloxi just before noon, and made a beeline for the public library. Time to get some batteries charged and some blog updated.
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BIG NEWS
Hey Rob, hope the loneliness is waning. I'm back in the grind of school, and man, it's been a pretty amazing week. This of course, is totally related to your visit to the school. On Monday I read the students the article about your visit, and we had great discussions about you and your journey. So so nice for the students to connect with you, and to hear your anecdotes about human kindness and hospitality. It also gives them a glimpse of being part of a world community, not just Pensacolians or Americans. Beautiful.
They wrote an essay on Tuesday describing what impressed them the most about your journey, and how what they learned from you might improve their lives. I haven't had a chance to read them yet, but I will this weekend. They were, for the most part, eager to write about you. As a teacher, this fact alone is worth more than gold to me!!
I too enjoyed you passing through! It was like a quick whirlwind of spontaneity and an overall great time. I'm delighted our paths have crossed.
Your journey continues to inspire, my friend. Keep it up.
Onward,
Jamey
Amazing generosity of people! A new lightweight tent and now a camera! You are certainly receiving wonderful support. Hope you manage to find decent roads to skate on. Maybe you should have kept to your bike!
Something I just noticed is that your "highlights of the journey so far" section is starting to look a bit dated with none of your Atlantic, Caribean or US adventures featuring.
Hi Rob,
I just enjoyed reading your latest update. It looks a nice bit warmer where you are than here in Nagoya.
Each state has its own unique aspects, so you will probably find some that have nice bike trails and others that think bikes and skateboards are things you give up when you reach 16 and get your drivers license. It is definitely a society built around having your own automobile, that is for sure.
Continue to have an amazing journey!
Hey Rob! Thought about you during all that rain. Nice that you had a fairly dry spot to rest though. Sorry about the roads, I know that has to be grinding on the knees. Hope it gets better. We'll be tracking you! I'm happy to see you are as far as you are though. Don't forget, you will be travelling through Louisiana into Mardi Gras…be prepared for fun.
Take care
Li-Anh and Lily
Rob –
Thanks so much for fixing the posts so they can be read in order. I know I missed a lot – now I will have to go back and find where I got frustrated and left off.
Guess you won't be making your way to New Jersey. I would love for my kids at school to meet you.
Thanks again for sharing your wonderful adventure.
Karen DeFrank
you have my camera again. brilliant. RAW images are amazing, but huge. If you are shooting in low light and you can increase shutter speed a bit making a slightly dark shot – take it on raw, and you'll be able to fix it up later. exciting times. good luck finding shoulders.
Rob- Heard you on WIBC radio Indianapolis IN Wish you the best of luck. Hope your trip will bring you to Indiana. Keep the faith.
Eric T.
Hey Rob,
Just wanted to let you know it was a pleasure meeting you and having a chance to get to know you better. You truly are an amazing individual. You have opened my eyes to alot in the little time we encountered one another, and I know realize that there is a huge world out there and I shouldn't miss it. I thank you so much for talking to me and answering my questions, and I hope you have a wonderful, safe journey and that southern hospitality sticks with you. I look forward to seeing you again one day, but if that never happens, keep doing what your doing. You are a breathtakingly intriguing person, and you deserve the best in life. Good luck!!
Sincerely,
Jamie 
Hey Rob,
Great updates! Thanks heaps for the 'newer post' link – very very handy.
Marvelous shot of you on the Biloxi bridge. That's the first one (far as I remember) of you in action with traffic. It really helps see what it's like while you're on the bigger roads. Cheers.
Still loving the journey.
Lee
