The Bear Affair

After a quick discussion on what we should do for our Saturday entertainment, Wifeunit and I decided to get up early and drive the 90 miles to Rolling Fork for the Great Delta Bear Affair. There would be arts and crafts for her to browse and a choice of a 5k run, 30 mile bike or 60 mile bike for me.

I opted for the shorter bike ride in case my legs were still tired from Friday's run, and 4 hours of arts and crafts would test even the Wifeunit's legendary browsing endurance.

There were about 30 riders, some from Jackson Metro Cyclists and from Greenville and other Delta towns. I fell in behind the main group to see if I was able to hang with them. We were out in the flat countyrside, no hills and light traffic, turned south at Grace, cruising at a 20-22 mph pace. I was keeping up well until we made a turn onto Hwy 1 and the pack strung out into 3 or 4 smaller groups, including my group of 1 in the rear. I guess the strongest riders in front decided to test the rest of us on that stretch of highway through Mayersville. I caught up at the rest stop, which was also the turn-off for those doing the 30-mile leg. The 60 mile riders continued ahead to Fitler and Onward, then back north through Cary and back to Rolling Fork. I was the lone rider to choose the 30-mile, or at least any others were still far behind.

It was a new experience riding completely alone on a narrow road in Issaquena County. I had directions and a map, so there was no danger of getting lost, but I had no idea what the road ahead of me would be like. Well, if you're from that area you would guess what was ahead - cotton fields and an occasional farm house. Fortunately, I was able to sneak past a few large sleeping dogs, my only real concern. When I got to Hwy 14 to turn east back to Rolling Fork, a Sharkey County Sheriff's deputy was waiting at the intersection and asked if I was the last rider. I told him I was actually the first of the 30 mile group, but maybe last, too. I guess he couldn't decide what that meant, but he escorted me in his patrol car the remaining 4-5 miles into town. That was great not having to worry about the traffic blasting by from behind.

By the time I arrived back at the car, Wifeunit had already become bored with the festivities and had been reading at the nearby library. So we loaded up and were back home before 1 pm, napping the afternoon away.