Joyce, Dogs and Diarrhoea.

It wasn't a good morning for our last day in Louisiana.  Keith had a bad night with gastric problems and Chris had a close encounter with a pack of dogs. Keith gallantly set off despite lack of fuel and Chris reached a point on the road with four dogs from one House, two on each side of road. There was nothing to do but charge straight at them and managed to get to 28 mph which stopped them catching. Rather set me on edge though and combined with some close passing vehicles on narrow, shoulderless road it was a low point of the trip. A sign for a settlement called Joyce raised the spirits (hello Joyce!) but the actual place was soon dampened them again. 

Keith started to slow but after a rest set off again and gradually recovered to the point where he could eat a bit. In the end he did all 96 miles so we won't have to go back on ourselves as we'd feared. We'd already planned a day off tomorrow so that fits well. Keith can have a recuperation day while Chris and Mandy go sight seeing, which he dislikes!

In the end we had a gloriously sunny crossing of the Mississippi into the state of Mississippi, on the impressive girder bridges a couple of miles from our hotel in Natchez. After a surprise evening meal included with the price of the room C & M went to see the bridge and river at sunset. 

We maybe should have stayed a mile away!

Thinking small. If you are going to make a replica surely you'd do one of the biggest rather than the second biggest. 

Well charming. After 1900 miles in the saddle anyone is likely to have a bottom like cowhide. 

Entering Mississippi at Natchez

Mississippi Burnished. The twin girder bridges at Natchez near where we stay.