November 4, 2023 Day 28 Demopolis Alabama to West Helena Arkansas 280 miles
The morning is cool but skies are clear. They remained that way all day.
The landscape hasn’t changed much. It is rolling hills with cotton fields, patches of forest and pasture. We past through very small towns. Small churches are scattered throughout.
In Livingston Alabama we passed the University of West Alabama. Since this is Saturday things are very quiet.
A huge bug hit Connie’s side of the windshield it sprayed yellow gunk over a large area. So much for taking pictures now.
Then we crossed into Mississippi. Looks just like Alabama. The roads however seem bumpier than in Alabama. We drive some on back farming roads and some on divided highways that are not freeways because entrance and exits are not ramps. Traffic seems light for such roads.
Well we came to Oxford Mississippi. We didn’t realize this is home to the University of Mississippi better known as Ole Miss. They had a home football game against Texas A&M which just ended. A red river of people was coming toward us. Once in awhile a slash of maroon. It went on for blocks. Then once they got to their cars the traffic went for blocks. Several policeman were out directing traffic. Ole Miss won just barely 38 to 35.
After awhile we got a flat tire again. Rob put out the triangles and started in. The manager of the fields where were came to help. He stayed with us the entire time. We learned that the pink wrapped cotton is for breast cancer awareness. We also learned he can’t get local folks to work so the cotton gin is run by Mexicans and the tractors and other farm equipment is run by South Africans. Some of the big tractors went by while we were parked there. They take up all of the two lane road.
So we are off again. Eight miles down the road we got another flat tire. Now we have no spare and no more tubes. Time to call AAA. Well that is an experience all by itself. It took over four hours from when we called until we were at the hotel. It took AAA over an hour to get the trouble call from the national office to the local dispatch. By the way that is considered shortly. When they called they said they would call and be right back. Twenty minutes later they called to say no one was available and we would have to find someone ourselves. They AAA might over time reimburse us for some of the call. They did give us the phone number for the local police and said they might know someone. The police did give us a number and that person said AAA had called but he was unable to get to the phone quickly enough. It AAA would call him back he could make the run. We called AAA again. They started the trouble ticket all over again with the same someone will call you shortly. After 30 minutes we called them. This person was more willing to help. Even then we initially got the same response. Well Connie lost it and told them this whole thing had been absurd. It was dark, our vehicle was difficult to see and it was dangerous. Well finally she got approval from her supervisor and the truck was on its way. The driver was an interesting fellow. He said he is the only truck in the area and that AAA knows that. Sure glad he was willing to help. Since tomorrow is Sunday everything we might need is closed. What a place to get stuck.
We are having problems with the inner tubes failing in the radial tires. From research on the web, apparently the radial tires flex more and sometimes overheat the inner tubes. Rob brought two new tubes along but has already used them. So, we are going to wait until Monday to order and overnight some parts. Maybe we will be back on the road again on Tuesday.
Spoffords Travel 