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It's been a goal of mine since the Trace opened to ride my
bicycle the entire length and back at one time. Last
Saturday morning, a typically humid, early summer day in
south Mississippi, I finally did so.
I was accompanied by one of the Trace's sponsors, Dr. John
Pendergrass, for a great morning of riding. We left
Jackson Road station at seven a.m. and finished just after
eleven. The spring blooms are gone now, but the
honeysuckles and dogwoods along the way are leafing. I
encountered many species of wildlife as well, and had a close
encounter with two young jakes, (young male, wild turkeys), near
Clyde Depot. I've hunted turkeys all my life, but never
been as close to one as I was then.
Riding the entire way in one day allows one to
notice the elevation changes more clearly. I was fortunate
to have not had a flat tire or other breakdown, and am pleased to
report that everyone I met along the way was polite and friendly.
At one point, John had a flat and was helped with the change by
three friendly strangers from south Louisiana. I enjoyed
seeing the older folks work their gardens and fields as I rode
into Jefferson Davis County, and noticed the progress of
construction of businesses such as Heath, Linda, and Howard
Sumrall's place in the town of Sumrall. I pledged to go and
buy a field guide to trees since my last class at USM. on the
subject was a long time ago. (Dendrology, Dr. Jean Wooten).
I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the idea,
the funding, the construction, and the maintenance of this, one
of the great treasures in south Mississippi.
Tony Mozingo
(Tony Mozingo is a lawyer in Hattiesburg, and past President
of the Pine Belt Pacers, a local running club. Tony has competed in the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii.)
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