Update #8- Feb 18th, 2003
Lacombe, LA - 1,460.3 miles (2,336.5 kms.)

Tomorrow will be a big day for me. It will be ten years since I headed out from Portland, OR after heading the call for me to "Go" from Adonai. My next big anniversary will be 39 days from now on March 27th, which will be the tenth anniversary of my ministry.

There isn't much to say about the ride between Andalusia, AL. and Lacombe, LA. Weather was the major difficulty. For the most part temperatures have been in the fifties and sixties. There was some good rain to deal with last Saturday in Ocean Springs, MS. I spent a wet night camping out under some covered breezeways at the First Baptist Church in Ocean Springs. Between Spanish Fort, AL and Slidell, LA, I basically followed the same route that I took last November in reverse.

I didn't really get to speak at churches along the way. I did have a good reception at the United Methodist Church in Spanish Fort, AL and the First Baptist Church in Ocean Springs, MS. At both churches, I was surprised at getting a total of one hundred dollars in Green Handshakes. Along the way, I did have several donated motel rooms since the night temperatures got below freezing.

I had to get another rear tire in Gulfport, MS. Saturday morning between Pascagoula and Gautier, MS my rear tire went flat after going through a construction zone. I either hit some broken glass or a piece of sharp metal that caused a really bad tread cut. The cut went clear through the tire and I had to glue on several patches inside the tire over the cut to keep the tube from being punctured again. The people at the Cyclist Choice Bike Shop were really friendly. They put on the new tire, trued up several loose spokes, and realigned the rear brake for free.

I crossed into Lousiana this morning from Waveland, MS. I'll be riding through Baton Rouge either tomorrow or Thursday. From Andalusia, I'll be traveling Northwest to Shreveport, LA. I'll be then heading across Mississippi towards After Shreveport, it will be a short ride to the Garland, TX area north of Dallas. I should be there in about ten days from now. My next stop in Texas will be in Amarillo. Eventually, I'll be making my way along the Southern part of the country to California.