November 2023
I recently went dual sporting in Southern Mississippi. I’ve ridden my road motorcycle all over this place over the years, but I’m learning that once you get off the beaten path, it’s a whole new world. My good riding buddy and friend Mike P. invited me to join him for a weekend and with great camping weather on the horizon, I couldn’t pass it up. We spent two nights at the Clear Spring Campground near Roxie, MS:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mississ ... ecid=28869
We’ve camped here many times before. This is nice place run by the USFS. It’s a full service campground with water and electricity at each site, hot shower in the bath house, etc. Even though the place was under a burn ban, we still had a great time.
We rode about 320 miles over 2 ½ days throughout the Homochitto National Forest in southern Mississippi. The dual sport riding there is easy. The gravel roads are among the best maintained that I’ve ever seen. Water crossings are a piece of cake. Plenty of small towns between the forest to get fuel, ice cream, etc.
This was a a perfect place for a beginner to learn and practice skills. Mike is still very new to DS riding, so this was a really good ride for him. I could see his confidence rising as we rode.
I hope you enjoy the pics.
Day 1: Truck it 160 miles to the campground, then a short 60 mile DS ride in the afternoon.
I wasn’t able to get the trailer that I normally borrow for these adventures, so Mike and I each drove our pickup trucks to the campground. We got to the campground about noon, and after lunch, we setup the camp and unloaded the bikes. With still plenty of daylight left, we suited up and hit the gravel.
We joined the Southern Miss Dual Sport Riders Facebook group, and a member there sent us a couple of GPX files of the area. So, we bring up one of the tracks, and start riding.
It’s a nice mixture of hard woods and some pine forest, and I’m quite content to just go wherever. Earlier in the week, this area had some rain, but as you can see, it drains off very well and there is NO dust to speak of.
We got back to the campground about an hour before dark. After the usual and customary happy hour, we started cooking. With the burn ban in effect, we will be resolved to the camp stove, but fear not, no one is going hungry.
Most good meals start with onions and peppers.
While I saute’d the veggies, Mike started heating up the Carnita meat. (That’s Pig if you don’t know!)
Damm fine meal of Pork Carnitas and beans.
After dinner, we sat in the dark with some music and an adult beverage, contemplating the meaning of life. Our conclusion? Indeed, life is very good.
Day 2: 140 miles of Mississippi forest.
It cooled down over night and I slept like a baby in my tent over BOTH an inflatable air mattress and a thermo-rest mattress. Last night, we made too much to eat, so this morning, we will re-run Mexican for breakfast.
During the week, a couple of guys from Prairieville, LA posted up on FB that they were coming, so last night we introduced ourselves and they decided to join us today. Both Erik and Tim ride KLR650s.
Again, we are just following the track given to us that wanders in and out of the forest.
We crossed the Homochitto River just south of Eddiceton, MS.
The bridge there is kind of cool.
The river is bone dry.
Some of the local riders on the FB group suggested we have lunch at this place. Mike and I made a sandwich at the campground, but I bought a cookie and some chips and we ate it on the patio in front of the store.
After lunch, we started heading west. Or maybe it was south. Maybe north – I dunno – doesn’t matter.
We stopped at Lake Okhissa to look around. This is an Army Corp of Engineers site and is very nice.
We found a nice piece of Petrified Wood there.
Shortly after that, Tim and Erik decided to break away and head back to the campground as they were going home this evening. Mike and I continued by ourselves into the forest.
I was focused on a destination.
We took the longer way back to the campground, but arrived with plenty of light left in the day. All told, it was about 140 miles, which is much more than I’m accustomed to on the Bush Pig. However, the riding here is easy and it’s a bit faster.
Tonight, we are having chicken burgers.
Add beans and a bag of salad and … Bon Appettite!
It was a nice evening to take a walk in the woods.
A good day.
Day 3: 120 miles of gravel, the truck it home.
It got cold last night. I woke up to about 40 degrees, so we took our time with coffee and breakfast. We packed up the tents and allowed the sun to come up a bit higher before hitting the trails.
We see a lot of deer hunters in the forest, but they don’t bother us any.
About lunch time, Mike sees a “road” that heads to the river. I enjoyed riding through the tunnel of small trees.
That trail popped out at the river, and we rode a little sand to lunch.
Pretty cool place.
Then it was more of the same. These roads are very easy to ride – at times, I was opening up the ole Bush Pig and ripping it!
We came upon another cool old bridge.
I enjoy seeing old metal work.
It’s been a good weekend.
We got back to the campground about 3:30 pm. We loaded the bikes and gear and headed home in the trucks. I got home about 7:30 pm, and left everything in the truck. I’ll get to that tomorrow.
We found a new place to ride. We will be back soon.
Stay thirsty, my friends…..
