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| Dave and Marshall |
The terrain was so flat today that my altimeter logged only 3 feet of climbing during the first 25 miles of riding, and just 245 feet over the entire 73.9 miles to Bunkie LA.
The first part of today’s route took us on a long loop around a series of huge crawfish and rice paddies. For reasons unknown, hundreds of the tiny crustaceans were fleeing the pools and being crushed by the sparse traffic in the adjoining roads. As we rode by, the little beasts raised their claws high in challenge.
To our dismay, the road through Chicot State Park was barricaded, with signs warning of the perils that awaited the foolhardy souls who ignored the closure.
But the only impediment we found after breaching the barricades was that the park’s exit gate was closed. We were easily able to walk our bikes around the gate.
In one of the tour’s closer calls, an English Shepherd-like-dog on attack almost got under the wheels of Marshall’s bike. But the beast retreated fast after getting a blast from my boat horn.
Casey and Erin, meanwhile, rode 110 miles to catch up with us this evening in Bunkie, where we are all being hosted by the fire department.
Since the fire chief felt there was really no room left for the ladies at the station, he invited them to stay at his home, and that’s where they went.
Looks like we’ll be breaking into smaller groups tomorrow, with Dave and I heading to an RV park in Morganza, roughly 60 miles away.
Marshall, Casey and Erin are planning longer days, because they’re in a bigger hurry to get to New Orleans. Marshall is meeting his wife there. Casey and Erin are meeting their boyfriends. New Orleans is a great place to party, if that’s what you want to do.
My plan is to pedal through town as quickly as possible. When it comes to the Big Easy, I’ve been there, done that, and when I was much younger and felt that the there was no dishonor in the occasional hangover. These days, I’m more interested in getting a good night’s sleep than I am in nightlife, especially when I am on a bike tour.
DM: 73.9; TM: 2,143.7; 245 ft climbing; 11.5 mph avg; 6:25 hrs rdg
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| Crawfish on the road |
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| Bayou |
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| Palmetto |
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| Bunkie Fire Department |
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| Marshall, Casey, Erin and Dave |
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| Bunkie Fire Department |
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