We made it – the Big Easy – New Orleans. We had over 100 miles to go today, I think everyone wanted to get an earlier start than normal. I overheard some of the riders complaining this morning, “we rush to get up, we rush to eat breakfast and then we rush to ride our bikes.” I guess they were wondering if there was more to bike touring than riding their bikes just to get to the day’s end – many times a campground in the middle of nowhere. I said “you can change that,” thinking to myself; just stop once in awhile, look at where you are, think about what you’re doing, and talk to a local person. I don’t think they got it, even though they were thinking something was missing, they seemed powerless to change it – at least I didn’t see them doing anything different in our last weeks.
I was on the road by 6:30 or so, doing my own pace. The road surface was hideous at times, but it got better after 20 miles. I stopped to stretch out my back at Pierre’s van at 25 miles and took the 800 mg ibprofrin Ann gave me, I think it helped. Sig passed by with out seeing me while I was stopped so I went after him and said “don’t make me chase you again!” he just looked at me like ‘where did you come from and what did I do?’ We rode together until checkpoint at 53 miles. It was a gas station/store place, so I wasn’t expecting much, but inside they were making fresh sandwiches. I think the lady behind the counter was speaking English, but I sure couldn’t understand her local dialect. I think she said “you want that dressed?” which I guess meant put everything on it. I just said “yes”. It was a wonderful sandwich and big too! Bob arrived while Sig and I were still there so we helped him with the ordering process and waited while he ate. When we left checkpoint I was really cold, it was kind of gray and windy, but warmed up after we rode for awhile. We were able to crank up the speed when we turned and got a side/tailwind to help us. We made good time for the rest of the day and arrived at the hotel a little after 2:30.
Bob and I skipped the group dinner that night and headed into the French Quarter to Dickie Brennan’s Steak House for some wonderful cow. We listened to a bit of the blues at a couple of bars before heading back to the hotel.
108.7 miles