Day 2, La Place, LA - 43 miles

After a good, hearty breakfast at the Ruby Slipper Cafe, we returned to the van and, to make sure the day was going to be a smooth one I topped off my tires with air. That's when I heard the "pfffft" sound as I ripped the valve stem from the tube. The first flat of the trip prize goes to me.  Carol, our guide, did a quick tube change then we headed down to the river for the ceremonial pictures.  Then we were off.

As we traveled through New Orleans' Garden District, the houses transitioned from elegant decay to cute bungalows called shotgun houses (because if you fired a shotgun in the front door, the shot would exit out the back without hitting anything). At mile 5 we started on a bike path on top of a levee that would last us the next 22 miles.

As the day went on the temperature and humidity climbed, and the cold water from today's support driver, Yolande, was greatly appreciated.  Yolande is from Amsterdam and she and her wife are on this trip as part of a multi-month biking adventure of North America. They have already biked down Route 1 in California and, after we get to Minnesota, they are continuing east to Montreal.  They are just two of the 30 very interesting women on this trip.

Shotgun houses

Some of the crew

Day 1, New Orleans, LA

We arrived in New Orleans on schedule and have been busily devouring the city sights since.  Our hotel is the Villa Convento on the edge of the French Quarter, a very cute and old building across the street from Le Croissant d'Or, a wonderful pastry shop.  We have been on walking tours (cemetery, historic garden district, river front); eaten gumbo, etouffee, and jambalaya; been on boats and streetcars; relived World War II; seen jazz performed on street corners and in clubs; and had flaming Banana's Foster prepared table-side at the restaurant where it was invented. What a wild time.

Today I will meet the woman of the tour and tomorrow we will take off for points north. Maybe then I can get some sleep.

Day 1, New Orleans, LA - 0 miles

Adventure

The adventure begins.  Yesterday Pam, Megan and I took off from Minneapolis and today, we are just south of Cape Girardeau, MO.  It's fun seeing the places we will be staying in on the trip north, thinking about the history of these river towns and how the Mississippi has impacted the area.  Only three more days until we all meet, then we'll start are little bike ride north.

Between St. Louis and Memphis

Riding in the Rain

I figure if I can ride in weather like this, I can handle anything. Today began chilly, turned cold, then started to rain. I went with the Twin Cities Bike Club on a Randonneur ride, which can be 300 miles long or longer. Because it's so early in the season, today they were only doing 80 miles. The course was fairly flat, but mountainous by Florida standards, and I felt pretty good at the end. I think I may be ready for my trip.

Below are a few pictures from a nicer day.



Mississippi River in St. Paul




Mississippi River Trail (10 States,
 1 River) in Minneapolis



Snowy Minnesota

We are back in Minnesota and I have resumed my bike commute to work.  It seems to have a little more urgency as every mile biked is another mile that goes into the training bank.  Because of that, today I was determined to ride no matter the forecast, even if it was 33 degrees and supposed to snow.  For once the forecast was correct but I made it to work without frostbite.  The ride home was considerably warmer but I can't help but think we returned from Florida just a little bit too early.

Day 34, Fargo, ND - 60 miles

Riders

Despite the threat of rain, it was a beautiful day.  Our last day of riding was on a nearly deserted access road parallel to I-29. Not wanting this to end, I think people were riding in larger groups, taking a little more time, and talking a bit more.  It's always hard to end a tour and, because of Barbara's death in Minot, this one seems a little harder. 

Tonight is our final dinner together, our banquet they call it.  Too bad it's not in the parking lot on white plastic chairs.