Environmental Awareness Edition, Day 9

My last full day in New Orleans, and I have to say that, of all the places on the map, I couldn't have picked a better place for the mid-trip break. This place is a blast. And the traffic jams ain't a thing like 395 going into Washington, DC.

Yesterday, with a strangely strong feeling of obligation, I rode the 110 miles south to Grand Isle, Ground Zero for the oil spill disaster. I was overwhelmed by the impact this disaster is having, present tense, on this community. Workboats sitting idle at the docks, no one on the beach, and angry signs everywhere expressing frustration and sadness. There was, quite literally, a smell of oil in the air.

I rode to the end of the road, to a point where the high water levels made the road impassable on a bike. Mine, anyway. Turning around, I felt as if I'd fulfilled my obligation, and having seen this for myself, I now understand this in a way that the media could never convey. A bomb couldn't have done more damage.

End of the road...

So!

Linda, Charlie, and I ventured across the Mississippi last night in search of a Hooters, if for no other reason, to satisfy a need to hit one in every town. We had our wings, snapped the requisite photos (for Fred), and made our way back, with no help from my GPS which was determined to route us through all the ghetto 'hoods of Nawlins. Charlie's 50 dollar model saved the day.

TGIF!! There's supposed to be some kind of event tonight in the French Quarter that might mean craziness, nudity, and drunkenness! In short, same stuff, different day. We'll be there participating in whatever way seems right at the time, trusting that whatever happens will appear on Facebook mere seconds later. Watch our pages for those "Did I just do that?" moments.

 

And sometime this afternoon, I need to decide on a route back toward DC. Though it sucks, the decision-maker is weather and not the coolness-factor of all the places I wanted to visit. I'm still thinking Panama City, FL, for the next stop, and from there it's either due North or toward the Atlantic Coast. Kentucky could even sneak into the picture!

I'm trying not to count days, but this is maybe the most enjoyable time I'd had in my life and something I'll never forget. I hate to see it end.

And it hasn't!! Plenty more time.

Hey, sorry to lapse into that somber note at the beginning, but Grand Isle really hit me between the eyes.

Cowboy

Woops!

Hoping he didn't hear me come away from that last light. Charlie is a bad influence.

News and Weather

This morning, I'm watching the news for the first time since June 1. Mostly, I was interested i'n the weather, but figured I'd check in with the news to see if anyone's come up with a solution to world peace, or maybe a cure for a major disease. Beyond that, ain't much changed since I left DC.

This morning, I started thinking about the ride home, with an eye toward not riding in the rain if I don't have to. I could run north from here, taking a slightly different route than I took coming down. This seems to offer better chance of dry riding than the East Coast route I originally planned. If anyone with better access to weather info has any suggestions, shoot me an email. Will be running back up starting this Saturday.

Grand Isle today to see how the Gulf looks. Stay tuned for more.

Cowboy

sent from iPhone Land.....

Day 6....or 7.....or

I wasn't sure this morning what day it was, and that's exactly what I was hoping for. It's either the laid-back atmosphere of New Orleans or the number that cute little gal, Becky, did on me. Whatever it was, I'll take it.

Today, I literally expanded my horizons, getting away from the French Quarter and visiting the Lakeshore Drive area where there are some terrific homes, mostly hidden behind an endless wall of levees, many of which were under repair.

I also rode up Esplanade, seeing some grand old New Orleans homes with an interesting, and almost infinite, variety of architecture. Few pix of those, unfortunately. Had a cop follow me almost the entire way, so I figured it was a bad time to practice my newfound one-handed riding skills while snapping pix with the other.

Then to Voodoo Harley davidson for the requisite T-shirt, and around Frenchman's Market to see the sights. Lots of great things to see and do in that area.

And a late lunch at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. After that, another ride and back home to read a bit and kick back. Dinner tonight with Charlie and Linda.

Tomorrow we're all riding south to Grand Isle, ground zero for the oil spill activity. I just couldn't come all the way here and not have a look for myself. Hope the hell it doesn't shatter the happy spell this trip has put on me, but I think I do need to see it for myself, and not through the filter of the media.

Ok. Back to the grind. I need to get something cold to drink, and then I need to sit back down. Whew!! I'm fucking worn out just thinking about it.

Cowboy
PS I wonder how long this stupid grin on my face will last......

PPS I'm really, really glad I didn't bring a laptop, but editing and publishing this blog on a fucking iPhone sucks.

The morning after....

So it's Day 6, I think, and I'm happily losing track of the date, the day of the week, and other stuff that's probably important, but I can't recall them either. In other words, the trip is a success!!

Actually this is far more than a trip, and maybe one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done. It's truly been an eye-opening experience and too long in the making. Yesterday began in Vicksburg, and from there to Jackson, MS, for a disappointing trip to get a new brake lever for the bike. The people there couldn't have cared less, so I called HD of Baton Rouge who happily put my part on hold while I (carefully) rode the 100+ miles to pick it up and install it. What a cool bunch of folks there. Two thumbs up for Harley Davidson of Baton Rouge.

Much of yesterday's trip involved some serious rain, so out came the rain gear and shield. Another big thank-you to my son and family for the great gift!!! Sure came in handy. But after 5 serious spells of rain, one bike repair, a detour to Baton Rouge, and another 270 miles, I arrived in New Orleans, for a total of 1,475 wonderful miles.

Charlie and Linda were waiting for me at the hotel, and I was very, very happy to see these two. They're a part of my family...no question about it. Quite honestly, Linda looked shocked to see me, so I guess I looked a little rough after a few days on the road......

We went to Bourbon Street last night. It was just great to see them and have someone to help me enjoy the city. It's like no place I've ever been, but more on that later. Stay tuned.

Linda said I cleaned up pretty good.

 

Rainy today, which is good. I really ain't up to long rides, and spent the entire morning in the hotel courtyard chatting with a guest.

The guest....Becky! 

Might get out now between showers to explore.

Greetings from New Orleans!
Cowboy

Day 4, Independence Day

What a day....

Left Tupelo this morning after getting cornered at the hotel by a couple Gold Wing guys who wanted to talk about the relative merits of theirs vs. a Harley. Yawn. Who cares. Buy a Harley and quit trying to convince yourself the Honda is better. It ain't, so get over it.

Ran the Natchez Trace again thru to Jackson. That road must be a secret. No one uses it and again I sometimes went for miles without seeing another vehicle. When I got near Jackson I finally saw some folks.

Did run into a few people at one of the roadside historic sites. One talkative old lady mentioned she was waiting for someone to drop off her grandbaby and a load of rabbits. I didn't ask much about that. The answer could have been scary. Stopped at another and in the woods behind me there was major shooting going on. Took some pix and rolled put of there.

Hit Jackson and went west to Vicksburg. Got a cheap room first and then rode straight to the river. Took a couple pix and then saw a great photo op with a steamboat for a backdrop. Moved the bike down a sharp incline and when I kicked the fork to the side, over it went. With all the extra weight, I just couldn't hold it up.

Before broken brake lever....

...and after. But I got the picture.

So here's the good part. I was struggling to pick it up, when a couple girls came by in a pickup and asked if I wanted help. It was hard, but I said yes, so this BIG girl jumped out and helped me get 'er back on two wheels and off they went.

Bruised ego, broken front brake lever, and not much riding tonight. That bike is WAY too heavy to stop with just the rear brake. And no, there's no sexy, steamy ending with the girls who helped out. Guess I could have made something up.....

Anyway, I hit the Civil War Battlefield and had a look around. Amazing place, and a must-see. This was a place Mom and I always passed by and we seemed to never have time to stop and see it. I was making time to do exactly that.....

Texas Memorial 

Back at the hotel, I called a Harley dealer in Jackson who's going to help me out tomorrow. He said if he doesn't have one on the shelf, he'll pull one off a new bike to get me back on the road. Great guy. Will post the name when I get it....can't remember right now

So it's 30 miles back to Jackson (isn't there a song like that? "'going to Jackson......."). I'll get the part, put it on, and head south, maybe to Natchez and into New Orleans. Day early.

Cowboy

PS ran into some interesting sentiment from one local. I asked if there were going to be fireworks, and he said he didn't know. Then he said, "I don't celebrate the 4th much anymore. I'm losing too many of my rights to celebrate freedom." Wow, I didn't know what to say, except that fireworks were still cool, and then I walked away.

Day 3, Mississippi

About 240 miles today, but very few on an interstate, and many, many stops along the way.

I picked up the Natchez Trace Parkway just south of Nashville, and what a nice ride. Sometimes I went for a mile or two without seeing another vehicle. Pretty scenery and smooth turns, and not a billboard, store, or neon sign in sight. In fact, I got off at Buzzard Corner just to see a few stores, lights, and signs.

From there, I had a chance to visit Corinth, MS, the site of a major Civil War battle. On the Shiloh battlefield, there's a special place called a Civil War Interpretation Center which allows research and emphasizes Corinth's, and Mississippi's, role in the Civil War.

And from there to Tupelo, the birthplace of Elvis. I visited his first home and the church he attended.
Tonight I'm staying in. I'm a little road-worn and NASCAR is on. Besides, I found out (sniff) that Hooters bypassed Tupelo. (I wonder how people eat?!?!)

Cowboy
sent from iPhone Land.....