Trans America Cycling Day 33 - DeRidder, LA to Bunkie, LA
The link to today's route and statistics is found here.
Crawfish are a Cajun delicacy. They are grown in converted
freshwater rice ponds in Arcadiana in the south of Louisiana. We cycled past many of the crawfish ponds today on our 94 mile ride through the heart of crawfish country. The parish sheriff explained to us that crawfish are largest when harvested in May and June, and after the harvest the crawfish ponds are planted in rice. So we are in Louisiana at the best time to eat crawfish . . . lucky us. These miniature lobster tails are great vittles.
Crawfish are harvested with paddlewheel boats. When harvesting the boat moves in a straight line next to the traps and a person reaches out, lifts and empties crawfish from a trap into the boat without stopping. The pond is shallow, and the traps appeared to be less than 2 feet tall.
 |
| Crawfish pond with traps and a flyby captured by Maltese Ray |
 |
| Rice field |
Crawfish are harvested with paddlewheel boats. When harvesting the boat moves in a straight line next to the traps and a person reaches out, lifts and empties crawfish from a trap into the boat without stopping. The pond is shallow, and the traps appeared to be less than 2 feet tall.
 |
| Paddle wheel driven crawfish boat |
Eating crawfish is not a Cajun delicacy from the
1800s when the Arcadians were relocated to southern Louisiana. It was in
the 1930s that the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) public works program
introduced large-scale crawfish consumption to impoverished southern Louisiana.
The CCC recognized crawfish as a viable source of protein for the locals.
Then the resourceful Cajuns came up with crawfish delicacies such as
etouffee, crawfish pie, gumbo, etc. To many the simplicity of
eating the boiled “lobster-like” meat in the crawfish claws and tails dipped in
spicy Cajun sauce is the best.
Maltese Ray and his fellow riders found a mud turtle today. Turtles can carry salmonella, so after handling one should wash hands and avoid hand to mouth contact. Hopefully before eating Cajun lunch in Mamou, those who picked up the turtle washed their hands.
Speaking of food, some motels here have a Louisiana waffle iron.
Since we are less than 50 feet above sea level and the water table is high, graves in the graveyard are not deep as in other places. Graveyards with elevated burials are common in low-lying parts of Louisiana.
Maltese Ray and his fellow riders found a mud turtle today. Turtles can carry salmonella, so after handling one should wash hands and avoid hand to mouth contact. Hopefully before eating Cajun lunch in Mamou, those who picked up the turtle washed their hands.
 |
| Ray with the large turtle |
 |
| Cajun lunch in Mamou |
Speaking of food, some motels here have a Louisiana waffle iron.
Speaking with Ray or John from Malta is easy, since they speak fluent English. Our speaking to them in Maltese is more difficult, because Malta has its own language. This may help:
 |
| Maltese language essential phrases |
Apparently there has been bad behavior in the bathroom of a convenience store at SAG stop 3 today.
 |
| Large sign in bathroom of convenience store |
Since we are less than 50 feet above sea level and the water table is high, graves in the graveyard are not deep as in other places. Graveyards with elevated burials are common in low-lying parts of Louisiana.
 |
| Above ground graves in low regions of Louisiana |
Comments
Post a Comment