Trans America Cycling Day 34 - Bunkie, LA to New Roads, LA

Unfortunately our ride today was cancelled due to thunderstorms and lightening in the forecast nearly the entire day.  Trans-America Cycling shuttled cyclists in vehicles between Bunkie and New Roads.

Our mission helping Veterans with PTSD/Moral Injuries came to fruition when we, Jim and Roberto, met Ron “the Seaman Cajun Veteran”. When Jim arrived to Bunkie, LA, he was approached by Ron who engaged in a conversation regarding our tour and the fact that 2019 Trans America Tour was dedicated to veterans with PTSD conditions. We, Jim, Berry, and Roberto, each a veteran retired from the military, invited Ron for dinner where he shared his military life experiences during his three tours in Vietnam. Ron had considered trying to commit suicide several times and had just been released from the hospital, where he was admitted for conditions related to PTSD. He has been homeless for the last two years after his house was destroyed by a tornado. Near Bunkie, LA. We provided valuable information to continue with his claim with the Veteran Administration (VA).  We also advised him of treatment that he can get from the VA for some of his medical conditions, which should improve his quality of life.  Ron is another veteran who has lost faith in the Veteran Administration system. We are proud to have served Ron “The Seaman Cajun Veteran”.  He has a good heart and wants to associate with and help other veterans of his era.  We set Ron up with a gmail account so that further communication is possible.
Vietnam Veteran Ron, Jim, Barry and Roberto in a dinner discussion

 It really did rain today.

A good call to cancel cycling today with heavy rain and thunderstorms

Since we were transported by car rather than bicycle  today, we missed on opportunities to see many bayous along the route.  There were bayous in east Texas even before we got to Louisiana, but the most spectacular bayous are in Louisiana.  The on-line dictionary defines a bayou as a “a marshy arm, inlet, or outlet of a lake, river, etc., usually sluggish or stagnant.”
Photo of bayou in Louisiana
taken by author in 2017 TAC tour

Cypress trees showing their knees on left

Cypress trees grow well in water and are prevalent in bayous.  The bottom of the tree where the trunk flares out is called the knee.  Talk of bayous makes one want to listen to the classic song "Blue Bayou" by the great and deceased Linda Ronstadt.  The song can be found on YouTube at:             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qqvdOwoN-Y
The tour has had two broken spokes recently.  Randy and Barry, both from Oklahoma, heard the ping of a broken spoke while riding. Tour leaders, Larry and Chuck, selected a spare wheel for both to use.  Since the spokes were broken on a rear wheel, they removed the cassette from the cyclist's damaged wheel and mounted it to the spare wheel, allowing Randy and Barry to keep on riding.  Larry and Chuck have the tools and the know how to transfer the cassette from wheel to wheel on the road.  Riders were advised to bring spare spokes for their wheels on the tour, so when their wheel is taken to a bicycle shop with an accurate wheel balancing rig, the wheel can be repaired back to road worthy condition.
Imagine the difficulty of dealing with a broken spoke in an unsupported ride across the Southern Tier.  No way to fit a spare wheel in your panniers.  Another chance to thank TAC for their support.

 Zydeco music is popular in southwest Louisiana.  Zydeco blends blues, rhythm and blues and music of the Louisiana Creoles.  It evolved in southwest Louisiana by French Creoles.  Zydeco is a fast tempo music dominated by an accordion and a form of washboard.  The music was created at dances, where families and friends socialized.   An example of Zydeco music on YouTube is at:             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa8vyTfugcI

Dinner tonight was at Hot Tails in New Roads.  Food consumed included fried rabbit, boiled crawfish, Boudin balls, crawfish bread, etc.  Cajun food is quite probably the tastiest food of the tour, which is saying something.  A good time was had by all.

Good food and good times

Half a Po-Boy sandwich filled with fried crawfish.
Like eating a lobster tail in a bun.

Boiled crawfish ready to eat

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