Save 22 A Day Trans-America Cycling

The link to today's route and statistics is found here . Today we had a relatively easy 48 mile ride across rolling hills in the top of the foot and out to the top of the toe of Louisiana.   Hint, look at the shape of the state of Louisiana.   We finished in Bogalusa, within a few miles from the border with the state of Mississippi. One of the principal employers in the city of Bogalusa is the International Paper Company.   Surely many of the logging trucks that chase us down the roads are delivering to International Paper.   Paper plants have their own distinctive aroma.   The smell of the plant in Bogalusa was quite tolerable today as we cycled past. Massive Bogalusa plant where many logging trucks deposit their load Several stopped at a street vendor selling boiled peanuts on the way into Bogalusa.   Boiled peanuts can be purchased plain or Cajun style.   In southeastern states many gas stations have pots of heated boiled pea...

The link to today's route and statistics is found here . The first order of business was to cross the Mississippi River, which is nicknamed The Big Muddy and Ol’ Man River.  The name Mississippi comes from the Ojibwe Native American word misi-ziibi, meaning great river.  The Ojibwe live in northern Minnesota near Lake Itaska, the source of the Mississippi River. Mississippi River suspension bridge Another view of the artistic bridge Ahnie's team glides down the bridge Tugboat pushing a barge in The Big Muddy Viewing the Mississippi south towards New Orleans Louisiana could be called the state of bridges.  There are bridges everywhere it seems, crossing rivers, creeks, bayous, low ground that occasionally floods, etc.  There are many bridges to dedicate to famous persons.  We crossed a bridge today dedicated to Marine Corps General John LeJeune, former Commandant of the Marine Corps.  Might that general be a Cajun?  Undo...

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 prov...

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 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...

The link to today's route and statistics is found here . We were looking forward today to leaving Texas, after riding for 18 days in that state, and entering Louisiana.  We had eaten plenty of Tex-Mex and barbecue and were looking forward to Cajun cooking.  Congratulations to the 14 riders for making it out of Texas.  It was a bit of a slog getting outta Texas.  We had rain today over the 42 miles from Kountze to Kirbyville, some rain quite heavy.  There was a great shoulder on much of the highway, so standing water there was not much of a problem.  At one point we had some lightening, and a group of riders were transported in the SAG vehicle to a Subway.  Everyone persevered and made it to Louisiana. Kristin took state sign photos to another level.  She mentioned something about a modeling career from the Welcome to Louisiana photo shoot, but it looks like she also has talent as as some kind of dancer, or even as a Gold's Gym trainer. ...

The link to today's route and statistics is found here . Every now and then even the most avid cyclist might question their sanity in cycling "from sea to shining sea," sort of like the quintessential chicken question. There were many logging trucks rumbling down the roads that we rode today, loaded most often with pine logs.  Chunks of bark sometimes fall off the trucks and onto the shoulder where we mostly ride, so cyclists need to be looking out for the bark.  Sometimes the pieces are larger, around the size of a two by four.  The logging trucks take the logs to sawmills like the one below near SAG stop 1 or to pulp mills Small sawmill on the route where workers were cutting the logs into lumber There were barks of another kind, from loose dogs running after us, especially down one Texas Farm Road today.  The dogs today were rather friendly and were chasing us for exercise. Our second SAG stop today was in the town of Thicket TX.  We ar...

The link to today's route and statistics is found here . Today was a hot, muggy day with bad wind, so it was challenging.  The temperature reached 85 F and the humidity 86%.   Drinking enough to stay well hydrated was a key to success.   Wind was more of a crosswind early, but there was considerable 10 to 15 mph headwind in the afternoon.   Early in the tour in the west we had more tailwind than headwind.  Since leaving Sanderson, TX we have had mainly headwind and crosswind, so much so that we believe we have now experienced more headwind than tailwind since the start of the tour. A bit of relief from the wind and heat was provided by riding through the Sam Houston National Forest about 50 miles north of the city of Houston.  Tall trees, pines and deciduous, on both sides of the road provided cooling shade and a block of some wind.   Riding through Sam Houston National Forest Passage through the trees We passed b...