19 April 2014
Morganza to Jackson and New Orleans, LA
29 miles (Total Miles = 2,133)

It’s tall, icy, and blonde and the only damage this Hurricane will do is to my liver. We are bellied up to the bar at the Ritz Carlton New Orleans – yes, you read that right – thanks to the extreme generosity of fellow rider Greg, who invited us to share his room for our off days in the Big Easy. We couldn’t be more giddy or grateful. Or thirsty.

It was a short day on the bicycle but with a big milepost – crossing the mighty Mississippi. I’ve never crossed it other than in an airplane, which really shouldn’t count, especially since I try never to get stuffed over into that window seat where maybe, just maybe, I would see the big brown muddy from 35,000 feet high.

From there we pedaled a few more miles to a lovely Warmshower (i.e., folk who open up their personal homes and/or property to touring cyclists) where we unpacked and re-packed for our van trip down to the city. As you might guess, the packing exercise invoked a moderate level of anxiety in our little Gina, who likes to be organized at all times and moving things about from their one designated spot to a new designated spot can be very troubling and when you have to conduct that exercise in someone’s yard while also setting up your very wet tent to dry and then taking it all back down because you can’t leave it there for two days in case it gets windy while at the same time needing to get in the queue for the one shower and worrying over whether or not you’ll get a front row seat in the van to prevent your motion sickness from also kicking in on the 2 hour drive to the city … well, that can bring about the need for a Hurricane. Or two.

So here we are in New Orleans, drinking rum at the Ritz Carlton, dining at the Hotel Monteleone (also set up by our hero Greg), walking about the French Quarter, and knowing that tomorrow we have a full day to further explore the city. Who needs rest on a day like this?