We're Down on the Bayou; Tomorrow it's Ol' Miss Time

If Cajun cracklins, crawfish, gator soup, and Boudin balls are your idea of fine cuisine, then deep into Louisiana you must go. Otherwise, be prepared for over-the-top heat, humidity, swamps, and pot-holed roads. But the people are genuine and there's s true sense of being off the beaten path -- both good things. In the past week I've clicked close to 400 miles on the bike traveling across the Mighty Mississippi and length-wise through Louisiana. It's been a great 5-6 days, but not without challenges. On Monday, for instance, the bicycle gods did not look kindly; heading east out of Kinder, LA, I had two flat tires within a couple of hours. Go figure: one flat in over 1900 miles, then two in one day. Oh, the joys of riding a bike. Tonight we're camped in Slidell, LA, next to a genuine bayou with genuine alligators lounging about. If you look closely at one of the above pics you'll see a gator eye-balling The Dude. Tomorrow we cross into Mississippi and by Sunday we'll be in Alabama. Can Florida be far behind?