I rode forty miles today. On a bike.
Many of my close friends do this on a regular basis, so I've been the odd one out for quite some time. I decided long ago not to compare myself which is a smart thing in general. I've opted more for hiking/running/walking/gym, but this is a great change. I feel very different about the country I just rode through than if I'd done it in a car.
To clarify, a bike tour like this one prioritizes in the following order: Eat, Dance, Drink, Bike to where the next festivities are.
We rode about 12 miles then stopped for snacks and water. Jay found a local place for lunch and I went on ahead. I was going much slower than he was so it was nice to know I wasn't slowing him down.
The first twenty miles were solidly near interstates and state highways. Alot of road noise, some sharing the road and headwinds. I trundled on. I was hoping to stop at mile 25 but the SAG wagon didn't really have the ability to take my bike and have me join.
The back half was through countryside, passing the local Iberia airport and a prison. We ended in a small town called New Iberia. Dinner was at a place on a bayou which just looked like a wide, dirty river with lily pads.
*****
Observations to date:
- Biking people are healthy and friendly. This group is mostly retirees which is pretty amazing to consider. They're biking, being a bit inconvenienced and living life. It's nice to be around hundreds of couples that enjoy each other and play together.
- Not a ton of ethnic diversity with biking being mostly a white person's sport in the US at least
- Louisiana has friendly people, but everyone seems a bit worn down. I understand it is 49th out of 50th for least amount spent in education. You can kind of see that. They are also high in violence. They are proud Trump supporters and the local news was mocking a city in Michigan that banned assault rifles ("Not in Southern Louisiana!") But the shootings... coincidence much?
- Cajun, Creole, Acadiana? Which is which. Finally getting that all figured out.
- Hello Cajun sauce, goodbye ketchup.
- Washingtonians are uptight. I'm realizing that the more I travel. We work really hard which is good, but we probably don't relax enough. This possibly is changing due to pot being legal. Still.
Day Two, I think I'm going to do a swamp tour on my own and a few other local things while everyone bikes.