Declining to sit in the saddle again for another forty mile ride today. Headaches, stomachache, some chills. Just too much sun and heat for me in one day, but it was worth it.
Also, in Louisiana and as yet, little time to study and experience the culture.
- I always find it interesting when you travel somewhere new that you realize you won't ever see again. Just when you get all the roads, highways, restaurants and shops figured out, off you go. No, I won't be coming back to Lafayette again or New Iberia, unless we do another Cycle Zydeco which is entirely possible. These aren't tourist destinations in my world any other way.
- Seeing a good deal of Colin Woodward's book American Nations in living color. The Deep South is marked by poverty, beauty and a sad history of slavery that lives on today in the form of an abysmal investment in public education and civic projects. Poor people stay poor and the entire system of poverty enslaves people for generations (obesity, low-paying jobs, poor housing, poor schools, high substance abuse, teen pregnancies, gun ownership, religious fervor). Louisiana depends on oil money and due to arcane laws regarding offshore drilling, money that should be heading to the state goes elsewhere instead. That, and corrupt politicians.
- North v. South? Naw. I just feel sad when I see people so discouraged and hopeless. I have never seen so many people limping in my life. Limping. While working. Southern writers freak me out with their ghastly tales because they're true and it's hard to be happy when a chunk of my country doesn't have access to basic education and healthcare.
*****
Bleh. Feeling gross still at 1:00 pm. No swamp tour for me :/
I wish I had been able to stop at mile 25 yesterday. That's when I sort of ran out of energy. I pushed for another 12. So paying for it. I was listening to Jay and not going to overdue. It seems the idea that you could take a shuttle at anytime there was a SAG was overinflated.
This is where the sick, old me has to face the new me. I listened and wasn't stubborn but wasn't able to enact that. I feel gross but am not spinning out mentally. I know I'll be fine soon. Those are improvements. Someday I hope to have a physical hobby where I'm stronger than I am now. I used to do pretty well on our Kokanee hikes. The gym has helped a lot.
It's weird that I used to be an athlete through high school, then my physical and mental health issues surfaced. I also got married and had two active kids.
When I checked on my bike this morning, he mentioned that there is sometimes bikes leftover the next day for people who get sick or are hospitalized during the night for one reason or another. I'm not in the hospital!
Jay is out pounding out a 60-mile bike ride. I'm proud of him and hope we can continue to do things like this together.
*****
I finally ended up feeling better around 3 pm. I drove out to Breaux Bridge and took part in some of the afternoon festivities including a crawfish boil. Conclusion: A tiny crustacean that looks like a cross between a lobster and a beetle that takes a lot of work to get a little bite.
We found a classic Cajun restaurant on a bayou this evening, Pat's Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant. It was just what I needed. Classic, simple and delicious Cajun food on the water. Out of the city, away from all the state highways around our hotel.
On the way home, Jay said my face is losing the look of depression I've had for so long. I'm not exactly sure what he means by that but we're moving in the right direction
I made it through the day without an exhausting mental battle on top of also feeling gross. Small (big) victories.
*****
Impactful things I've read today:
- A dream without a plan is a wish
- You've had hundreds of bad days, and you've made them through them all