Day 4 and we are over the hump day. Before I start on Day 4 let me say this. If U want to lose 10lbs. in 6 day; get toned thighs, calves and behind; get a 2-toned tan on 40% of your body; have racoon eyes; drink real sodas not diet, burn 30,ooo calories; sweat like the Kentucky Derby winner after the race; eat all you want; suck nasty energy gel from a package going 20mph; sit on a saddle the width of a note pad; roll past every kind of road kill downwind, alligators included; get bitten by monster mosquitoes; take a bath in 50 spf from head to toe; get stung on your head by a bee; ache in places on your body you never knew existed – I HAVE A VACATION FOR YOU!
Cyclists are a peculiar bunch. They will wash their bikes before they wash their bodies. Curse at the road when they hit a pothole, not b/c they hurt but b/c their bikes may be damaged. Chase down a group of cyclists 1/2 mile up the road to show their bravado, despite the fact they have 400+ more miles to cycle. Drink pickle juice straight – no ice. Spend $500 on a cycling kit (matching jersey, bibs, socks and shoe covers) but only $10 on the outfit they put on after the ride. Find joy in the Porta Potty and wear tight shorts that make their behinds appear bigger, not smaller. Peculiar they are.
Now to Day 4. 345 miles down and 177 miles to go. Another milestone for me. I can’t believe how good I feel. No behind issues – that chamy butter works wonders. Legs hurt a bit but I stretch a lot and last night I used the old staple my Mom and grandmother talked about – Epsom salt. I soaked for 30 mins. What a blessing!
The starring actors and actresses in the Rutherford Beach horror flick still had the remnants of there film debuts all over their bodies. Yet they were undaunted and ready to ride again. 77 miles to Morgan City from Abbeyville. But before we left we had a hardy real breakfast at Cafe Marie’s – french toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, maple syrup, grits, you name it they had it. To boot we had a gospel song and prayer that sent us off with the Lord in toe. The day was head winds and cross heads but we were rolling at 18-20mph. Unbelievable I still have the energy to roll that fast. No bonk today. We had 2 serious accidents today breaking our 2-day safety record. One concussion and 5 riders, one in the DRAFT group, who hit huge rocks and then each other. DonaldJean, a DRAFT member, broke his hand but will ride on. The other 4 had various injuries but will continue also. 20 miles out we went to Avery Island to visit the Tabasco plant. Try the new chilpote sauce it is good and hot. We roll on from there and had lunch at the Franklin, LA courthouse. 25 miles later we rolled into Morgan City and had dinner at the Morgan City Art Gallery. We listened to zydeco by Waylon Thibodeaux – really good music and had some slamming gumbo and bread pudding. It was the best food yet. I’m now sitting at the Holiday Inn blogging. A good day despite the crashes. Best thing only a few mosquitoes. Take care. 98 miles tomorrow. The longest day yet. They say we will have a tailwind going north. It took us 8 hours with rest stops for our 95 mile day and I expect us to take 8-9 hours tomorrow. It doesen’t matter b/c we only have 2 days left. Can anyone say champagne on the road into New Orleans on Friday. Peace.
May 7, 2009 at 2:16 pm |
You are correct…Cyclists are a strange breed indeed!
We will spend thousands of dollars on a vehicle that only has 2 wheels and nowadays hardly made out of any metal at all. Wear more synthetic on our bodies than what most LA peeps have in their bodys!
Pay $100 dollars or more to ride hundreds of miles which in most cases are brutal to say the least.
Eat things we are truely not sure what they are made of.
Ride in conditions many would not even walk in.
Hey but I forgot to mention we get a $10 T-shirt!
And you know what….most of us would do it all again because of the
CAUSE!
I’m sure what helps drive you is while you are riding the Red Cross is still helping Flood victims, making our kids safer in the water, giving shelter to the displaced, oh yeah and those mosquitoes….not a problem for those most valuable Red Cross Staffers and Volunteers.
Wheels Down and keep up the good work.
Team C.U.R.E.
May 7, 2009 at 9:59 pm |
Team Cure thanks for the additional “peculiarities” about cyclists. I forgot those or in my delirium could not remember them. Wheels down – 79 miles to New Orleans.
May 8, 2009 at 1:11 am |
in the words of steve irckle; did i do that?
Bend don’t break; almost time to CELEBRATE!
May 8, 2009 at 2:56 am |
Dujana, wish you were here. You and the other “screen doors”, Bill and James, would
be tremendous lead dogs rolling into New Orleans. Hopefully next year.