The ride through Louisiana…

SUNDAY, November 1

Route 71 out of Shreveport, through Caplis, Taylortown, Elm Grove,  McDade, Poole, Ninock, and Crossroads, where I was stopped with a flat tire, and had to walk the bike 7 miles until Nola rescued me.

Flat tire 32 miles out. The second flat tire in 45 miles, on the same tire. No puncture marks. I worry about a bent rim. Interviewing  here tomorrow, then on to Alexandria and the bike shop on Tuesday.

TUESDAY, November 2

After a good interview in Natchitoches, and a lazy, late run to Alexandria, the great people at Red River Cyclery confirmed my suspicions. The rim had a slight defect that was not protected by the liner. The rim actually punctured the tube from the inside, once before I left Tampa, and no one caught it, and then again on the ride out from Shreveport. All that needed to happen was for me to hit a tough bump, and the rear tire was done, regardless of the excellent Armadillo tires I had mounted just for this ride.  A new tube would have lasted about as long, or less, and I would be walking again. Thanks to Mike Hopkins, the owner of the bike shop, we were fixed up solid very quickly, and on our way to our overnight at Ihop. I will be on the bike again tomorrow, and here is the plan for the road ahead:

WEDNESDAY, November 4

Leaving Alexandria, south on Rte. 71, crossing east near LSU to Rte. 1. South through Magda, Roxana, Echo, Fifth Ward, Marksville, Cocoville, Mansura, Hamburg, Yellow Bayou, Simmesport, Lettsworth, Innis, Batchelor, Morganza, LaBarre, Morrison, Kelsey, Beaud, Leavel, and overnighting in New Roads.

83 miles.

We are in New Roads!! Today was our best day, starting off with a KALB TV (NBC) interview in Alexandria. Randy then made the entire planned 83 miles on the bike to New Roads, the last 2 hours ridden in the dark (with lights, of course, but slow and easy). The following is our plan for the Thursday bike run, taking us past Baton Rouge, and closer to Chalmette.

THURSDAY, November 5

Route 1 south through Oscar to 190 East. 190 east to 413 south through Erwinville to 76 east to Port Allen. Route 1 south to Plaquemine, White Castle, McCall, and Donaldsonville.

66 miles.

Another beautiful day in Louisiana. I ran into strong headwinds in the late morning that slowed me some, but the day settled out nicely. Rough stretches here and there on gravel-type roadside, but pretty smooth surface mostly. I stopped at my favorite bbq, Cou Yan’s, for a nice visit, and then rolled on once again past dark. My own fault. I started too late. Now resting for an early departure for the final leg into Chalmette and the St. Bernard Project. Friday, 4pm arrival.

FRIDAY, November 6

70 east, 3125 south/east, 641 north, 61 Airline Hwy east, turns into Tulane Ave. Left on S/N Rampart st, becoming McShane Place, St. Claude Ave, then St. Bernard Hwy. To Violet and Poydras, time permitting, left at Bayou Road. Left on 46, then Judge Perez Drive. Right on Jean Lafitte Pkwy, and right on Parc Place to the St. Bernard Project offices for a planned 4:30 pm arrival.

66 miles.

Arrived, the St. Bernard Project office in Chalmette!!!

Stay in touch with the blogs, Facebook, and Twitter for info on our next run in May 2010…

Thank you for your support, prayers and concerns!

Take care,                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Randy