Welcome to Louisiana!

Hard to believe but 19 days later we made it across Texas and into Louisiana. There will be a margarita tonight to celebrate this border crossing. I have to say as soon as we passed the border crossing, it seemed to get very wet and swampy. We saw swamp boats and big wheeled ATV's to get across the muck and water. It was pretty much the same as we saw yesterday, except the ditches were deeper and more full of water, the roads were just as straight for 8 miles or so and there were more headwinds, not terrible, but noticeable all the while.

Our ride was supposed to take 72 miles but it turned out to be more like 84 miles and for parts, the day seemed to go on forever. First we were given some directions that were not quite correct so we went about 4 miles out of our way. There were also some typo's on the new route sheet, a 3 instead of an 8 and a longer section in another place. We were also told that the closer we got to Lake Charles, there would be more services available. Little did we know they meant the last 5 miles! By about mile 65 or so, we needed a break from the headwind and long mileage day. Though it is fairly flat here, our bottoms get tired and sore a bit more easily because we are in the same part of the saddle. The only place we could find any food at all was a Citgo Station for lunch (about 2 pm by now) so we went in for a drink and a snacks. I got a chocolate milk, some cheese and some pretzels and I started laughing because we were eating behind a dumpster at a gas station. (The dumpster was placed in front of the wall where we had placed our bikes.) I suggested we at least move to the side of the dumpster, where they had some rounded pipes that we could sit/lean on and one of the gals said fine as long as it wasn't shaped like the seat of her bicycle!

As we got closer to the end, it got a little more "exciting". There was a draw bridge we had to go over and two long bridges with no shoulders and four lanes of zipping traffic. Our SAG driver got behind us and escorted five of us us slowly across the bridge with her blinkers on. I was glad we were near our end destination and almost out of the traffic.

I lucked out with my room assignment. We rotate roomates and my roommate took a few days off to fly home for her husband's 70th birthday party so I have a room to MYSELF and it's right by the door of the parking lot so less distance to haul the luggage and bike, AND it's by the ice machine, AND it's on the first floor! JACKPOT BABY! (We always keep our bikes in our rooms.)

I've already taken a soaking bath, and a shower and had two bath towels for myself. My stuff is spread out everywhere and I am just loving the space and the privacy.

Heard there is a big storm coming in tomorrow so we shall see what happens....
Happy Easter,
Robin