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Saturday, November 24, 2001 - Drought, What Drought?
50 miles. Bogalusa, LA to Super 8 Motel, Slidell, LA.
The forecast for today was rain showers. We got on
the road around 7:30 with a very overcast sky and with fast moving clouds. And
of course a head wind. We headed south (off route) on LA 21, which had a nice
shoulder. Other than a flat on Jeff's rear wheel (the one with the missing
spoke), it was a non-eventful ride on 21.
We then turned onto LA-41, also with a wide shoulder to
ride upon. We passed by Sun, Bush, Talisheek, and Hickory. Past Hickory we lost
our shoulder and were riding on concrete pavement which often dropped off six or
more inches.
The traffic now gradually increased but I assured Joan
that there was nothing to worry about because we would soon be turning south on
U.S. 11 at Pearl River, LA, and that U.S. highways always have shoulders.
WRONG!. There was no shoulder and after going underneath I-12 the traffic became
continuous just as it finally decided to really rain in earnest.
The riding now became hairy the rest of the way as we
searched for the bike shop, taking a wrong turn with bumper to bumper traffic
and the rain now becoming torrential at times. We finally found the bike shop by
back tracking and waited out the storm while the repair was made. Being totally
soaked we both were soon chilled by the store's A/C.
Dry clothes solved this problem. Huge puddles in the
roadway gave trouble before we finally found a motel. Joan was quite hungry and discouraged
by this point, but after a huge meal at the Shoney's buffet she felt better (we
also are planning on their breakfast buffet in the morning). We seem to be
running a calorie deficit in the last few days.
We had been planning to camp and take a day off here in
Slidell but with the rain and this being a no cyclist's land we have decided to
get out of here early tomorrow, Sunday, when traffic will be low. We want badly
to get back on route. We really know now why the route avoids this area. With
our considerable experience it takes horrendous traffic to rattle us.
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