Cycling in Louisana

On May 12, we traveled 44 miles. We were supposed to have a shorter ride but the ferry we were supposed to take across the Mississippi was closed. So we had to cycle across the bridge. We were told in LaPlace, LA that the bridge was so high our ears would pop. They didn't but we went up the bridge in the lowest gear. It was a hot and humid day. But we had fun as well. This area between LaPlace and Donaldsonville has many historic plantations. We chose Laura's Plantation to tour. (Remember this is not all about the bike.) The Laura Plantation is a Creole plantation. In 1804 Guillaume DeParc, a French veteran of the American Revolution set up his plantation in sugar cane and it remained in his family (and was led by women) until 1891 when his great granddaughter, Laura sold it. We were able to see 12 of the original buildings including the slave quarters which still stand on this National Register site. In the slave quarters at Laura and neighboring plantations, the wester Africian fold stories of "Br'er Rabbit" were recorded for the first time.

Today we had our first flat tire. Kris, (from NM) actually had two flats and used 4 tubes before she finished her day.