This is an about to be
crawfish ranch. The ranchers here rotate crops between rice one year, and then
crawdaddies the next. The
crawfish help clean up the remains of the previous crop, and also help prepare the field for the next year.
The funny thing was watching the ranchers herd their "cattle" on those tiny sea horses with names like "
Ol' Carp" and "Sea
Bicuit".
A "
MUST STOP" for those in the know. Every Saturday, but only on Saturday, and only from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, this place opens for zydeco music, dancing, and adult beverages. The place gets
packed!!!
A fun time was had by all
New Hampshire's own Doug and Sue in the back in cycling
jerseys.
See the guy in the green t-shirt? He was a long time member of this zydeco band but was in a bad accident that left him somewhat (a lot) challenged. The band still lets him "play" with them, but he plays the triangle with his clapper taped so that it doesn't actually ring.
This stuff is served in huge quantities from the bar. Every bottle purchased is first opened and
ummm, "Quality Checked" by the bar maid before being handed to the customer.
After music and drinks and dancing, we hit the restaurant, "
Frenchie's", across the street. I had a
crawfish Po-Boy. And those are fried pickles as a side. This place will make you
FAT!
Around here you are either lunch, or you are something
else's lunch!
For future reference: Gator's are very fast in a straight line, but they cannot
zig-
zag. If one is after you, run away in a
zig-
zag pattern. Oh, and good luck. Remember, if we are together when an alligator attacks, I do not have to outrun the gator. I only have to outrun YOU!!!
Leaving the campground in De Funiak Springs we toured Circle Drive in town. A historic area with mostly Victorian Era homes. Very impressive. This building was a local government office.
We can call it a tour now. We have officially seen everything that the south has to offer:
We all gathered and got on the first ferry. Not to worry. At 7:30 A.M. there's not much traffic leaving the island. We had the whole craft to ourselves.
Saying good-bye to Dauphin Island.
We had some entertaining ascents today, up the Gulf Bluffs out of Pensacola (amazing) and then a few bridges like this one.
An 88 mile day. Stunningly beautiful.
If you are ever biking in the Jackson, LA. area, plan on stopping and staying with Lep and Perry. They bike and they love cyclists. Their campground is amazing. When you stop, tell them I said "Hi!"
I didn't know that the Republic of West Florida, which included Louisiana, was a separate republic long before Texas was a republic of its own. For only 78 days, and then it was annexed into the U.S. in 1810.
Finally, we arrived in Mississippi. We have traveled some 2280 miles since leaving San Diego. Can you see the happy faces? They are not sitting on their bikes at the moment.
Unless you are the lead rider, the view doesn't change.
One of our day-off excursions. The Oakley Plantation was a frequent stay of John James Audubon before he was a famous naturalist and merely a $60/month tutor who also dabbled in painting pictures of flora and fauna. It is now a faithful reconstruction of a pre- and antebellum plantation. Very interesting, and if you want to know more about it, email me.
This is "Gus". He greets every visitor to the Oakley Plantation with a strut, a ruffle of his feathers, and a pose.
Two Turkeys get to know one another.
Part of the history of slavery exhibition
The Oakley Mansion
In jerseys, Jon on the center-left, Phil in the center, my riding partners today, aboard the "New Roads" ferry just before crossing the river. This is one of only two times we will make progress toward Florida without having to pedal.
St. Francisville, LA. side of the river.
On the east side of the river, the topography immediately changes from flat to "rollers". Still beautiful in its own way.
Roads like this could make a guy homesick.
This is an about to be crawfish ranch. The ranchers here rotate crops between rice one year, and then crawdaddies the next. The crawfish help clean up the remains of the previous crop, and also help prepare the field for the next year.
A "MUST STOP" for those in the know. Every Saturday, but only on Saturday, and only from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, this place opens for zydeco music, dancing, and adult beverages. The place gets packed!!!
A fun time was had by all
New Hampshire's own Doug and Sue in the back in cycling jerseys.
After music and drinks and dancing, we hit the restaurant, "Frenchie's", across the street. I had a crawfish Po-Boy. And those are fried pickles as a side. This place will make you FAT!
