According to Katherine: Day 43 Recap

Thursday's trauma gave way to Friday's frustrations! Morning didn't go smoothly, so I gobbled some scrambled eggs while I packed and had a nutritious Lärabar.

We got a late start for the 60-mile ride to Wiggins, MS. Marge's flashing light fell off the back of her bike so she had to stop and collect it up. As we cycled into the countryside, the storm-filled clouds scudded northward to spare us the severe weather they carried. The sweet aromas of tea olive trees and honeysuckle were a lovely welcome to Mississippi.


Seeing this sign didn't make the day get any better.

At nine miles we missed a turn and added about three "bonus miles" to our trip. Next we came upon a "Road Closed" sign that we had not been told about it. We proceeded on and found a local who said the road was passable. However, there was about 100-yards of gravel on both sides of the bridge that we had to walk our bikes across.

Marge walking her bike across the gravel.

Then, we came upon all the cyclists gathered around the SAG Wagon. Not a good sign! Another road closure. Another detour.

This is not a good sign when all the riders are milling around the SAG vehicle at the same time.

There was a box of fresh donuts the motel owner had given us before we left. Everyone was raving about them. I ate two! When we got our new directions we set out again. The winds had picked up and were threatening to blow me over. It was so hard that I was delighted to see the van and trailer waiting at the 30-mile mark. They encouraged us to play it safe and ride the rest of the way with them. Marge and I were only too happy to accept their invitation and join two others who were already with them.

This road really is closed and we have to make a three-mile detour.

I ate some cashews and corn nuts that I might have called lunch. When we got to the motel I decided to do our laundry, take a hot bath, and take a nap. Good choices. I felt better. The wind had not abated and the rains came as we walked across the parking lot to a Mexican restaurant. I had a chile relleno and continued to treat my frustration with a delicious flan for dessert.

When we came back to the motel, I redressed one of Lise's wounds and marveled at the improvement. Lise was impressed too. I surely ingested more calories today than I burned. Oh well!

Today was Jack Jeter's 79th birthday and I wasn't there to fête him, but Sally, our boys and lots of friends were very attentive in my stead. We turned off the lights at 9:30, listened to the thunder and watched the lightning (for a few seconds!) outside our window. It is supposed to be a beautiful day for cycling tomorrow.

2,421 miles behind us. 649 miles to pedal. 13 days to go. WOCN members, please donate!

Dr. Jeter Day 43 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 42 Recap

Alternate post title: Thursday's Trauma. 

Coming off yesterday's 92.6-mile ride and the fun WOCN dinner in Hammond, it seemed like a great day to SAG. I let Marge begin cycling in the cool of the morning.

I was just finishing doling out water and replenishing snacks to most of the cyclists at mile 20 when a utility van pulled over to say two of our cyclists were down "back aways" because a dog had come out after them. He told me they had been able to get up and ride but they would be slow coming in. All the cyclists hustled out of the way and I did a U-turn to go back and find them.

We met back at mile 17, not too far from where their falls occurred. Two other riders had come upon the scene, and were riding with them. Nancy had just a little road rash on her right elbow and a sore hip. She was ashen. Poor Lise was all banged up with partial and full thickness skin loss on her elbow, lateral knee area, upper leg and lateral malleolus. She said she had really banged her head. Thankfully, they both had good helmets. Lise was a bit dazed. She's our physician, and all she wanted was some Neosporin. No help from me!

We laid her out in a lovely driveway, put someone's jacket under her head, elevated her leg, iced her knee, and called our guides to report the incident. We were instructed to stay put until they came to assess the situation. Lise's head began to clear and she became more amenable to care for her wounds. I opened the bag Janet Davis had brought us in Navasota and found the perfect products. Of course, we carry a well-stocked First Aid kit in the SAG Wagon, too. It was surely by divine appointment that I was the SAG driver for the morning. WOC skills and dressings were crucial.

Lise receiving medical attention after the dog attack.

By the time the guides arrived, Lise was up and demonstrating that her mentation and balance were restored and she was ready to ride. Her helmet had been cracked so Carol, the guide, gave her hers to finish the day. I drove on about 12 miles and found Marge. We agreed we should wait there to be certain Lise and Nancy were alright. Victoria was riding with them.

Lise demonstrates that she has good balance and is ready to ride.

I got my bike down and rode into Bogalusa. Marge kept a watchful eye from the SAG Wagon as the three made their way to the motel. She even used loud horn intimidation on another four dogs who were intent on chasing the riders. In Louisiana and Mississippi folks don't like to keep their canines restrained by fences or chains!

I realized, as I was riding along, that all the while I had been conversing with the lovely Southern lady about my age, Mrs. Peggy Forest, who had come out to check on the commotion in her driveway, that I was wearing my Anti Monkey Butt Powder hat with the picture of the monkey with a very red butt. I felt like I should ride all the way back and explain in case she had been offended!

After we showered and redressed Lise's wounds, I drove Nancy and Lise to Walmart* to buy new helmets. We discovered at the end of the ride that Nancy's had taken a bigger lick than she realized. It had a hole in it and a big crack. We found snazzy-looking certified helmets for each in the colors they prefer.

We came back for spaghetti, Caesar salad, pesto bread and watermelon for dinner. There was a gloppy chocolate cake for dessert, which I eschewed. I was more than ready to go to sleep at the end of that day.

We have just realized the need to re-calculate our days ahead. We only have two more weeks to ride. We had been including the arriving and departing day like WomanTours does.

2,361 miles behind us. 739 to pedal. Only 14 days to raise $16,000 dollars and get to St. Augustine.

*As we've traveled across the country we've seen Wal-Mart, Wal Mart with their snappy logo between the two words, and Walmart as one word. As long as they have ibuprofen and they're within walking or cycling distance, we don't care how they spell their name!

Dr. Jeter Day 42 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 41

We began our day with the gorgeous breakfast at the St. Francisville Inn. I had spinach quiche, grits and a taste of their crepe with stewed apples. It was 49 degrees when we cycled out at 7:00 a.m. to join up with the rest of the group 12 miles down the way, where we fixed our snacks for the 88-mile day. Marge and I were determined to finish. I made two PB&J sandwiches, grabbed two energy bars and a bag of nuts, and we were on our way again.

At mile 42, we were surprised to see all the riders congregated around the SAG Wagon. There was a road closure, and the guides were off exploring alternate routes. I ate another half of the sandwich I had fixed. Soon, we were given a new route -- which added only four miles to the day.

In Denham Springs, we stopped at a convenience store, and met some lovely folks from the Baptist Church. One sweet gentleman gave me his card, and asked me to please send him a note when we were home safely.

We pedaled along one road with lots of strawberries growing -- made me drool! I was very good about drinking lots, and eating at least every hour.

We arrived at the motel at 5:30 p.m. with the odometer reading 92.6 miles! We were grinning from ear to ear.

The odometer says it all! This is the most miles I've ever ridden in one day.

I quickly showered, and put on nice clothes and shoes for the first time in six weeks. Myra Varnado had arranged a dinner with the local WOC nurses. What a delight it was to regroup with old friends, and meet new ones! I took some excellent video that will be posted in due time.

I savored the oysters and the sampler plate. Christine shared her bread pudding. We took fun pictures on and around the humongous alligator in the restaurant lobby. The two young servers at the restaurant were exceptional, and the restaurant comped my meal. What a splendid conclusion for a  memorable day  -- the longest ride I have ever done! We were back at the motel by 9:00 p.m. for a good sleep.

2,306 miles behind us. 794 to pedal. 17 days to go. 

Dr. Jeter Day 41 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 40

What a glorious rest day! There was a chill in the air when we awoke about 7:00 a.m. We had coffee in bed, with our usual morning devotionals.

Marge and I dressed and met Bernie and Linda at 8:30 for the lavish breakfast served in the Inn: spinach quiche, cheese blintzes, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs and more. I ate a slice of the spinach quiche, and two helpings of the best grits I ever tasted!

Bernie and Linda insisted they help with our chores, so they vacuumed out the SAG Wagon and cleaned its windows with us.

Feelin' the love.  WOC nurses Bernie and Linda help us clean the SAG Wagon.

We had a tour of the Butler Greenwood Plantation, which dates back to the 1770s. It has never been sold. The eighth generation of the original family still occupies the house. The furniture and appointments are authentic. Many are elegant Empire-style pieces from the first family and then other pieces, modifications and photographs have been added by successive generations. The current heirs had to turn it into a B&B 21 years ago to help defray the expenses of upkeep. The owner, Anne Butler, is most gracious, and gave us a 40-minute tour of the home and a fascinating history lesson!

Wine parlor in the St. Francisville Inn

Beautiful original furnishings at the Butler Greenwood Plantation

Bernie and Linda took Marge and me to a delicious lunch at the Magnolia Cafe. We had spicy shrimp po-boys.

After they left, we tended to e-mail, strolled downtown for another one of those cafe au laits, took a short nap and repacked our suitcases.

Marge works on her blog in the elegant living room of the St. Francisville Inn.

We had pizza for supper in our lovely courtyard. The Innkeeper was kind enough to make us a pot of coffee for after dinner. I want to bring Jack Jeter back here! We got to bed by 9:00 to be rested for our 87-mile ride tomorrow.

The courtyard at St  Francisville Inn was a lovely venue for our pizza supper.

18 days to go!

Dr. Jeter Day 40 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 39

A day in Louisiana -- new agriculture and new accents! Breakfast (oatmeal) was at 6:00 a.m. We rode out at 6:45 a.m. when the temperature was in the mid-70s -- and had morning traffic in Lafayette for the first four miles! Since it was an 87-mile day to St. Francisville,  Marge and split the SAG duties.

I cycled 45 miles in the morning, while she drove the SAG Wagon, and then we switched. Mine was a gorgeous ride amongst acres of wheat about a month before harvest time and fields ready to grow milo. When we exchanged conversation with the locals, their delightful Louisiana patois was evident from the first sentence.

I got off the bike briefly at 10 miles for an energy bar and energy drink. I rode and ate that bar for a little way. I'm learning! I stopped for a water refill and some cheese at the 20-mile SAG.

Beautiful swamp!

At 30 miles, I stopped briefly for more protein and energy drink. I felt really strong! It was a fast ride for me, too, because we were all meeting up to cross the narrow 3.5-mile Morganza Spillway -- a low, flat bridge of sorts. I stopped very briefly. Our group of riders rode two abreast, and we escorted them in the SAG Wagon with blinkers flashing. They were grateful for the security from the traffic whizzing by; we were grateful for the opportunity to keep them safe.

We were close behind with blinkers flashing. 

At the end of the Spillway, Marge began her ride. The afternoon was very different from the morning. We saw hay growing up the side of the levees.

Hay just harvested from the levee. 

We crossed the Mississippi on a ferry, which will be replaced when a 16-mile suspension bridge opens in August, and ended the day in the bucolic and historic town of St. Francisville.

It's a six-minute ferry ride across the Mississippi.

Cyclists come off the ferry.

Four of us were housed in the lovely old St. Francisville Inn. The rest stayed in the Butler Greenwood Plantation B&B. While theirs is a fairyland about three miles out of town, we were thrilled with our digs.

The magical entrance to the Butler Greenwood Plantation, where 12 of our group stayed.  

Bernie Cullen, past president of WOCN (from 1991 to 1993) and Linda Kelley Davis, a WOC nurse from New Orleans, had driven over two hours to be with me. We enjoyed Café au lait and a good visit before we had to return to the Plantation for dinner with our group.

Every tired cyclist would be rejuvenated by a visit from Bernie Cullen and Linda Kelley Davis -- I sure was! They were so generous to drive the long distance to welcome me to Louisiana.

Just before dinner, the clouds that had been darkening and cooling the afternoon to the low 80s delivered a 10-minute thunderstorm. It cooled and refreshed the air, without causing inconvenience or discomfort to anyone!

There was a 40% chance of rain today.

Linda prepared hamburgers (veggie burgers for Lisa and me) on the grill, potato salad, slaw and three kinds of Blue Bell ice cream with chocolate sauce. I ate two scoops of vanilla, and one of chocolate mint with chocolate sauce over it all. And I didn't feel guilty for very long!

Marge and I were in the bed by 9:00 p.m., looking forward to our rest day and I, looking forward to more catching up with Bernie and Linda.

2,213 miles behind us. 887 miles to pedal. 19 days to go.

Dr. Jeter Day 39 on Polyvore.com

According to Katherine: Day 38 Recap

It was a breezy 75 degrees when we started today's ride. I began the morning driving the SAG Wagon, and couldn't figure out how to eat breakfast, prepare the snacks and get the cyclists checked out all at the same time, so I scarfed down a banana, tangerine and an all fruit and nut energy bar while I packed two PB&J sandwiches and a baggie of nuts, and waved each cyclist off with a "Ride strong!"

I passed all the riders and went ahead to park the SAG Wagon to give the riders water and snacks as they arrived. I got my bike down, and was ready to ride when Marge arrived. The head and cross winds were so strong that sometimes I was only going 6 miles per hour -- I was glad we had planned to split the day! It took me forever to ride the 40 miles.

The temperature was in the high 80s in the afternoon, but the thermometer on my bike computer said 93 degrees! I kept energized by consuming both sandwiches, and drinking plenty of water and energy drinks.

We talked to a man at a convenience store, who said the winds blow like this for about a month this time of year. We had a seven-mile stretch of really rough roads to slow me down even more! Everything about Louisiana is so different from what we've seen before.

Bayous with birds of all types. I could only recognize the herons and red-winged black birds. There were so many others that would have delighted avid bird watchers! At dinner we saw a flock of pink flamingos flying over. There were snakes, smushed and slithering on the road and lots of little lizards, alive and dead, cat tails growing in marshy areas, rice paddies and crawfish farms.

One of Louisiana's rice paddies.

A crawfish farm in Louisiana.

There were wonderful high bridges to cross over, and there was relentless wind. These last two days, I have ridden 121 of the hardest miles of the trip! 

Tonight, Linda prepared a cold supper. Asian pasta salad with tofu in it and raisin salad, grapes and bread (which I didn't eat). There were store-bought pies that were easy to leave for others! Marge and I each enjoyed a cup of decaf and two little Dove dark chocolates after dinner.

2,126 miles behind us. 980 miles to pedal. 20 days to go.

Dr. Jeter Day 38 on Polyvore.com