January 13, 2007
Woke up around 8 am today after getting the best night’s sleep yet (thank you Laura’s bed). Met up with Miranda (another couchsurfer) and her friend Robin at Flora’s coffee shop. We talked for a while, I inhaled a strawberry banana smoothie, and Robin invited me to go out and watch the Saints game later.
I stopped by a nearby bike shop and the guy there took a look at my caliper. Something must have been jammed in it, because when he took it off it started working again. No charge. I ended up buying a headset riser and extender for it which should give me a better riding position and prevent some of the aches and pains I’ve been having on the long days.
Robin picked me up around 6:30 and we went to the bar to watch the game with some of her friends. On the way there, we passed by the Superdome… I never realized what a beautiful piece of architecture it is… and that it’s 30 years old is even more amazing. Anyhow. New Orleans Saints fans have to be some of the most dedicated anywhere and it was great to see the team pull through and win the game. This is definitely a party city like no other. I wish I could stay for a week and am grateful for all of the wonderful people that I met here who made sure I had a good time.
January 12, 2007
Laura went to Vegas today around lunch time, gave me the keys to her house, and told me to make myself at home. I went out to meet up with Benjamin Harlow (fellow couchsurfer). We rode bikes around town, sat by the waterfront, bought a couple beers, split a grilled shrimp po-boy (18″), walked around the French Quarter to enjoy the art and music, and generally had a great time.
On the way back to the house, the rough New Orleans roads took a toll on my bike. The rear fender came loose, got caught up in the wheel, and somehow simultaneously caused my rear disc brake caliper to fail. Well, it’s a good excuse to stay another day in New Orleans, right?
January 11, 2007
Riding from Mississippi to Louisiana on US 90 is definitely the most boring stretch of road I have encountered so far. Literally there is nothing but degraded forest, lots of trash on the side of the road, swampland that never ends, and a few stilted houses.
When I thought I was about 10 miles away from New Orleans I stopped on the side of the road to call Laura. As soon as I hung up the phone I heard “HEY!”. Out of nowhere, another cyclist appeared to say hello. He was biking from New Orleans and going east for 4 days, then flying home to Pennsylvania or somesuch. Darryl, you gotta stop sneaking up on people like that.
An hour and a half and 20 miles later I finally made it to New Orleans. Traffic was light. Most of the stores and shopping centers on the east side were still closed. The French Quarter was quiet. I got to Laura’s neighborhood and met her at a coffee shop. She took me home so I could unpack and shower, then we talked as I watched her clean her rollerskate bearings in preparation for a derby competition in Vegas this weekend.
After she finished cleaning the skates we walked a few blocks up the street to grab some pizza at a place called Slice. I ordered an entire 14″ supreme pizza and an Abita amber beer for myself. The next morning, I finished it for breakfast.
Who dat, who dat, who dat say dey gon beat dem Saints???
Not Philadelphia!