A lot of significant moments can occur in 116.7 miles, regardless of whether you travel by foot, bicycle, car, horse, boat, or scooter. Moments too can happen in one minute-like meeting cool strangers like Lloyd. I asked Lloyd if I was headed in the proper direction on my meandering detour and we spent the next hour talking. Talking about war, peace, the CIA, his sons in the military, his badge of Native American ancestry, his past, his hopes for the future, the economy, greed, and poker. He also offered to put my scooter in his truck and carry it over the bridge. But, I had to say no to that, although I accepted the $20 he donated. I prefer that interlude to the two seconds of sheer panic when a jerk tried to kill me, by pulling out right in front of me and then stopping. I don’t use the horn often, but I was under the impression it means get the hell out of my way-not stop in front of me. I was cruising at about 55mph, the streets were wet and a tractor trailer truck was on my left-but I found the brakes. There was little peace on the streets today, but a lot of it inside. In fact, I guarantee that around 5:15 pm, I was loudly Oming inside my helmet. It was a kind way of saying “bless you asshole” to the derelicts on the road. I grappled with steel grate bridges for my first time, twice as a matter of fact. But there was no bravado to be found on the Highway at rushour traffic, I exited after a few minutes. Due to storms, the wind was bad enough, but throw in three tractor trailer trucks passing you, along with wet streets-and scooting is no longer fun-or safe. It’s difficult getting around these parts, especially with severe thunderstorms following me all day-making for nice ominous photo backgrounds though. Most of the day was spent be re routed, but I did finally see some of the Gulf for five minutes. I managed to get in some pictures, but headed towards a hotel as it was getting dark. I heard there are still no lights out on Highway 90, since Katrina. After a day like this, I don’t feel like banging around dark, deserted roads through the swamp. And tomorrow, I can go sink my toes in the Gulf and take some more pictures. It has already been humbling to witness the travesty experienced down here on the Gulf. There are still remnants of disaster everywhere you look.
I look forward to rising fresh for the remaining 80.4 miles and meeting New Orleans scooterists.
It will take about 2 minutes to get Audrey ready in the morning. I decided she was sleeping inside tonight. After this kind of day, she too deserves sanctuary in doors.
Don’t worry, there’s no cuddling happening…..