12/8/2014
Louisiana was a French territory purchased by the United States in 1803. As I began my journey through the beautiful state, pelicans gracefully glided across the sky. It happened to be their state bird. This bird was also chosen to be the mascot of the professional basketball team based out of New Orleans. I saw the fleur de lis symbol everywhere as well. The French influence was firmly imbedded into the state. The surname on many signs ended with eux. Even the first words I read were “Bienvenue en Louisiane”, Welcome to Louisiana. Louisiana a multicultural, multilingual heritage, was also strongly influenced by a mixture of 18th-century French, Spanish, Native American, and African cultures.
The night at the abandoned market was very quiet except for the croaking frogs. The sounds of the night changed with the landscape. I’ve found the crossing of each state line fascinating. These borders not only separate the states, they also define the properties of the land, wildlife, and culture. Day 98 started with light fluffy scrambled eggs with bell peppers and squash sandwiches. I stepped out of the trailer in my neon orange running gear. It was one of the presents Crystal purchased for my birthday. It was insurance against rushing motorists. I felt much safer. The chill in the air nipped a little harder than before. The legs were full of lead for several miles. When the blood began to flow the pace quickened. The roads were quiet except for the animals that rustled in the foliage. To my surprise I didn’t see or smell many animals decomposing on the side of the road.
After fifteen miles we reached the town of Dequincy, famous for their railroad museum. Crystal had ridden her bike to meet me on the outskirts of town. As we were passing a restaurant called El Tucan, we noticed a parking lot overflowing with cars. We figured the food must have been excellent to draw all those people. She took a chance and asked them if they would donate lunch. This time she was the one ordering enchiladas. I wanted huevos rancheros. Perhaps my body needed the extra protein.
Either our itinerary was off or I took a route other than the one I planned but the destination of Moss Bluffs was a total of 45 miles. On our itinerary it read 33. With that discovery, we called the day at 27 miles in the town of Ragley. I still had to catch up on my posts.
Crystal was experiencing a bout of paranoia about parking in front of an abandoned convenience store so we found a roadside patch of land in front of an abandoned shack. It provided our trailer with a parking spot. The night was surprisingly silent. Not a single car passed in the night. The blankets sheltered us from the night chill and for once my legs didn’t ache in my sleep.
Big rigs began travelling before sunrise. Every time they passed the trailer shook. Before long the commuting workers began their daily trek and both of my eyes were wide open. With no excuse to lounge around I laced up and was out the door. I ran through the back woods roads and saw some huge estates. Once again I marveled at the Louisiana I never knew. When I ran, I saw roadside stands and small farms that sold fresh fruits and vegetables. I beamed when I saw the fresh choices. Fresh picked produce wasn’t always a realistic option as we travelled but with the cooling temperatures and the lower prices the possibility of reducing our intake of canned food dropped.
Lunch was leftover spaghetti from the night before. Crystal had purchased a few pastries for me as a substitute birthday cake. After I ate I searched my pockets for my gloves and discovered I had dropped one somewhere along the way. This was the third time I had lost an article of clothing and it dampened my spirits. But, on this trip, every time we have faced adversity, it was vanquished. On this occasion the news of a campsite donation lifted me to the heavens. Perhaps my elation stemmed from the possibility of ridding my body of the sweat and grime that had accumulated over the four days without running water. We set our sights eastward. The sun was out and the sky was blue. The night would be spent at the I-10 Village RV Park. The excitement turned to focus as I crossed a mile long bridge facing large vehicles moving at high speeds. It took me a few moments to survive but after I did the drama was over and the rest of the day was in the bag. I ran towards a night of cleansing and comfort.
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