We told you yesterday that we were going to ride one hundred miles. What happened? Read carefully to find out why we only cycled 70 miles.
The day began with eating an elegant breakfast with Miss June.
After admiring her paintings one more time, we hit the road bright and early.
We/cycled through fields of sugar cane. The road was rough with huge splits in the pavement. With all the jostling Mary Jo's odometer finally gave up. Shortly Jim appeared. Jim is sagging for John whom we met a couple of days ago. Jim suggested that we take route 10 instead of the long Adventure Cycling route that took us way north of our destination and then back to the south. He had checked the road and he found it smooth with little traffic. Mary Jo had mentioned Route 10 to Ruth the previous evening.
We decided to do Route 10. It was heavenly with smooth pavement, no traffic, and a shade covered road. After ten miles, we rode up to the top of a levee and this is what we saw!
No bridge! There was a ferry but it stopped running at 7:30 in the morning and would not begin until 4:30 in the afternoon. Jim and John arrived shortly. Jim was hoping to hire a fishing boat to take us across but everyone was out fishing. We decided to ride our our bikes south to busy 190. Before arriving at 190, Jim stopped with the red pick-up truck and we piled our bikes on the back of the truck. We drove over the busy bridge and spillway and then Jim dropped us off at ten on the other side of the river.
We had a quick lunch and then rode towards the mighty Mississippi River.
This time the ferry was working and we enjoyed the rest on the ferry.
Upon the east side of the Mississippi we entered the historic town of St. Francisville. At the Visitor's Center we learned about the Rosedown Plantation at the edge of town.
We quickly cycled to the plantation and had an informative tour by a young guide. The plantation was built by a wealthy planter of cotton, Daniel Turnbull. He owned seven thousand acres and tragically 450 slaves. Because the Turnbull family was able to keep the plantation until 1956, most of the original furnishings and gardens remain.
We quickly cycled to the plantation and had an informative tour by a young guide. The plantation was built by a wealthy planter of cotton, Daniel Turnbull. He owned seven thousand acres and tragically 450 slaves. Because the Turnbull family was able to keep the plantation until 1956, most of the original furnishings and gardens remain.
Take the honorable path and you cannot go wrong. - MJ's message in her fortune cookie. Tomorrow we will stay on the honorable path.
I am wondering why you didn't get on that ferry and fire it up and pilot it yourselves!! Great adventure day. Will you be leaving John in the dust? Good to know you have some friends on the road. Keep pedaling and stay safe.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe route 10 saved you 30 miles. It would have been perfect except for the bridge issue. Why don't maps make that more clear when there's no bridge? Once I was navigating Jen on some back roads to avoid a traffic jam and as we pull up to the river a guy told us that the last ferry had just left. My comment to Jen was "Oh, I guess that's what FY on the map means" She was a little mad but luckily we were in the car and not on bikes. I'm glad John gave you a lift.
ReplyDeleteHey biking babes!
ReplyDeleteBravissississima! I've just read 30 days worth of posts -- phenomenal photos and even more phenomenal efforts. You're having a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm awestruck.
I hope all continues as well as it has thus far! Happy pedals!
Sue (Ruth's friend from Switzerland)
What great friends you have made from Miss June to Jim and John who have made this adventure so interesting and successful. I envy learning the culture and road kill of the various regions of our country as you ride along. Thanks for sharing it with us. Julia
ReplyDeleteThat's definitely a fun memory, albeit a time consuming one! :) St. Francisville is where Jon and Becky's (and my!) friend Stephanie Cauble spent her honeymoon in 2008!
ReplyDeleteLike Sue, I've just read the last 20 or so posts at one time...and what a time! Reading them in sequence gives me such a sense of your trip...and the hills! I, who cannot yet even climb Forest Avenue, am in total awe of your stamina and cyclistship(just invented a word). And I loved the second half of Texas..so green and lush, not what I'd expect from Texas at all. You go, girls...this is soooo much fun to read!
ReplyDeleteDolly Hartman told me about you when you were here in Ocean Beach. i ADORE your blog! keep up the good work - you're motivating me to exceed my own expectations. are you going to hard publish the blog when you've finished your trip? xo
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