A "Bumpy" Start on Monday and a Day of Rest on Tuesday!

This is how I started my day on Monday. I was able to sleep late and spend a little time relaxing before I got on my bike because I had chosen to take a “bump” in the morning. A “bump” is when you have the van drop you at the 20 mile mark or where ever you wish to shorten your day. Long story short, my body simply couldn’t (or didn’t want to) a 4th day in a row of 80 some miles.

Here is a picture of how many bikers chose to start their day with a “bump”; plus the SAG wagon carried a few more bikes.

On about 3 occasions the van or SAG have escorted us through a tunnel or a bridge that really did not have any shoulder and busy traffic that wouldn’t allow for bikers. This picture was taken from the van as it drove slowly behind (with flashing blinkers) the bikers so we safely cross the bridge.

Just an idyllic setting on a country road in Louisiana.

We passed quite a few sugar cane fields. Sugar cane fields are mostly west of the Mississippi.

It was fun crossing the Mighty Mississippi on a ferry. When we reached the other side, two of Kirby’s friends from Chicago met us with a bottle of champagne. Although we never drink and drive, we did have a tiny toast!

Just being silly and having fun!

Another lovely picture of the swampy bayou country of LA.

TUESDAY: Our Day of rest at the Butler B & B in Francisville, LA. For me, it was a much needed day of rest; my body was very tired. Woman's Day picked the perfect spot. We stayed at a plantation dating back to the 1800's. The 8th generation (from plantation owners) now run the B & B. The original house is still inhabited by them and 8 cottages are on the grounds. Two of the cottages date back to the 1800's; one being "the kitchen" and one "the cooks house". The other cottages were built years later. Each cottage has it's own character.

Out the back of "the kitchen cottage", which was my cottage was this lovely pond. The picture doesn't show it but iris's grew around the edge of pond, ducks, fish and frogs in pond, and a little spring in the center. Very, very relaxing.

This is the kitchen when I stayed. One room was where they cooked, one bedroom was the "dairy room", the sitting area was the "smoke house" and then there were two baths that had been added and a room with large windows which houses a jacuzzi.

This is the "main house" where Ann Butler the proprietor lives. She has written several books; I bought her auto-biography which tells about her life with her four husbands; the 4th one tried to kill her and is in prison. We take it from the "towns people" that Ann has a lot of "clout" around town. This was indicated by the police escort that she insisted we have when we left the B & B.

Meet Humphrey, who lives on the grounds of the B & B. He is beautiful and struts around all the time. Speaking of the grounds, of all the places I have travelled, the grounds of this plantation is one of the most beautiful places ever. There were flowers and flowers and flowers. Lots of live oak trees, the long curving driveway leading up to the house. Birds were in abundance and singing all the time.

Humphrey often showed his feathers; usually when he was mad at the ducks for trying to eat the cat food! He didn't seem to mind when we got close for pictures.

What a way to spend my day off, swinging on the front porch!

I had my camera accidentally set for "video" so I ended up with a couple of videos. I'm hoping this works when you click on it and you will get to see a little of the beauty I enjoyed. I think I should have learned to use the video portion of my camera sooner!

Just click on left arrow and it should show!