We crossed into Louisiana and stopped at the first rest stop and discovered that we were in the original Lone Star Republic.
We journeyed on to Slidell, LA and found the Tammany Trace Bike Trail. It was late when we started so we took a short ride and had the bikes back on the van as the sun was setting.
Cool Bob rode by thinking we were someone he had met several days ago. We weren’t but it is always great to talk to a fellow cyclist and a former engineer. Bob gave us some pointers on where to go in New Orleans and suggested we check WWOZ for the Live Music Calendar. He also gave a card so we could see if we qualify for Mensa. If I could find my old SAT scores I just might qualify…
The bike trail has several breweries including Abita. We drove there in the dark and were happy to see that they were still open. Many other places in the area were closed on a Monday evening. We tasted several of their offerings and settled on their Stout and Christmas Ale. We talked with the bartender who had recently had a stroke and was looking to keep working for just a few months more until he could retire.
We asked if we could park overnight in their lot and they said no one would stop us. Taking up residence at brewery … However Mrs Ram was concerned that with all of the rain the parking lot might flood. Apparently employees had seen people and small cars disappear in some of the “puddles” that form in their lot.
Sadly we moved along to a nearby Walmart that was not flooded with water. However overnight it became filled with tractor trailers escaping the nighttime fog. Backup lights and flashing brake lights did wake Mrs Ram but there were no flood waters.