Day Five Blog

We got an early start today, or so we thought.  We had to at least drive by the Alamo to take a look and try to get a picture of it, but it's not like as I remember it in the movie ... now we have high rises and one-way streets.  So after about 3 trips around the block, we at least got a glance.

In carrying on with our trend, we were able to avoid the interstates again, but later, as we encountered more towns ... we encountered more stop lights, until we finally had to divert back out to I-10.  This turned out to be a white knuckle event going through Houston.  Although the GPS was helping out on the navigation, we still had to negociate merging traffic and sudden traffic slow downs.  Then, as we were going through an interchange at about 70 mph, a car suddenly went into a side skid right in front of me, and then it angle off to the right, causing Mike & Tom, semi's and everyone else to take evasive action.  Being the lead bike, I had cleared it before being able to think about what was happening, but then it continue across four lanes and slammed into a retaining wall.  Since we and everyone else was still going about 70 mph, there was no way any of us could stop without further endangerment.  Definitely a 9 on the you know what factor.

Then, about ten minutes later, the Texas State Patrol brought all four lanes to a complete halt to allow a three mile long funeral procession onto the freeway.  We couldn't believe it ... this would be like stopping traffic on the 405.  We camped out for awhile, chatting with truck drivers, took photos, etc.   Amazing.  Caltrans would never recover laughing if asked for a permit to do this.

There was an amazing change in scenery today.  It's like San Antonio was the middle point for desert, barren landscape to the west and trees/greenery to the east. Here in Louisiana it's green and forested, at least for what's left from Katrina.

Finally, we ended our exciting day by taking a taxis to the Prejean Cajun restaurant here in Layfette, LA, and dined on alligator appetizers!  ... and we're not kidding, but it does taste just like chicken.  But, now that I think about it, I think that's what they feed them. 

Tonight Mike and I will make another attempt to record Tom sleeping.  He didn't believe we tried this before until we showed him the picture.

Tomorrow we head on a shorter day's ride to Destin, FL, in the panhandle.