Bayou Country

Leaving Alabama, heading to Louisiana I noticed my bikes fuel indicator blinking. I pulled off a rural road into a rustic blue collar gas station. Broken down tow trucks and clinging rag weeds framed the blue collar exterior of the gas station. Two salt and pepper bearded patrons with flannels and fishing poles waited outside. As I walked toward the front door to pay I was caught off guard by a neon green cardboard sign, hand written stating: "Tanning-3 visits $15, one month, unlimited tanning $35". The Metro sexual revolution has hit rural Alabama!!!

Crossing onto Louisiana I was faced with an difficult decision, New Orleans or Baton Rouge? Giving into my preconceived notion of New Orleans being a lawless land I steered my bike toward Baton Rouge.

My next stop was the "Rural Life Museum" at Louisiana State University. The outside museum is a recreation of what plantation life was like in the South up until the early 20th century. Complete with post office, commissary, sick house, slave's quarter's and church.

I was especially moved by the original slave sale advertisement. The horrifying document read like a Craig's List ad, selling the attributes and quality's of the slave for sale.

On the road toward Houston the roads are flat and look like strips of black ribbon extending off into an abyss. I decide to speed right past Houston with my sights set for Austin, my favorite non San Diego city.