{"id":23235,"date":"2018-05-01T18:25:23","date_gmt":"2018-05-01T22:25:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=23235"},"modified":"2018-05-02T21:17:40","modified_gmt":"2018-05-03T01:17:40","slug":"day-18-wednesday-may-2-jennings-to-breaux-bridge-louisiana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=23235","title":{"rendered":"Day 18. Wednesday, May 2 – Jennings to Breaux Bridge, Louisiana"},"content":{"rendered":"

We left two hours earlier (7:15) and it was already 10\u00b0 warmer (73\u00b0), overcast and humid; wind ever present.\"\"<\/a> This morning we rode along highway 90, which we imagine was the main east west route before the interstate was built just to the north.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0Too much time and not enough traffic had passed to keep business going. \u00a0The dilapidated buildings \"\"<\/a>and trees helped to shield the wind, but it always found us when the fields opened up. \u00a0We had a slow pedal through Crowley,\"\"<\/a> the Rice Capital of America, \"\"<\/a>enjoying the wind break.<\/p>\n

Our six mile ride between this town and the next was miserable. \u00a0Not only had we lost our protective line of trees, but the roads were the worst we’d encountered;\"\"<\/a> it was insult added to injury. \u00a0We did manage to see these “guard donkeys” \"\"<\/a>and this disturbingly green<\/em> pond.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0Entering the town of Rayne, \"\"<\/a>The Frog Capital of the World, all was forgotten;\"\"<\/a> frogs \"\"<\/a>were everywhere…\"\"<\/a>…who knew?!<\/p>\n

Once out of town, the wind once again found and hit us hard. \u00a0Shortly after 11:00, we dropped into a gas station for a break from the wind. \u00a0Since they had a sandwich shop and a place to sit, we opted for an early lunch. \"\"<\/a>\u00a0Manuel Robin and T.B Morvent were on us like white on rice<\/em>! \u00a0Seriously, they were so much fun, though understanding their super thick cajun accents took some effort. \u00a0Apparently, the town we would be staying in tonight is hosting a huge crawfish festival this weekend. \u00a0They then proceeded to tell us all the ways you can eat crawfish….and cajun food, “well, you just better get ready.” \u00a0After an hour of great entertainment, we said our goodbyes and continued on.<\/p>\n

Traffic had picked up, road conditions went from good to poor and the wind did not let up. \u00a0We plugged along for 12 miles, not having much space to look around. Although, we now know these are former rice fields, \"\"<\/a>flooded to capture crawfish.<\/p>\n

We slowly struggled through a depressed area of Lafayette and then a slight northeast turn and all was right with the world, we had a tailwind for our last two miles. \u00a0Finally checked in after five and a half hours in the saddle.<\/p>\n

Our buddies at lunch insisted we try all the local food had to offer and the best place to do that was the town we were staying in.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0We started with a sampler of crawfish, catfish, shrimp and gator,\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 plus a couple steamers to try.\"\"<\/a>Then a small<\/em> plate of Louisiana Boudin\"\"<\/a> and finished with steamed Gulf shrimp.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0It was an appropriately stuffed finish to an almost 58 mile day.<\/p>\n\n\t\t