Bittersweet

Friday's final day began in the usual way.  Rider's assembled, pumped tires, listened to the route description and warnings.  Some single day riders joined for the day.  Allen's "Are you ready to ride?" was met with a resounding "Yes!"  Dory sounded the air horn and we were off in a mass start.  The City of Gonzalez provided a police escort out of town complete with car traffic blockades and flashing lights.

For me the start was bittersweet.  While the day's ride promised a sense of accomplishment  and completion, I also knew the days of riding, eating cajun food and enjoying local music were coming to a close as well.   New friends would be scattered throughout the country with promises of photos by email and hopes of meeting at next year's ride.

An incredible sense of camaraderie among the riders and crew has developed over the past five days.  Its hard to understand the depth of shared experience that developed during the ride, but it is palpable.  The goodbye hugs and handshakes had already begun before we set off on the days ride.

The day's ride included more tailwind and more road debris than any previous day.  Our group of eight riders had three flats in the first 10 miles.   We rode  45 miles on the shoulders of  busy, debris filled roads past refineries, boodin and cracklin stands, sugar cane fields and crawfish farms before riding up on the Mississippi River levee for an incredible 22 mile ride filled with sweeping panaramic views and habitats of egrets, ducks, ibises and hawks.

That stretch dropped us off in Audobon park for a later than usual lunch.  Jambalaya.  We waited for all our riders to gather in the park and finish lunch.  Then we  huddled for more planning.  We filled jersey pockets with candy, mounted bikes and on the horn began an eight mile police escorted ride into New Orleans.  Motorcycle police blocked intersections, sounded sirens as the leapfrogged ahead covering each intersection all the way into the city, past the aquarium and into Waterfront Park along the Mississippi.  Onlookers along the way cheered, gave us  thumbs up and waited patiently as we passed by.  Then smiled as we threw candy in the traditional parade fashion.  This city appreciates a parade and is always, seemingly, ready to party.

I was skeptical about the need for an escorted parade, but it sure was a fun run in.  And it set a great tone for the evening's grand celebration dinner, entertainment and recognition.   The ride is multi-faceted, but at the end of the day, its about supporting the Red Cross's mission of helping people in need.  That we all celebrate.