Day 44 - Monday, April 21

 New Orleans, LA to Warm Showers acreage by van - 0 miles - still 2299 total. 

For the uninitiated, Warm Showers is an online registry of places touring cyclists can find assistance and/or overnight accommodation around the world. Each location listed will indicate length of stay allowed, amenities included (tenting in yard, in-house bed, meals or kitchen provided, pick up and transport, etc.), number of guests at one time, how much advance notice required, etc. 

Many of the hosts are cyclists who have been guests in the past, others are merely touring cycling advocates. 

The online site is self-monitoring, and there are opportunities for positive and negative reports re both the hosts and the touring guests. 

Our hosts at this acreage are Perry and Lep, passionate bicycling advocates in Louisiana, and sometime cycling tourers. They have an outdoor shower, bathroom, and wooden patio deck with picnic table and chairs for their guests, and a large open grassy field for our tents. And tonight they're providing a jambalaya and gumbo-over-rice-topped with potato salad dinner for us. Since their location is listed on the back of the ACA maps we're using, they receive a steady stream of visitors during most of the touring season. 

Interesting development at tonight's map meeting. Before Nicole began going over tomorrow's route, Perry interjected that there was a more direct path to Kentwood with wide shoulders that would shave about 15 miles off the distance. Thus ensued a spirited discussion re the merits of Perry's suggestion versus following the ACA map. My take on it is that I signed up to ride the Southern Tier, and I will do so unless the road is dangerous. There have been other days when a shorter way presented itself, and I chose not to deviate from the map; tomorrow will be no different. Unfortunately, most of the others don't see it that way; I think only two others will be riding the route. 

 We'll be staying at a United Methodist church tomorrow, so there's no rush to get to our destination.  As a bonus, we'll be hosted at dinner by the Ladies Auxiliary. Gotta love this Southern hospitality!

There's a small pond on the acreage. As I type this, we're being serenaded by a chorus of tree and bull frogs, with cicadas providing background. Beats trains!

Lep checking the gumbo in the iron pot over the fire. Shower in the background.