We decided on a later start on the morning of July 5 (Day 26), giving us time to get out and see a bit of the city in the daylight. New Orleans is a beautiful city.
With a planned 2pm departure, we headed to meet up with the rig and trailer and got there just as a huge thunderstorm broke above us. We waited it out in the rig for 2 hours and ended up finally hitting the road at 4pm.
We parted ways with Cindi, Peter and Ken and Theresa and Thor so it was a much smaller group that traveled the 200 miles to Jackson, MS over the raised highways of southern Louisiana. On the way, a gas stop brought our team into contact with Frances. Frances has lost 4 of her siblings to cancer and had just received the news that her nephew was diagnosed with cancer. Another example to all of us how cancer has touched the lives of everyone we are coming into contact with on the road.
Day 27 took us to Memphis – West Memphis, Arkansas and Memphis, TN. Some friends met up with us and we headed into downtown Memphis for Bike Night on Beale Street. First stop was the Krazy Kanuck where Jason decided to take on the Kookamunga Challenge (4 lb burger). If he could eat the entire thing in one hour, his photo would go up on the ‘wall of fame’ and his meal would be free. He started out strong, but started fading about 1/3 of the way in. The burger won this challenge. Next was Beale Street. We wandered up and down the few blocks filled with bikes with Pam and Mark.
Thursday, July 7 and it was a long one, through Alabama and all the way to Albany, Georgia. And the heat and humidity continued making it for tough going and complete exhaustion by the end of the day. Good thing the next day was a stopping place for 2 nights and one day off.
Friday morning, Day 29 and we were heading to Daytona Beach, Florida. Del had a phone interview scheduled with Rock 101’s Bro Jake back in Vancouver so he drove the rig for the day and Mark took out Del’s bike and rode along with Jason and Lori. Along the way we hit a LOT of rain – and the three riders were soaked by the time we reached our hotel – right on the beach. And Renata was waiting there to spend a few days with the Tour - and Jason of course.
A day off – and we had plans. At 8am we caught a taxi and left the hotel for the Daytona International Speedway. It was a surprise for our driver Mark – a HUGE Nascar fan – and when he found out that we were all doing ride alongs with pro drivers. Three laps of the 2.5 mile track at speeds of 172mph/275kmh. Then Lori and Mark stuck around for a couple more hours and took the driving course – complete with the opportunity to race their instructors around the track for eight laps. The grin didn’t leave Mark’s face for days!
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