Some days are tougher than others

Day 17. 4/20/22. 68 mi. 10.5 mph AIS 6:42 hrs. ,530 ft elev.

Ville Platte to Simmesport

Boy today was not my favorite day. It had its good moments and some interesting little towns but the wind…..! It can be relentless and you just have to push through it. Especially when the last 20 miles of wind is right at you.

Early start heading northeast. It was like taking a Louisiana home tour leaving Ville Platte. They like big, big, long front yards with pretty homes in the back. Some have flowers and big trees. Most of them are neat and tidy. Very pretty.

Our roads varied from smooth to rough, smooth to rough. For the first 30 miles we seemed to have a tail wind and very light traffic. It was pleasant almost all the way into Bunkie. We found a nice little corner antiques and cafe shoppe. Homemade pies, milkshakes and great sandwiches. Bunkie was a cute little town. The railroad bisected it but they had a nice city park along the tracks in the city center.

After Bunkie the road would zigzag and twist into the wind, then sidewind then straight into the 20mph wind all the way to Simmesport. Traffic was fairly light most of the time so that was the positive. Shoulderless road for the most part as well. We had a couple of curious chasing dogs but they were benign. Once again, Curt’s recumbent is not normal to them (or anyone else🤣) so the dogs chase him more often than Jim or I. No need for self defense…a sharp command and they quit.

We went through another really pretty little town called Cottonport. It had a bayou running through it with very nice homes lining the opposite side of the waterway. Sorry I didn’t stop to photograph now. Shortly after Cottonport we came across the most magnificent Live Oak Tree I have ever seen! It was huge and majestic. Simply grand. I took pictures but it didn’t fit in one frame. I’ll post all the options. I think that was my top thrill of the day😊

After the tree moment it was a slog about 8-9 miles with heavy headwind into Simmesport. We had been warned by the ladies at the convenience store in the town before that it was a terrible, dangerous town. Yikes! We weren’t sure what to expect. We were also told there was a hotel in town. Great…,,maybe! The hotel left alot to desire on the outside. We walked into the liquor store/convenience/motel office. All sketchy. Then he gave us the keys to see the room. Good idea….omg…it was the most disgusting, filthy, raunchy, shithole I’d ever laid eyes on! Nope, not happening. $50?!! Hahahaha. Gross!

Our ACA guide never mentioned a motel….now we understood why. They said the best place to camp was in the back of the Truck Stop parking lot. So here we are in the back of the lot…it’s grassy, fairly quiet, lots of parking lot lights but we feel secure here. You can’t see us behind the parked trucks. And….I had my first Truck Stop Shower $6. All’s well for tonight. Todays hard ride is history. Tomorrow gets us to Baton Rouge. We have lots of options. Big mileage day but lighter wind speeds.

Goodnight😊