The deluge

October 4th/09 - Johnson Bayou, Louisiana
Radon RV Park
Mileage: 133 km
Total mileage: 4,563 km

Tonight we are camped in Johnson Bayou, LA. The campground is gravel which puts it just barely above the bayou. There has been so much rain here lately that we had to find a high spot in the gravel to put the tent on and the corners of our small 2 man tent are almost in the water. A lady in one of the 5th wheels here said there are lots of domestic cats and alligators around, but the alligators probably wouldn't bother us. I hope the alligators are more civil than the tortoise was between Encinal and Alice.

Johnson Bayou suffered greatly from hurricane Ike as well. A local told us that her and her husband lost everything in hurricane Rita, and then while rebuilding, lost everything they had gained in hurricane Ike. Now she said that they live in a 5th wheel on their lot and are prepared to evacuate anytime the need arises. This whole area has been devastated, not just once but twice.

Setting up the tent, a deluge from no where came down. The rain continued on and off throughout the evening and we did some creative drying inside with the shammy and cook stove. It ended up quite comfortable, but steamy.

We started our day with the wind at our backs, leaving Crystal Beach. A fast ride along the sea to High Island. High Island is not actually an Island, but at one time must have been a massive rogue dune. The town is built on this hill which appears out of nowhere. High Island did not suffer any hurricane damage as a result, which begs the question, "Why doesn't everybody else build here?"

We continued on with the wind, to Winnie. Moving inland the trees again began to get larger, and by Winnie, there was large growths of what appeared to be Ponderosa Pine. We hadn't seen pines in a long, long time.

From Winnie to Port Arthur, we again noted large parcels of ranch and farm land. At one point, and only one point, we noticed one farm yard with a beautiful hedge of caragana trees. In all our cycling we hadn't seen a caragana and thought that these people around here must think that this is quite an exotic bush. This farmer must be known locally as the 'crazy, try anything' guy.

We entered Port Arthur and found it to be quite the industrial city. In fact, riding through it to the south, the hwy leads right through the oil and gas refineries as if you were actually in them.

Leaving Port Arthur east bound we travelled up and over the Sabine River. At the top of the bridge, the first monsoon hit. It rained so hard that we should have had our shampoo out. Again, the water was so warm it was quite pleasant. As we rode on, the winds that we created cycling dried us out for the next downpour.

Entering Louisiana the road narrowed to 2 lanes, no shoulders and bayous on both sides. Hwy 82 was lightly travelled and very peaceful.

Rodes were premium today. Almost all new pavement with the wind behind us throughout. Record time!!