Rice and Crawfish

Chris:  We left Chicot State Park and with no breakfast supplies and a great need for energy calories we ended up at McDonald’s after finding no local diner.  The food was delicious.  Two hours later I felt nauseous. 

Tony and I rode for more than 26 miles past rice and crawfish fields.  Farmers have found a way to make double use of the fields by adding 50 to 75 pounds of crawfish per acre to the fields that have been flooded with water after the rice planting.  The addition of crawfish protects the farmers against the fluctuating rice prices. 

We saw little boat type contraptions out in the fields harvesting the crawfish.  The added benefit for us as bikers is that these operations require flat land and that made for some nice riding.

And then we rounded a bend and the land had some slight rises and as far as my eyes could see in all directions was fencing and hundreds of cattle.  It was a gorgeous pastoral scene.  I love the way the cows stop eating grass and stare at us as we ride past.  What must they be thinking.  And then the land flattened out and there were more rice and crawfish fields. 

David met us in a field off the road for lunch.  You can see the flooded rice field behind us. 

David talked to the farmer and was given a couple crawfish for an appetizer to our peanut butter sandwiches.

This is me after a 50 plus riding day.  After riding in mist and light rain the sun came out and it got quite steamy.  My bottom lip is blistered.  My hair was drenched and dried and sweated through.  Repeat over and over.  I need calories but the thought of eating makes me nauseous.  Don’t worry.  That feeling passes but it’s very real while it lasts.

I calculated my mileage last night and was surprised to see that I have ridden over 1100 miles.  I’m more than 1/3 finished but I have some huge mountainous challenges ahead.  I’m such a little weenie when it comes to hills.