Day 29 - 73.1 miles - Hammond, LA

     I walked next door to Penny's Diner this morning to eat my free breakfast that came included with my room. I got talking with the chef. I told him my plans to bicycle Rt 190 over the Mississippi River and he just had a blank scare on his face. "What's the matter", I said. " Oh, you don't want to do that" he said. "It's not even safe to drive in a car over that bridge", he went on to say. Now I'am getting nervous. He went on to tell me to flag down a police officer and have them give you an escort over the bridge. I ate my full stack of pancakes and hopped on my bike.

     I first had to worry about the road to get to the bridge. To my surprise, the shoulder got better the closer to the bridge I got. The problem came right at the start of the bridge to get me over the Mississippi River. It was exciting to finally be at the Mississippi River but I was more concerned with getting over this shoulder-less bridge. Lucky for me, traffic was not that bad, as most traffic goes over the Mississippi River using I-10. I waited at the base of the bridge for a lull in the traffic and went for it. This bridge looked old and was under construction. The pavement on the bridge was rough and no shoulder at all. I pretty much took up the far right lane and the traffic that did pass me, did so carefully. I was grateful for this. The downside is that I couldn't stop on top for photos. On the downhill of the bridge, I was able to pull out my I-pad and fire off a shot or two before I realized that is is not a great idea. Just not safe. I coasted the rest of the way off the bridge and I was then able to put my heart back into my chest. I was nervous all morning about this bridge and now I am past it.. 

     I wasn't out of the woods yet. I'am heading into Baton Rouge. I was pleased that my route turned east before fully emerging the city. Traffic was heavy, and I had a bumpy, rough and wide shoulder to use. It was 20 miles of city biking until I was far enough away from Baton Rouge. Route 190 turned back to a two lane road and the shoulders disappeared completely. The shoulder was there, it was just gravel instead of pavement. I can't bike on loose gravel with a full load. I didn't even try it. I noticed that traffic was slow enough for me to hug the white lane and hope that the shoulder comes back again. It only came back as I neared a town and quickly went away as I left town.

     I was happy to call it a day in Hammond, LA and rest up this afternoon.

Photos: Penny's Diner in Livonia - The Mississippi River near Baton Rouge - My shoulder-less bridge over the Mississippi - I made it, safe & sound - Crossroads to Baton Rouge - Crossing the Amite River - From one extreme to the next, horrible shoulder, wonderful shoulder