Albuquerque - Austin -New Orleans

Hi everybody,

Another update of my blog.
Total cycling distance : 25 600 km or 16 000 miles.

So after leaving Albuquerque I cycle to the Smokey Bear state park in Capitain. In 1960 people found a severly burned bear cup after a forest fire. It became the symbol of forest fire prevention. After a service of 25 year Smokey was retired and when he died was burried here. There is a whole exzhibit about his life.

On friday, april 24th, I reach Lincoln. Now a very small village but once a thriving town which became famous during the Lincoln county war with Billy the Kid. I visited some museum and also the prison where he escaped and killed 2 deputys.

A few days later I visit the Carlsbad Caverns : a system of very large caves which are accessible on foot. The hike is 2 miles long and you see amazing rocks formed through rainwater and a bit of acid of the sandstone rock.
This is also the home of a very large bath colony of 800 000. When they go out to feed at dusk they cloud up the sky for a time. The evening I was there only a few hundred were hungry so no sight for me.

When I return to my bicycle 2 shunks are eating my food. When trowing my sandals they finally run of. They are small animals and I would easily chase them if not for the present they can leave if you come to close.
I also saw some Javelina s earlier on the day.

When I am on the New Mexico and Texan border a storm developes and a tornado warning is issued but luckily I can shelter on a rest area. I do not have much rain but there is hail at caves as big as pigeon eggs. While sheltering here I meet an incredible group of people. Later it turns out they are camping at the same campsite as me in the Guadalupe mountains. We have a good time and they treat me on a delicious Texan meal in Van Horn. This is after I did a overnight hike in the Mountains.

On monday, may 4th, I visit Langtry where judge Roy Bean became famous with his very extra ordinaire lifestyle and judging. He was also a pubholder and the jury sat in the pub. Regulary pauzes to drink were admitted and many sentences included a drink for everybody. He was also a fan of the actrice Lily Langtry and he wrote to her that he named the town to her honour. This is not true but she believed it and visited the town. By that time the judge had died of natural causes.

In the next days I cycle to Austin, leaving the Chihuhuan desert and entering the hill country with his many creeks and rivers. They mostly appreciated in temp reaching up to 35 C or mid 90s F. While camping and swimming in a river I loose again some bread to wildlife. I see a fox, armadillo and skunk who all are not shy so this time I can choose who is quilty.

Austin is a nice town with a lot of live music and I enjoy it. Visiting the state capitol that of course is bigger than the national capitol (it is after all Texas) in Washington DC.

The next 10 days I use to cycle to the Golf of Mexico and along the coast to New Orleans. I am now on very flat land and for the first time in weeks do not have much wind.
I loved New Mexico with its beautiful scenery and pueblos. It has a nickname which is Land of Enchantment. Some people say also The land of Entrapment because they stayed here after seeing the wonderful scenery. I do not blame those people but for me it will always be the Land of the Wind. It felt like I always had a headwind.

I am now in the swamp area and this is completely different but I like the turtles, flamingos and the alligators I see. The mosquitos are another story.
It is also here that I have my first rain in 2 months. Can you say that to?
It is also hurricane alley and I see still some damage from the last one. Lots of houses are abandoned or the lots are vacant. The RVs and wooden structures beeing blown away. The tap water is not potable because sea water entered the pipes.

Closer to New Orleans there are more people living and camping becomes harder. One morning I am noticed by the police but after checking my ID I am alright. The only bad thing is it happened at 6am. When I wake up I reach for my glases but the officer almost thinks for a gun and his hand is awful close to his gun. I am very friendly and move slow after that.

New Orleans is a very nice city. They call it the most northenly Caraibean city and I most agree it is different from other American cities. Also a lot of live music with the blues, grass bands,.....
Bourbon street is the main turisty drag. There are family restaurants next to "gentlemens" pubs. In the other pubs young girls try to sell some harder liquor. They are a bit aggressive, rubbing on my legs, if you want to they put the drink between there breasts and than you can suck it up. They go to young and older man and having your wife with you will not protect you. Saying you are not interested does not help either. What I did was putting my oldest T shirt (which is pritty run down by now) and I say I am interested but also very broke. They never came back again and I could enjoy the music.

There is also a very big museum about WW2. Called the national museum of WW2 (what else?). I learned a lot especially on the pacific war. Belgium was not involved there. But I also saw it is a very american point of vieuw. It seemed that the rest of the world was not fighting. Russia is only mentioned once or twice while some of the heaviest battles (Stalingrad, Koersk) took place there. About 20 million Russian people died.
They showed how the Amerian civilians suffered through lack of supply. Although not easy it is nothing compared with European civilians who had the same and more lack of supplies but also endured bombing, fighting, black outs,... and for most occupation.
In 2004 I visited a simular museum in Sint-Petersburg also know as Leningrad during the war. I saw there daily ration of food. It was only a little bit of bread that also contained sand. In the first winter (they were surrounded for almost a 1000 days) an average of 30 000 people died. Mostly civilians who fled there from the country side already occupied by the germans.

I also like the houses here. Mostly wood with nice portches at the front. In some of the surrounding towns you could German influences. The French Quarter which is the historic founding place contains some nice churches.
Although a bit to turisty now I loved this city.

so this was it for now.

I am now in Nashville after cycling the Nathez trace trail to here. Tomorrow I will head for the Smokey Mountains and the Blue ridge parkway which will lead me to the north. A visit to Washington is possible maybe even on july 4th. But the goal is to reach Niagara Falls.

greetings,

nico