How Sweet It Is!!

[hppants]

I had a last minute chance yesterday to go riding, and I rarely pass that opportunity up.  Got off to a fairly late start, but still managed to roll about 200 miles before returning home safely around sunset.  I rode this one solo, the bike ran flawless, and I took it easy on the gas, as reflected by my 46mpg fuel mileage.

The weather was mild, even by coastal Louisiana standards.  I left the house at about 65 degrees, and it warmed to the mid 70’s by late afternoon under party cloudy skies.  There was a stiff southerly wind all day.

With no time to plan, this was one of those “let’s leave into the wind and see what we can find” trips.  Hope you enjoy the pics.



I took off South heading generally toward the coast into the wind.  Before long, I’m on the back roads enjoying the scenery.  After about 50 miles, I stop at this little pond to watch some birds.



This is a Cajun version of Fall Foliage.



The birds here are a little skittish, but I’m patient.  I could use a longer lens, but I pulled off a couple of decent shots with my point and shoot.  This Great Blue Heron is enjoying a seafood lunch



Snowy Egrets were hunted almost to extinction during the “hat feather craze” of the early 20th century.  This fellow is fearless in his approach to the perch.



Nice place to sit and ponder.

[hppants]

Across the road is a grove of massive oak trees.  Despite the “no trespassing” sign, I throw caution to the wind and walk among these majestic giants.



This one has a peculiar nub from a fallen branch long ago.



The ride is fun as I don’t really know where I am going.  I’m very comfortable as the weather is mild and I have just the right amount of clothes on.  Another 30 miles and I run into Franklin, LA - a small rural town that is mostly sugar cane farmers.  Here’s an old time theatre



I stop for a snack.  Cracklins are a real Cajun treat.  Who wouldn’t like fried pork skin?



Franklin is lined with antebellum homes and moss-draped oak trees.

[hppants]

Real pretty







I continue South and East toward a large lake that I like to visit.  I stopped at this little public park along the lake shore.  The visitor’s center is rustic



I walk along a short trail listening to the birds and the wind.

[hppants]

These cypress knees are high and dry this time of year.



I’m enamored in the color.



I sit still a while to watch this bird work for its lunch.



The proverbial “Fisher Among Men”

[hppants]

Back on the road, I’m being extra cautious.  This is the peak of the sugar cane harvesting season, and there is a lot of dirt and debris on the road.  Soon, a familiar but pleasant smell fills my brain.



Sugar cane leaves contain no sugar.  So, the leaves are burned before the ground is turned over.  The sweet smoke is very pleasant in the wind.





A little further down the road, I stop to witness a cane field being harvested.  The harvester cuts the cane, separates the leaves, and conveys the cane into the wagon.

[hppants]

I thought you might like to see some sugar milling operations, so I rode to the Patout and Sons Sugar Mill.

http://www.mapatout.com/Default.aspx

One of the managers approached me to ask what I was doing.  I told them I wanted to see how sugar was milled.  He told me to hop in his golf cart and he’d show me around.  Cool!!

The trucks are first weighed.  At the scale, a core sample is taken to be analyzed for sugar content.  The farmer is paid based on weight and sugar content.



Then the trucks are unloaded.  This looks kind of scary.  There’s another station that unloads trailers from the side as well.



Then the cane goes to the mill.  I was not allowed inside, but the manager explained what happens.  The cane is ground and smashed under pressure to squeeze the sugar out of it.  Then, the juice is cooked until all the moisture is evaporated.  Most of the smoke in this picture is evaporating steam.



The result is a raw product that is 95% sugar and 5% molasses.  My tour guide states that on average, they get 10% yield (10 pounds of sugar for 100 pounds of cane).  But 98% of the remaining product is used for fuel to run the steam turbines and other mill machinery.  This leaves less than 2% overall waste.
This raw product is barged to another factory where it is refined to make the white table sugar we buy at the grocer.  Every wonder what 100 million pounds of sugar looks like?  I can tell you that it taste delicious.

[hppants]

I bid the mill manager farewell and started heading toward home.  Some time later, I stopped at this bayou to sit and watch the tide roll away.  Looks like an abandoned railroad track here.



That “hill” in the background is Weeks Island, a salt dome that supplies road salt all over the world.



It’s getting late in the day now, and I need to be heading home.  I stopped to fill up a couple miles from the house.  Hey – I hit a mileage milestone!!



I hope there will be plenty more.

[ariwhiteboy]

Very nice report as always pantsman!  You are one lucky dog...and to think you were considering giving up riding less than a year ago. 

[mattrowe19]

Nice report pants! Jealous of the weather and the ride.

[fishball]

What a great ride report Pants.  The mill tour was tops and I really liked this photo...



Impressed with your mpg as well.

[LOKi]

never thought of asking for a tour of one of those factories. Learn something every day.

[Burgi]

Nice mix of nature and industry hp! Those are some big birds and the moss is beautiful.
Unloading those trucks though....Holy Crap! How do they lock them down? I'm sure they aren't trusting the truck brakes.

[fortyhourdays]

Great report.  Makes me want to head south for a few days of exploring.

[tbante]

  Looks like you had a great time.........thanks for taking us along!

[hppants]

Thanks for reading my report and your replies.  As you can see, I always find adventure on the bike.  Even after over 20K miles and 2 years, I'm still finding things in my own backyard that I had not previously seen.

You are one lucky dog...and to think you were considering giving up riding less than a year ago.  

Ari - I'm hooked, I'll admit it.  I used to wonder how people with addictions couldn't just "quit". Now I get it.  When something takes over your emotions, it's  hard to let go.

The mill tour was tops and I really liked this photo

The ride through those old homes was really nice with the moss blowing in the wind.  All of the home owners have taken exceptional care of those houses.  Many have been converted into bed and breakfast establishments.

never thought of asking for a tour of one of those factories. Learn something every day.

It was more of a "look around" than a formal tour.  But the manager there was very nice and helpful.  I enjoyed talking with him and learning about his industry.

are some big birds and the moss is beautiful. Unloading those trucks though....Holy Crap! How do they lock them down? I'm sure they aren't trusting the truck brakes.

Burgi - the winter birding in South Louisiana is fantastic.  We must be on the flyway for everything.  I wish I knew the names of more birds.  Sometimes I just go to a wooded field with my binoculars and wait.  Regarding the trucks, they back up to a huge steel/hydraulic back stop.  Then the driver gets out and the big rams lift the rig.  It was really impressive.

Makes me want to head south for a few days of exploring.

You are more than welcome, Sir.  I'll be happy to show you around, and as CjBear will attest, I guarantee that you will eat like a King.

[luckylindy]

 Great report Pants.  Franklin looks like an ideal little town.

[ailkel]

Great report.  Makes me want to head south for a few days of exploring.

+1 

Great ride report Pants.

[DesignFlaw06]

I'm going to make it down there. One of the few states I've not been in.

Do you normally ride without the hard bags? Or are they still scuffed up from the 'incident'? I'm looking forward to seeing your new toy at the Rocky Mountain Rally.

[LOKi]

When I was running my dad's boats in the bayou I came across a Blue Heron tangled in a line hanging from a tree. I think it was for alligators. The heron had managed to tangle the string around the very end of his beak. I caught the sight of the big bird flailing along the banks trying to get free. So I flipped around and poked the nose of the boat up there to set him free. You don't realize how big those birds are until you have it in a head lock trying to remove a string tied around its beak. With a wing span of 6" + they are some really big birds.

[fortyhourdays]

When I was running my dad's boats in the bayou I came across a Blue Heron tangled in a line hanging from a tree. I think it was for alligators. The heron had managed to tangle the string around the very end of his beak. I caught the sight of the big bird flailing along the banks trying to get free. So I flipped around and poked the nose of the boat up there to set him free. You don't realize how big those birds are until you have it in a head lock trying to remove a string tied around its beak. With a wing span of 6" + they are some really big birds.

Good for you.  I can't help but laugh at that mental image though.  LOKi, struggling to untangle the giant bird while it squawks and flaps it's enormous wings doing it's best to take off with both of you. 

[hppants]

I'm going to make it down there. One of the few states I've not been in.

Do you normally ride without the hard bags? Or are they still scuffed up from the 'incident'? I'm looking forward to seeing your new toy at the Rocky Mountain Rally.

D/F - you are more than welcome.  I'd like us to consider a NOLA/Cajun rally some day.  Maybe around Halloween - we could call it a Voodoo Rally?  I got my side bag re-painted - the guy you suggested on the FJR Forum did it, and he did a wonderful job.

Before...



And after...



Still - when I don't need the luggage space, I leave the side bags home.  If I fall (heaven forbid), that will be one less thing to fix.

I look forward to seeing you next year in Colorado as well.

With a wing span of 6" + they are some really big birds.

Most definitely.  I caught a lesser Heron with a fishing hook once.  The bird was poking at some minows from the top, and some nice blue gill were poking at the same minows from below.  I decided to join the party.  I caught a few nice blue gills and the bird was not scared.  Then I cast too close to him and wow - was that a fiasco.

Maybe one day I'll write my memoirs.... I'll call it The Life and Times of Mr. Spastic.   

[hockeyhawk]

What a great report and pics as usuall pants. It's pretty cool getting to experience different parts of the country through this forum and ride reports. Thanks for taking us along.

[creaky]

Great report pants, the pix are terrific! Thanks.

[LOKi]

Most definitely.  I caught a lesser Heron with a fishing hook once.  The bird was poking at some minows from the top, and some nice blue gill were poking at the same minows from below.  I decided to join the party.  I caught a few nice blue gills and the bird was not scared.  Then I cast too close to him and wow - was that a fiasco.

I have caught a pelican on rod and real, mid air. Fishing for specks near a rig the pelicans where hanging out on. Cast out and mid air a huge pelican swoops under the line. The line catches his wing and rips the hook right into him. Pelicans beaks look harmless from a distance but they have a really sharp hook at the end that would do so serious damage (see exhibit A). Funny how birds just don't understand when your trying to help them.

exhibit A:


Okay enough with the 

[Hawks_Nest]

Very nice RR. I liked the way you orgarnize the story with pics.   While I was reading, I could smell the sweet air :)