In Good Graces

[hppants]

I planned on about 300 miles yesterday, but cut it short to about 220 when the time got away from me.  Weather was 52 and misty when we pulled out, but warmed to about 75 under partly cloudy skies.  All bikes ran great, and I took it fairly easy and managed 53 mpg on one tank.  Hope you enjoy the pics.

It's a typical Friday evening.  My neighbor Brody and I are enjoying a few beers in the neighborhood.  A couple that lives adjacent to us, Leonard and Grace, walked over.  They moved here a few years ago from North Dakota.  Leonard has always had bikes - he just sold a bike dealership in a small town nearby.  I invite him to ride with us, but he rarely does.

(Grace)  "You and Brody planning to ride tomorrow?"

(Pants)  "Yep - we were just discussing our plans."

(Grace)  "Boy it sure sounds like fun.  I should go with ya'll one day.  I haven't ridden in years."

(Brody)  "Come with us tomorrow!"

(Leonard)  "Take my bike - it's ready.  Go have fun."

(Grace)  "I don't want to impose - I'd be holding you back."

(Pants)  "Don't be ridiculous.  It should be an adventure - it always is."

(Brody)  "He's got that right."

(Grace)  "Ok - I'll meet ya'll in the morn - what time are we leaving."

(Pants - coining a Coffeebrake term)  "Kickstands up at 8:00 am."

In the morning, the bikes are warmed up and ready to go.



We go over safety with Grace, and leave on a real conservative pace while she gets her feelings re-acquainted.  I decided we could see something Cajun, so we rode to the famous Fred's Lounge in Mamou, Louisiana, arriving at about 9:00 am



Every Saturday morning, Fred's opens up at the crack of dawn for Cajun music, dancing, and the party starts.  Ole' Yella looks like a fish out of water at this place.



We take in the sites.

[hppants]

I have no idea what this bike is, but I thought it looked pretty cool even though it's not my style.



Grace tells me "Hey, bring your camera over here, let's show Leonard what he's missing.  Then he talks these two gentlemen into taking a picture with her.  It was hilarious.



We walk down the street a while.



These are traditional Mardi Gras costumes for sale - next weekend is the big festivities.

[hppants]

Back on the bikes, we head farther North toward the Chicot State Park.  At one of my favorite curvy roads, I tell Grace "I'm going to let it rip a while.  Ride your own ride."  So I feather the clutch and take off.  Way down the road, there's time for me to dismount and grab the camera.

Brody's really enjoying that VTX



Grace is riding Leonard's Virago 1100 ('98 I believe).  It's like riding a bicycle. :)



At the State park, we stop at the Arboretum and walk around.



I think this trail will work nicely.



There's a nice boardwalk so our feet will stay dry.

[hppants]

We ride around the park a while longer and head to Bunkie, Louisiana for some lunch.



I had the Shrimp poboy, but ate half of it before I remembered to take the pic.



Look what I found in the parking lot.  4-speed.  Nice.



From there, we took the slab South back home.  Back at the house:

(Leonard)  "Well how was it?"

(Grace)  "I had a ball!  What color is your new bike gonna be?"

(Leonard)  "What do you mean?"

(Grace)  "Well, I'm gonna keep your bike.  You'll need to get something else for yourself."

Looks like Pants found himself a new riding partner.

[Hangster]

Awesome HPP , looks like fun  , got a chance to ride a couple hours today but my finger tips got too cold so ended up parking it till it gets a little warmer.

One of these days i'll go down south , really want to go to one of those restaurants with live music , it just looks like a ball , enjoyed the vid you made before

[isleofmanfan]

Thanks for the ride pants!

Pretty goat!  Its amazing how those barges come alive with the right combination of big block and a driver thats good at snagging gears!  Reminds me of the 'ol "see if you can grab the twenty off the dash" routine.

[cmyers]

Great report Pants. Glad you had a safe and fun ride. Keep it up

[luckylindy]

Ole' Yella's gonna give those cruisers an inferiority complex.  Looks like another good time. 

[green427]

Great ride report. Glad you were able to put a smile on her face.

p.s. Love those Goats.

[ariwhiteboy]

Cool report Pants!  Promise me when I come we will go to Fred's Lounge, looks like a great place for this whiteboy to get some real cajun culture. 

[FearThis SC]

Great Ride Report Pants.....I will be in town (Slidell) this Thursday/Friday for Mardi Gras weekend.  Anyways, enjoyed the pictures and great narration.

Laissez les bon temp roulle 

[Burgi]

Heck with this diet challenge stuff, where do I sign up for the Pants diet?? Drink beer, eat plates full of fried stuff, ride all weekend and remain thin?   

[ariwhiteboy]

Pants is heavy Burgi, he just spreads it out over that tall frame. 

[hppants]

hey thanks to everyone for the comments.

Hangster, Ari (and anyone else) - if ya'll come down to my neck of the woods, a Cajun "Fais Do Do":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fais_do-do

is absolutely on the trip list.  Loki, N5tbu, Natehawk, and I will show ya'll a good time - you can count on it.

Burgi - I have decent genes, an active lifestyle, and a huge weakness for good food.  Hardly thin, though.  Guess I'm lucky.

[Brittles]

Cool report Pants.
So this pic was taken in the morning? Looks like fun at the Senior Center.
The guys drinking outside on the sidewalk would be a fielday for the leo's in these parts.

[coffee_brake]

Nice, good report. Thanks!

[cjbear11]

Awesome report hp! I was just thinking that a ride down south sounds like a fun over the the summer! 

[roadrunner]

Fred's Lounge looks like a real blast!  If I ever get back to your neck of the woods ... that's a must see place!   

[Soupskin]

Cool report Pants.
So this pic was taken in the morning? Looks like fun at the Senior Center.
The guys drinking outside on the sidewalk would be a fielday for the leo's in these parts.

In Louisiana they have drive through daiquiri stores.  You pull up and order your frozen alcoholic beverage and they put a plastic lid on it and hand it to you with a straw.  I was shocked the first time I saw this and asked "How is this not an open container?"  "It has a lid..." they replied.

[LOKi]

In Louisiana they have drive through daiquiri stores.

Those are daiquiri stores? I thought they where toll booths. 

[LOKi]

Yea drinking on the street is the norm for Louisiana. They did fuss at me when I put my glass bottle in a plastic cup. The whole bottle not pored.

"Not what we mean by put it in a plastic cup buddy!"

[Brittles]

In Louisiana they have drive through daiquiri stores.  You pull up and order your frozen alcoholic beverage and they put a plastic lid on it and hand it to you with a straw.  I was shocked the first time I saw this and asked "How is this not an open container?"  "It has a lid..." they replied.

For real? Even in this day and age?

[LOKi]

Even this day and age.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/feb/23/drink-drive-through-bars-usa

The cops don't really care. Even if they see you sipping from a styrofoam cup 1/2 mile down the road.

[Burgi]

and for those who are determined to take drive-through drinking to the ultimate level, a gallon-sized tankard is available for $23.

  What is the alcohol content of of "drive through" gallon mixed cocktail??

[Soupskin]

and for those who are determined to take drive-through drinking to the ultimate level, a gallon-sized tankard is available for $23.

  What is the alcohol content of of "drive through" gallon mixed cocktail??

Not sure about that one but the regular ones I've had are rather potent.