nola to louie and a full day of cycles
May 27, 2008 at 4:27 am elinordye 2 comments
today was… OUR FIRST DAY OF RIDING!!!
a triumphant blast out of NOLA, a few intimidating bridges, countless dead animals carcasses on the side of the road, and all the bayou you can shake a stick (or maybe a bike flag) at.
it sure was a full day (60.1 miles by my cyclometer’s count, maybe a few less according to Google), and i, along with many others, have the tender quads and sun’s cruel markings to show for it. quite a few of us, despite consistently lathering up the sunblock, are feeling the heat now radiate off of our cherry-colored skin. c’e la vie, as they’d say in hospitaple new orleans.
now as we crash out in an air-conditioned tent provided by Mission on the Bay Christ Episcopal Church, i feel grateful for the comfortable pace with which we’ve eased into this trip. two and a half days in the crescent city allowed us to not only learn some things about the weather, culture, and history of this intense area, but also let us obviously get to know each other, and become a much more close-knit community than i would have thought possible in such a short period of time.
and the good feeling we share seems to be bouncing back from the people we’ve randomly met so far along the road. tonight we discussed how best to communicate our trip message and goals to those who flit in and out of our path, if only in three sentences. there are elements of not wishing to “scare” people off with pro-choice talk while still being honest. and truly, how to explain the complexity of a movement that is so new, and can encompass so much- a real human rights initiative. these ideas are constantly evolving, so lets just hope those with any interest keep checking back in with this blog (like the courteous firemen we met today)!
there is way too much i’d like to add right now, but my bunk bed is calling my name ever so invitingly. all i can say is i’m ready for the next adventure, and perhaps a few more traffic-filled bridges.
elisa
Entry filed under: Elisa Dolowich. Tags: .
1.
Fran | May 30, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Elisa!
As you already know I am beaming with pride, sitting here in my cubicle at Planned Parenthood (which is luckily lacking in dead animal carcasses), and I just wanted to reiterate how amazing you and all of the women on your trip are. Everything that you are all experiencing and learning sounds amazing and mind-opening and selfishly I can’t wait for you to enlighten me when you get back.
much love,
fran
2.
kelsi | June 2, 2008 at 4:55 am
ms. dolowich!!!!
you write so poetically… even if it IS about dead aminales on la side of la road.
lather on that sunblock (despite the nanotechnology), keep powering on thru, and continue you gorgeous prose… because i adore you and am super proud of your work so far and your work to come!!!!
i’m also intrigued to learn how you ladies work to bridge the gap between such polarizing political issues in your convos with ppl… so keep me informed!
MUAH.
–kels