THE BIG APPLE TO THE BIG EASY via TRAIN

And, we’re off! Currently on the train, headed to New Orleans to begin our pedaling. The Amtrak Crescent 19, runs from NYC to New Orleans in one straight 30-hour shot, passing through Philly and DC in the north and Atlanta and Birmingham in the south on its way to the Big Easy. We’re in hour 22, just past Birmingham.

As I write this we are crossing over a river stitched with bridges, green brown water, bushes blushing with small new leaves. There are a bunch of men trying to pull a half-sunken white pick-up out of a mucky embankment—red tractor pulling with chains, looks hopeless. Zach is sleeping in his seat. I am siting in a dining car amidst people playing cards, blaring tinny-tunes out of their smartphones, snacking on dining car fare—donuts, bad coffee, capri-suns, Milano cookies, microwave hot dogs in cellophane. The train is pretty cool.

It’s SPRING. And we’ve finally gotten ourselves on the road. And it feels good. Its been a hectic, sleepless, stressed-out week, and we still have some important things to take care of, but we’ve made the first step out the door. Thanks for sticking with us over the past months as our plans have morphed! It’s all for the best, I wasn’t looking forward to starting in the winter even though I would have! No snow, just bayous and mosquitos. Just flat warm Louisiana. I’m very much looking forward to spending a couple of days in New Orleans before we get moving. The architecture really excites me, I love second floor balconies and louvered shutters…. We’re going to get Zach a haircut and a shave, see some music, figure out how best to pack our paniers, stock up on a few necessities that got lost in The Leaving-Tornado, and then we will start cycling mid week. Head west toward Austin, route TBD.