I decided to take a Bergies trip to allow myself to cycling 100 KM in Louisiana. On the trip, we spent time in Louisiana Florida and Alabama.

See map of driven route below:

Trip summary:

Total Ground Transportation Millage = 654 MI (1052.51 KM)
Total Cycling Millage = 134.44 MI (216.36 KM)
Table of cycle distance per state and where I stayed for the nights on this trip.

EXPENSES
$1540.23 USD - Total Expense

Tuesday, March 16, 2022

I took the day off work to get ready for my trip to the Gulf coast states. I cycled to the airport to get my boarding pass. I also mostly finished my taxes and did miscellaneous stuff around my house. I was very busy all day. Marty came to pick me up at 7:00 PM and took me to her place.

Louisiana

Wednesday, March 16, 2022
We woke up at 2:30 AM and Marty gave me a ride to Portland International Airport (PDX). I went through security with my boarding passes and everything went smooth. I got on my 5:00 AM flight to Denver. I sat with Nancy and Janice on all my flights. I slept for most of that flight. However, I did wake up long enough for the airplane-supplied snack and diet soda drink. We switch planes in Denver to New Orleans, that flight went smooth. I slept for most of that flight as well, but woke up for the airplane-supplied snack and diet soda drink. Once in New Orleans we caught cabs to our hotel. Once at the hotel we found our rooms where not available yet. They said they would be ready for us at 4:00 PM. I went to look for a rental bike, the first bicycle rental place was American Bicycle Rental Company (at 1025 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70112), they were supposed to be open until 4:30 PM, but they were already closed at 3:45 PM. Therefore, I then went to Bae's Bike Rentals (at 311 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70112) and they were closed, but supposed to be open until 6:00 PM. Then I went to Buzz Nola Bike Rentals (At 214 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130), they were open until 4:30 PM and I got there a couple minutes after 4:00 PM. They rented me a cruised type bike for 2 days. I cycled back to the hotel and got into my room, Kert had tried getting the room at 4:00 PM and it was not available. Kert was my roommate throughout the Gulf coast trip. We ended out getting our room a little after 5:00 PM. Thus, I was better off getting my rental bike first. After checking into our room, I cycled to the Mississippi river and beyond. Then I cycled back to the hotel via Bourbon Street. After that, I cycled down St Charles Street and found JJ at Lula restaurant, they were finishing dinner (They had invited me to join them for dinner earlier, but I wanted to bike a little first). Next, I cycled back to the hotel. I tried getting dinner at Wendy’s but the drive up was too crowned and they did not have their dining room open. I went to Popeye’s and the dinner room was open, but to crowded. I ended up going to the drive up on my bike to Canes fast food. I could not order from the drive-up window speaker but was able to order at the window. I went back to my hotel room and ate my Dinner. I went to sleep at about 10:00 PM. (bike miles 18.9 miles)

Thursdays, March 17, 2022
I woke up around 7:30 AM, started cycling around 8:00 AM. I cycled to Bourbon Street and then back to the hotel. At that hour in the morning Bourbon Street had almost no people and they had trucks and people washing the street to prepare for the next night (I image they do this every morning). When I was cycling back to the hotel, I saw Janice and Nancy walking towards Bourbon Street. Then I walked to the WW II Museum, checked out the Museum and movie with other Bergies (the ski club that organized this trip). Then I cycled and had lunch at Wendy’s. Then I went on the Garden district tour, I was not really signed up to go on that tour and went as Wendy Griffith. It was not that great, I left the tour before it was done. Then I cycled, it was sunny so I bought sunscreen and found the trail along the Mississippi River. Then I cycling along the river were I saw lots of cool birds and got great photos of White Ibis, Whistling Duck and more near the Mississippi River. I cycled a long ways on that trail, it never ended and it was 1.5 hours to sunset so I turned back to the hotel. By the time, I got back to the hotel everyone in the Bergie group that I knew had already finished eating their dinner. Nancy was checking out the parade at Jackson Square, so I went there and it was too crowned. One man got mad at me because I was too close to a woman with a bad back (My guess is the woman was his wife). If the women’s back is so bad, she should have gotten out of my way and sat down with the man. I then went down Bourbon Street and then back to my hotel room. That day I completed my 100 KM of cycling in Louisiana, now I have over 100 KM in 49 states. The only remaining state is Kansas; I plan to cycle 100 KM in Kansas on my 100 th birthday. I got dinner at circle K and went back to my hotel room. I worked on my journal and went to sleep at about 11:00 PM.

Friday, March 18, 2022
I woke up around 8:00 AM and slowly got ready. I ended up leaving the hotel with Kert looking for breakfast around 9:30 AM and all the breakfast restaurants places we checked out where closed. We walked back to the hotel and got breakfast at the Wendy next to the hotel. We were able to walk into the Wendy’s dining room to order (Normally only the drive-up was available at that Wendy’s), we first tried the drive through window since it way the only way to get Wendy’s breakfast the previous day. After breakfast, I left the hotel on my rental bike at about 10:00 AM and cycled to Audubon Park. I cycled 2.5 times around the park and then cycled by the zoo and then onto the same Mississippi river trail from the previous day. I cycled about 5 miles along the trail and then back to my hotel room. I drank water and then cycled to Armstrong Park and then to the Instrument man fountain. Then I returned my rental bike and walked to Preservation Hall for a concert. I was given a free ticket for the concert (it was Wendy Griffith’s ticket), I would not have gone otherwise. (After we returned to Portland from our trip Wendy tried to get me to pay for her ticket, I gave Nancy $10.00 to give to Wendy. I had Nancy’s $25.00 standing ticket and Nancy had Wendy’s $45.00 seat ticket). I was given the free $25.00 ticket for the 1-hour concert by Colleen/ Nancy. After the concert, I walked with Nancy, Colleen and Janice to have dinner on Bourbon Street at Mambos. I thought it was a great place to eat, they said the noise was too high. I could watch people below on Bourbon Street from the balcony, it seemed cool to me. Then we went back to the hotel and I had a drink with Janice, Tink and Chuck. I ordered a punch and got a bloody Mary. It tasked horrible and I realized it was the wrong drink and the server ended out getting me the correct drink. I went to sleep around 11:00 PM.

Map of the route I cycled in New Orleans.	Ted at World War II Museum – New Orleans.	Ted in front of the World War II Museum – New Orleans.
New Orleans Waterfront Park with stern wheel.	Ted on his rental bike in New Orleans.	Ted with his rental bike on Bourbon Street at 8:00 AM.
Ted’s rental bike on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.	Bike vendor at Jackson Square in New Orleans.	Jackson Square in New Orleans.
Ted with his rental bike at Instrument Men Fountain between Jackson Square and the French Market.	Balconies at French Quarters in New Orleans.	Bergies in front of Preservation Hall in New Orleans.
Bergies with Ted at Preservation Hall in New Orleans.	Bergies with Ted in front of Mambo’s on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.	Photo from balcony at Mambo’s on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
Ted’s rental bike in front of Mardi Gras World in New Orleans.	Sandra Bullock's house in the Garden District of New Orleans.	Ted with his rental bike at Loyola University in New Orleans.
Streetcar on St. Charles Street in New Orleans.	Ted at Audubon Park in New Orleans.	Ted at Audubon Park in New Orleans.
Ted with his rental bike on Mississippi River trail slightly west of Audubon Park in New Orleans.	White Crane next to the Mississippi River trail west of Audubon Park in New Orleans.	American white ibis next to the Mississippi River trail west of Audubon Park in New Orleans.
Black-Bellied Whistling Duck next to the Mississippi River trail west of Audubon Park in New Orleans.	Huey Long Bridge ( highway 90) crossing the Mississippi River west of Audubon Park in New Orleans seen from Mississippi River trail.	American white ibis (I think the brown one is a juvenile ) next to the Mississippi River trail west of Audubon Park in New Orleans.
River Shack groceries and bar next to the Mississippi River trail in New Orleans.	Great Egret (I think) next to the Mississippi River trail west of Audubon Park in New Orleans.	Ted with his rental bike near Lion Sculpture at the entrance to Audubon Park Zoo in New Orleans.
Ted with his rental bike in front of Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans.	Ted and his rental bike at Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans.	Ted and his rental bike at Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans.
Ted and his rental bike at Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans.	Statue at Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans.	Ted and his rental bike at Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans.

Saturday, March 19, 2022
I woke up around 7:00 AM and slowly got ready. We walked through Wendy’s drive through to get breakfast. With COVID a lot of the fast food restaurants only have drive through windows open. The Wendy’s next to our hotel was normally only available for drive through, but mid-day they did have the dining room open for ordering food. Then I walked to Walgreens to get itchy feet cream. Then I walked to the WW II museum to find the Hop-on/ Hop-Off bus stop for after our Whitney Plantation tour (Whitney Planation in Wallace, Louisiana). Mike was worried I would not get back from my short walk to the WW II museum in time for our drive to Whitney Planation. I got back in plenty of time. I was back by 10:45 AM, the plan was to meet Kert our driver at 11:00 AM. I got back to find Joe and Mike waiting for Kert. I went back to my room and found Kert, he insisted we agreed to meet at 11:00 AM. Mike was set on getting started and called Kert too. We left for the plantation at about 10:55 AM and got there well before our 12:30 PM entry time. They let us start our tour at noon. Jean said we would need at least 2 hours, so Kert said meet back at 2:00 PM. I wanted to get started back sooner to do the Hop-on Hop-off city tour. We did start back at about 1:45 PM and got back to the hotel before 3:00 PM. I bought our tickets for the Hop-On Hop-Off bus on line while we were driving back to the hotel and they paid me back. We did the tour and the bus had to go back a shorter way due to an Italian parade ( Italian-American St. Joseph's Parade in the French Quarter – thus we missed a small portion of the Hop-on Hop-off tour route). Once back at the hotel I went for a walk and checked out the Italian parade. Then I went back to the hotel and went out to dinner with Nancy Ferry. The taco and beer place had no seats, Lula had an unknown amount of time to wait for dinner. We found a table at Hoshun Chinese restaurant and ate there. We went back to the hotel. I talked to Kert for a while and worked on my journal for a while. I went to sleep around 11:30 PM.

Sunday, March 20, 2022
I woke up around 7:00 AM and got packed up and we checked out of our New Orleans hotel. We loaded the rental car, Kert was our driver. We left the hotel around 8:00 AM and drove to Slidell for our swamp boat tour ( Honey Island Swamp Tours in Slidell, Louisiana) . The tour was a fun boat ride through some swamp land in Louisiana. I got some great photos of birds, turtles, river shacks and an alligator. Then we went to lunch at Middendorf ( 1951 Oak Harbor Blvd, Slidell, LA 70461) , I had turtle soup and catfish. The catfish was too thin and tasted like the breading. The turtle soup was very good.

Ted near main house at Whitney Planation near New Orleans.	Ted near slave quarters at Whitney Planation near New Orleans.	Ted at slave cage on display at Whitney Planation near New Orleans. (The cage was moved from a port where slaves were sold)
Slave quarters with large iron bowls used for boiling and refining sugar cane at the Whitney Plantation near New Orleans.	Monument at Whitney Planation of beheaded slaves due to the 1811 slave uprising near New Orleans.	Ted near main house at Whitney Planation near New Orleans.
Float at the Italian-American St. Joseph's Parade at the French Quarter in New Orleans.	Float at the Italian-American St. Joseph's Parade at the French Quarter in New Orleans.	Float at the Italian-American St. Joseph's Parade at the French Quarter in New Orleans.
Dancers at the Italian-American St. Joseph's Parade at the French Quarter in New Orleans.	Ted at the Italian-American St. Joseph's Parade at the French Quarter in New Orleans.	Ted at the Italian-American St. Joseph's Parade at the French Quarter in New Orleans.
Ted at Honey Island Swamp Tours in Slidell, Louisiana.	Ted with Janice and Colleen at Honey Island Swamp in Slidell, Louisiana.	Shacks in water at Honey Island Swamp in Slidell, Louisiana.
Photo from our boat looking at our second boat on the Honey Island Swamp tour in Slidell, Louisiana.	Photo of shack from our boat on the Honey Island Swamp tour in Slidell, Louisiana.	Photo of alligator from our boat on the Honey Island Swamp tour in Slidell, Louisiana.
Photo of turtle from our boat on the Honey Island Swamp tour in Slidell, Louisiana.	Photo of Great Blue Heron from our boat on the Honey Island Swamp tour in Slidell, Louisiana.	Getting off our tour boat at the Honey Island Swamp tour in Slidell, Louisiana.

Mississippi

We stopped at INFINITY Science Center (NASA Stennis Visitor Center, Mississippi) and checked out the NASA museum.

Ted with rocket engine behind him at NASA Stennis Visitor Center in Mississippi.	Ted with Apollo Lunar Module behind him at NASA Stennis Visitor Center in Mississippi.	Warning sign to keep you on the trail at Stennis Visitor Center in Mississippi.
Ted with rocket engine behind him at NASA Stennis Visitor Center in Mississippi.	Ted with space capsule behind him at NASA Stennis Visitor Center in Mississippi.	Neil Armstrong’s space training suit at NASA Stennis Visitor Center in Mississippi.
Ted in space suit display at NASA Stennis Visitor Center in Mississippi.	Ted at NASA Stennis Visitor Center in Mississippi.	Ted at NASA Stennis Visitor Center in Mississippi.

Florida

Then we finished the drive to Pensacola Beach. We checked into the hotel and I helped the girls (Nancy and Colleen) with their bags. When I went back to the car it was locked with my spare wallet visible in the back seat and Kert had the keys. I had dinner with Nancy and then got the rental car keys for Kert and got my stuff. After getting my stuff, I had a large punch drink with some of the Bergies at the Crab shack. I went back to my room, Kert was asleep and I ended up journaling my trip. I went to sleep at about 11:30 PM.

Monday, March 21, 2022
I woke up around 8:00 AM for trip to Navy base, well the base was not open to visitors on Monday. Our plan then changed to going there on Tuesday morning. I then went with Judith, Colleen, Nancy and Janice to rent bikes. We all got cruiser bikes and cycled to Fort Pickens. At the park office, we saw Osprey nested on the chimney and Nancy got some great photos of the Osprey soaring overhead. I was not ready with my camera, but did get great photos of Osprey on a nearby tree. We checked out the fort. We had a tail wind on the way to the fort. On the way back, we had head winds and everyone slowly made their way back. Since I have more experience cycling in the wind, I did circles around the girls. By the time we got back to return the rental bikes I had cycled 8 miles further than the rest of them. One of the time when I turned around I was about a mile in front of the others, most of the times I would turn back when I was about a half mile in front of the others. It was a nice ride and I was glad the girl cycled with me. Once back at the hotel I added photos to Facebook and then walked around town. Then I went back to the hotel and hung out. I went to sleep at around 11:00 PM.

Map of the route I cycled from Pensacola Beach to/ from Fort Pickens, Florida.	Ted with Nancy, Colleen , Janice and Judith on a bike ride from Pensacola Beach to Fort Pickens, Florida.	Ted on his rental bike at the National Park sign on the way to Fort Pickens, Florida.
Nancy, Colleen , Janice and Judith on a bike ride from Pensacola Beach to Fort Pickens, Florida.	Osprey making a nest on the chimney of the Fort Pickens visitor center in Florida.	Osprey at Fort Pickens near visitor center in Florida.
Nancy, Colleen , Janice and Judith on a bike ride at Fort Pickens, Florida.	Ted on bunker at Fort Pickens, Florida.	Ted in front of a bunker at Fort Pickens, Florida.
Ted in front of a cannon at Fort Pickens, Florida.	Ted in front of a bunkers with cannons at Fort Pickens, Florida.	Ted on a bunker wall with a cannon at Fort Pickens, Florida.
Ted in a bunker at Fort Pickens, Florida.	Nancy, Colleen , Janice and Judith on a bike ride at Fort Pickens, Florida.	Sanderling bird on beach at Pensacola Beach, Florida.

Tuesday, March 22, 2022
I woke up around 7:00 AM, got breakfast and walked around until about 8:45 AM. I finished packing and we checked out of the hotel. Then we drove to Seville historic area. Then Mike Hiner and I went to the Pensacola Naval base to check out the museum. Kert stayed back with Carl and checked out the historic area. The Navel museum was very cool, I went on the simulator and it was not that cool. We also went to a cool aircraft carrier movie, but I fell asleep in part of the movie. It was a cool movie, I guess I was just tired. Then we went back to Seville to get back into the car with Kert to drive the rest of the way to Mobile.

Ted with friend at UFO mini-golf in Pensacola Beach, Florida.	Historic Fire engine at Seville historic area in Pensacola, Florida.	Ted with Blue Angles plane behind him at Pensacola Naval Museum in Florida.
Ted in plane cockpit at Pensacola Naval Museum in Florida.	Fighter plane at Pensacola Naval Museum in Florida.	Ted with Blue Angles planes behind him at Pensacola Naval Museum in Florida.
Ted with plane behind him in the Pensacola Naval Museum in Florida.	Ted with planes behind him in the Pensacola Naval Museum in Florida.	Ted in Blue Angles cockpit at Pensacola Naval Museum in Florida.

Alabama

Once in Mobile I walked around and Nancy found me. Then I went out to dinner with Nancy, Colleen and Janice. I looked for a rental bike in Mobile near the hotel, but had no luck. I walking back to the hotel where I found JJ and Lynn. They were going to eat, since I had already eaten I just had a beer with them. Then we walked back to our hotel. There was a bit of a storm on the way. That night there was a tornado touch down in New Orleans and it got very windy late at night in Mobile. I went to sleep around 11:00 PM.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022
I went to Dauphin Island with Carl and Kert. We did a short hike and lots of driving. I walked a lot in Mobile, some with Tom Jurhs. Tom was my driver back to New Orleans for our flight home the next day and he said we were going to meet at 4:00 AM in the hotel lobby for the trip back to New Orleans. I ate dinner with Kert. He paid for dinner, I wanted to pay for my own dinner, but he would not let me. I told him I would get him a beer. I then walked around Dauphin Street, not much going on. That day I felt like I did not do much, it seems like other people did more and I would have liked to tag along, but did not find the people before they departed for daily activities. I wanted to go to the garden or battle ship, I probably could have talked Kert into it. I returned to the hotel after a lot of walking nowhere and went to sleep at about 8:30 PM.

Carl and Kert on hiking trail at Bird sanctuary on Dauphin Island, Alabama.	Kert looking at a dead fish on the shore of the Bird sanctuary on Dauphin Island, Alabama.	Oyster shell artwork in Mobile, Alabama.
Ted in front of Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile, Alabama.	Ted in front of Mobile Carnival Museum in Mobile, Alabama.	Saenger Theatre in Mobile, Alabama.
Ted in front of Chief Slacabamorinico statue at Mardi Gras Park in Mobile, Alabama.	Ted laying in art sculpture at Cooper Riverside Park in Mobile, Alabama.	Ted next to the Pierre d'Iberville Statue in Cooper Riverside Park Mobile, Alabama.
Dauphin St in Mobile, Alabama.	Ted with Colleen, Nancy and Janice at Wintzell's Oyster House in Mobile, Alabama.	Ted next to statue at Mardi Gras Park in Mobile, Alabama.
Mural on building at Delta Bike Project in Mobile, Alabama.	Bike junk yard at Delta Bike Project in Mobile, Alabama.	Sign on restaurant on Dauphin St in Mobile, Alabama. There was a tornado touch down in New Orleans that night. (150 miles from Mobile)

Thursdays, March 24, 2022
We had a wakeup call at 3:40 AM, Kert turned on the light and I finished putting everything in my backpack and took the elevator to the Lobby. I found the others I was riding with Tom, Colleen and Cherrie in the Lobby at 4:00 AM.

Louisiana Part 2

We put our stuff in Tom’s rental car and he drove us to the New Orleans airport. We arrived at the airport in plenty of time, checked in for our flights and boarded our flight to Denver.

Oregon

Then we made our connection flight to Portland. All of our flight departed on time and went smoothly. Once at the Portland airport I took the max from PDX to near my house and walked home. Then I cycled to REI and went on the ramble. Then I went to the Lucky Lab for dinner and cycled home. By the time I got home I had been awake for about 20 hours, I was bushed and went to sleep at about 10:00 PM

Fridays, March 25, 2022
I went to work at 7:30 AM.

Trip expenses

$ 1540.23 USD - Total Expense

Pre-trip expenses
$900.00 – Bergies trip price – this includes airfare
Total – $900

Wednesday, March 16, 2022
$17.00 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Taxi from Airport to Hotel
$68.16 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Bike rental
$8.80 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Canes fast food => Chicken sandwich fries and a drink (Medium)
Total $93.96

Thursdays, March 17, 2022
$9.00 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Wendy’s Single Burger, Fries and drink
$9.90 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Sunscreen - 30 SPF 3 FL oz., Chees-its 42 grams and Gatorade 20 FL oz.
$9.93 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Circle K - Cheese burger, two 28 FL oz. Zero Gatorades and 77 gram bag of Doritos
Total $28.83

Friday, March 18, 2022
$7.00 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Wendy’s breakfast meal
$4.00 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Tip to band an Preservation Hall - Free
$25.00 ticket from Nancy $35.00 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Alligator bytes, Crawfish soup with rice and small IPA beer
$13.00 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Debbie rum punch
Total $59.00

Saturday, March 19, 2022
$7.00 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Wendy’s breakfast meal
$9.39 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Walgreens - 28 FL oz. zero; 1.75 gram gold bond cream
$39.00 - New Orleans, Louisiana – Hop-on Hop-off city tour
$10.94 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Two pairs of earrings
$65.93 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Dinner at Chinese restaurant - Broccoli and chicken, two drink and pork with rice.
Total $132.26

Sunday, March 20, 2022
$6.90 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Wendy’s breakfast meal
$21.95 - Slidell, Louisiana - Baseball hat; earrings
$30.00 - Slidell, Louisiana - Turtle soup; thin catfish (1951 Oak Harbor Blvd, Slidell, LA 70461- Middendorf)
$8.55 - Stennis Space Center, Mississippi - NASA patch
$1.50 - Stennis Space Center, Mississippi - 20 FL Oz diet coke
$4.90 - Stennis Space Center, Mississippi - 77.9-Gram bag of Doritos and 28 Fl. Oz. Gatorade Zero
$28.05 - Gulf Breeze, Florida - Cheerios, 6 Pack of Mikes lemonade, three bananas, 226 gram Wheat thins, Two 28 FL Oz Zeros and 226 gram can of Cashews.
$25.00 - Pensacola Beach, Florida - Blue fish/ red fish - Brisket sandwich and IPA beer
$13.00 - Pensacola Beach, Florida - Crab shack special - rum punch drink
Total $139.85

Monday, March 21, 2022
$42.00 - Pensacola Beach, Florida - Rental bike
$55.45 - Pensacola Beach, Florida - Lunch - White fish, shrimp soup and 2 hurricane drinks
$28.53 - Pensacola Beach, Florida - Earrings and souvenir turtle made from Shells
Total $125.98

Tuesday, March 22, 2022
$12.00 - Pensacola, Florida - Movie and simulator at Naval Base museum
$31.51 - Mobile, Alabama - Cajon Seafood pasta and IPA beer
$12.00 - Mobile, Alabama - Mango Beer
Total $55.51

Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Total $0.00

Thursdays, March 24, 2022
$2.34 - Gas station in Mississippi - Gas station on the way to New Orleans, Orange juice drink
$2.50 - Portland, Oregon - Max ride from Portland International Airport (PDX) to near my house.
Total $4.84

Total Cycling Millage = 134.44 MI (216.36 KM)

Total Ground Transportation Millage = 654 MI (1052.51 KM)