New Orleans, day 1

I had an easier time getting back into New Orleans from the state park than I had getting to the park last night, because the road had a paved ditch most of the way, and I was able to ride in that.  I took a different ferry that went straight downtown from Algiers, where many of the Mardi Gras floats are made.

I rode into downtown on Canal Street, which is a wide boulevard with streetcar tracks down the center.  I saw another bicyclist riding down the streetcar right-of-way, so I tried that and found it much easier than riding in the lanes of traffic.

I made a beeline for the central library and spent an hour online before meeting the only person I know in New Orleans for lunch.  Phyllis was doing a telephone survey of library bookstores about eight months ago and interviewed me regarding the one I was assistant-managing in Minneapolis.  I mentioned that I'd be passing through New Orleans, and she told me to look her up, and I held her to it!  She took me to a seafood restaurant near Bourbon Street.

During my hour of Internet use, I got an e-mail from my mother about the premier episode of Nova ScienceNow, which had a feature about New Orleans and its vulnerability to hurricanes.  I missed the episode on the air, but I was able to watch it there on the computer!  It included footage of some sights I'd already seen, and some others that I saw during the stroll to the restaurant.

By the time we got back to the library it was already 2:30, so I headed straight out of town to a campground that's more conveniently located than the state park.  It's even on a bus route -- I'll see if they can accommodate my bike tomorrow!  I'll do some more sightseeing tomorrow without my trailer and head out of town on Friday.

19.4 mi