SATURDAY 30 AUGUST 2008
Well… we made it to N.O. Now, it’s time to get out! As you all know, Gustav is quickly approaching as a Category 4 hurricane… and the people here (understandably) aren’t taking it too well. We made our trip from Slidell to NO yesterday, Friday… and what a ride it was! It was pretty harmless actually, just hot and quite boring. Cars were not the nicest people to bikers (ME) on the Friday ride.
I dropped my bike off yesterday to be shipped back to DC. That was a task… most shops have closed down around here so it was difficult to find someone open, let alone willing to take the liability of shipping my bike out in the midst of the storm.
Right now I’m sitting in a house near Tulane University with Americorps folks that live here. It’s interesting to hear about everyone’s plans with the approaching storm. Some are driving a little bit north, staying with some friends in another part of LA; some are driving a work vehicle to Atlanta to set up camp for the workers there; and some are sticking around the area in Red Cross shelters to make it back and assist with the aftermath of the hit. Most of them aren’t leaving until tomorrow night, when the winds are supposed to pick up.
My flight is still scheduled to leave tomorrow morning, despite the word I just received about the airport closing tomorrow afternoon. Apparently, no arrivals and no departures after 4:30pm tomorrow. I just hope I get out… and that everyone else does! I’ll be spending the night in the port tonight just to be safe.
I know most people can’t help but think of the ironic situation that our bike ride was to raise funds for the rebuilding of the city after Hurricane Katrina… and now, here we are on the 3rd anniversary of Katrina, awaiting the destruction from Gustav.
I’ve watched people scramble around this city in the past 2 days, packing up what they can of their lives, stocking up at grocery stores and gas stations, to try and prepare for the unknown. Yesterday, I took a picture of a man loading his car with 30 gallons of bleach. It’s amazing how worried we are with preparing ourselves for the storm itself, while he’s already preparing for the aftermath of cleaning his house. I’ve watched restaurants and residents nailing boards to their outside windows/doors, not sure what their homes and businesses will look like when they return.
We are one of the groups still in the city this late. The only thing we can find open is a nearby gas station
On that note, please keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers… and I’m going to pack up. Both class and work starts again on Tuesday so it’s time to get ready. Mentally, if nothing else.
Thanks again for all of your amazing support! I don’t know the final number on the funds raised, but I’m pretty sure we’ve reached our goal. I’ll send a new posting when I find out
MORE FROM WEDNESDAY
Oh might I add that Tuesday 8.26 was an awful ride (Mobile to Pascagoula). Nothing went wrong with our bodies or our bikes, thank God, but it was the most dreadful ride you’d ever take. Pure highway, all sun, no water, no view. Glad to be moving on!
Also… we’ve met up with some great contacts in the cities so far. We stayed at a Monastery (sisters of the Visitation) in Mobile, a councilman and catholic high school in Pascagoula, and looking forward to some council folk in Slidell and a church in NO… to name a few. It’s all about spreading the word and seeing how each community is already involved. What a ride!
WEDNESDAY 27 AUGUST 2008:
We’ve made it into Gulfport, MS today. I rode the whole trip today… I’m on my fourth tube of the day (looong story), but the ride was gorgeous. Pretty flat and along the beach the whole way. Went out to The Shed tonight for some delish bbq… with our hosts. Them were some sweet lickins.
Looks like we’ve dropped our ride right in between Fay and Gustav. We got lucky. However, we are arriving in NO on Friday… and it looks like they might get hit pretty bad come the beginning of next week. Wonderful Happy is already thinking about his role as a first responder and how he can help the community prepare for another hit, if it were to come. I would love to stick around to aid in relieft, but the beginning of the semester starts when I step off that plane back in DC. Let’s just hope my flight makes it out on Sunday morning!
Keep an eye on Gustav for us… and keep these communities in your thoughts!
MONDAY 25 AUGUST 2008:
Well… it is Monday morning and we are gearing up to leave. I’ve been in Pensacola for 2days and have experienced very warm hospitality by the folk around here. I’ve made friends with guys at the bike shop, invited to the best family owned Italian joint around for dinner (mmmmm), attended a birthday party, shared homemade pancakes, and been welcomed into people’s homes. What a great experience! On my own, I’ve also been running, grocery shopping for the ride, sticking my toes in the white sand of Pensacola beaches, and taking time to breathe 
Will be posting more information at a later date about the people I have been staying with! Gotta run… er…. bike!
