Site 61 Archives - Iron Roamer

I didn’t know it, but it was Southern Decadence days in New Orleans.

Cafe du Monde

Cafe du Monde is a New Orleans institution. It is a place you have to go to when in New Orleans. And expect long lines! That was my first stop for the day.

What they are famous for is beignets. That is about all they serve. Love them!

According to the Cafe du Monde website, the Original Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stand was established in 1862 in the New Orleans French Market. The Cafe is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It closes only on Christmas Day and on the day an occasional Hurricane passes too close to New Orleans.

The Original Cafe Du Monde is a traditional coffee shop. Its menu consists of dark roasted Coffee and Chicory, Beignets, White and Chocolate Milk, and fresh squeezed Orange Juice. The coffee is served Black or Au Lait. Au Lait means that it is mixed half and half with hot milk. Beignets are square French -style doughnuts, lavishly covered with powdered sugar.

Southern Decadence

After leaving Cafe du Monde, I took the obligatory picture of Jackson Square which is right outside the coffee shop along with lots of horse drawn carriages.

As I started to walk around the French Quarter I started to notice something – a lot a scantily clad men. Some is normal in this area where sexual freedom is the norm. It isn’t unusual in the French Quarter to see nearly topless women you can take pictures with for tips, women lifting their tops for beads, and men holding hands. I soon learned it was Southern Decadence Labour Day Weekend.

Southern Decadence is the largest gay weekend in New Orleans and was celebrating it 46th annual celebration.

As I had an afternoon coffee, I noticed lots of men and women dressed up walking pass. I followed them to Royal street where a parade was about to start.

During the parade I met Marley and Nicole. They now live in New Orleans and she was trying out her new, but old film camera. They had traveled lots and we exchanged travel stories.

By the evening the police arrived to break up some of the festivities.

I didn’t see what happened, but earlier there was a group of Christian activists protesting against the gay lifestyle. Needless to say, a number of heated arguments were taking place.

I planned on staying out late. But my old body gets tired too quickly. So back to the hostel.

Route for September 4, 2016

Today was a long day where I reached the anti climatic end to the Great River Road.

Plantations

I had already ridden, drove, and taken a tour of the Plantations along the Great River Road from Baton Rouge to New Orleans in previous visits to the area. But I couldn’t resist doing it again. Plantaation country is so beautiful. It was difficult to get pictures of many due to walls and signs. However, I did get a good one of the Houmas Plantation. I have it as my featured image, but I will show it again 🙂

Construction on the Mansion was completed in 1828. At the same time, Houmas House began to build its sugar production and continued to increase its land holdings, which ultimately grew to 300,000 acres.
Irishman John Burnside bought the plantation in 1857 for $1 million. Burnside increased production of sugar until Houmas House was the largest producer in the country, actively working the crop on 98,000 acres. During the Civil War, Burnside saved the Mansion from destruction at the hands of advancing Union forces by declaring immunity as a subject of the British Crown.

End of the Great River Road

As you know, I have been following the Great River Road along the Mississippi River from Itasca Park in Minnesota. To date, the road has been well marked with tourist information centers about the road scattered along the way.

However, as I reached the end past New Orleans, the signs died out. According to the map I have, the Great River Road ends somewhere near Venice, Louisiana. A rider I met in Whitehorse told me all there was at the end of the Great River Road was a rusted sign. I could find nothing. There wasn’t even a vantage point to take a picture of the Mississippi River as it ended. Very disappointing.

I would have looked longer but a lighting storm was developing around me. I raced back up the peninsula while going through the odd short shower. The goal was to get to the hostel I booked before getting drenched.

Thunderstorm

As I reached Terrytown, 10 miles outside of New Orleans, it looked like all hell was going to break loose from the storm. I quickly pulled into a Starbucks I spotted (of course). As soon as i did the storm unleashed. Lightening was all around and nearby as there was no time lapse between the lightening and the thunder. The rain was torrential. All I could do is wait it out.

After a hour or so the storm broke and I was able to continue on to my hostel.

Site 61 Hostel

Strangely, as I got to the Site 61 in New Orleans, the roads were dry. Check in was 4 pm and the doors were locked. Sooooo once again I sat outside waiting for check in.

I was a bit hesitant about this hostel thing. I had one great experience in White Horse, and one crappy experience in Fairbanks. But it was the only way I could afford to stay in New Orleans for a few days. It was either this or spending $100 USD a night – at least. The US exchange rate of 1.35 has been killing me up to this point as far as finances go.

When I was able to check in I was pleasantly surprised. The people were friendly, the place was really clean, and my room was nice. I got a bottom bunk which I repeatedly requested. I settled in to spend the next 2 days in New Orleans.

Southern Decadence New Orleans