DAY 8/9 - New Orleans, LA - Houston, Texas

New Orleans was really interesting so we had to stay for one more day. We walked around town and hung out near the french quarter and the river walk. We spent some time at our hosts jewelry store on Royal street and didn't feel like leaving the store because it was so hot outside. There definitely is plenty of attractions and more things to do in this city, which are worth seeing cause it does not compare to any city I have ever been to before.

After packing all our gear up which always is a tedious task, we headed out on I-10 West towards Houston.   We have been riding in the peak of the heat in the day which really tires us out and makes us more edgy with each other,  but over all we have been getting along.

We saw signs for Lake Charles and decided to stop there for lunch. It's a small and very cute town. We parked in the historic section and walked toward the lake to relax. We got as far as half a mile and just collapsed on the grass near a local park. We were discussing if it was safe to leave all our belongings on the bike's while we stroll town because there are thefts everywhere. Overall we know which towns look more intimidating and which ones or more tourist friendly. Uri spotted the boardwalk which was adjacent to the lake so we got up and walked in that direction. Considering the fact it was 91 F we still felt the heat beating on our necks. When we got closer to the park we saw a huge public fountain and I didn't hesitate and stripped and jumped into the water. It was so refreshing! I knew that it wouldn't take long for my clothes to dry in this weather so I didn't mind enjoying the free public shower in mid day June. Everything went well except for the fact that after I lay down to dry on the deck near the lake, I got up too fast and got this huge splinter in my right foot. It didn't hurt but when you ride 300 miles a day on a motorcycle you need to be in mint condition. Dovid pulled out a knife and Uri got the splinter out in seconds.

We got back to our bikes and were real hungry so we sat down at a local bar & grill restaurant. We booked out hotel for the weekend and were off to Houston.

As the sun started to set the humid is began to get colder and made it a lot more enjoyable to ride. The bridges in this area are constructed in a way where it is so steep going up or down you feel as if you will fall off a cliff when descending. We had 140 miles to do before dark and assumed we would make it in time. Night was getting close and we had to stop for a break to stretch our legs and drink. We took a side road and tried to stay off the interstate in order to enjoy the views on the way. The outskirts of Houston are quite populated and are very green. The land is flat but not at all monotonous like Kansas. As we got closer to the big city the roads got bigger and more congested. We entered The metropolis of Houston right at sunset and enjoyed the beautiful view of the reddish orange sun disappearing slowly.

It was dark when we got to our hotel so we parked and go into bed in a matter of moments. What a day.

DAY 6/7 - Perdido Key, FL - New Orleans, Louisiana

The refreshing swim in the ocean at Perdido Key made the first hour of the ride so much more fun. However it began to rain a bit so we stopped at a gas station a few miles ahead. It wasn't so bad so after the short break we continued on the road and tried to ignore the small rain drops on the visor of the helmet. The weather here changes so rapidly, it can be sunny and hot and a few moments later the clouds come in and it rains like winter has arrived. We passed by Mobil again because we were on our way west and there were no other roads which would take us to the same destination. Uri and I were really tired because we didn't

sleep much the night before, so we stopped for a coffee break and to eat a snack. It was so hot and humid which just made me want to be on the bike the whole day cause the breeze is so refreshing.

We got to New Orleans and were welcomed warmly by the Edri family who are close friends with Dovid. We unpacked our gear as fast as possible because it began to rain again. Even though it was rainy the weather was still hot and humid. The roads in New Orleans are bumpy and raggedy which is extremely uncomfortable to ride on. Since 2005 when Katrina hit the city there has been a lot of reconstruction in town and many houses and buildings have been rebuilt. However some of the bigger projects such as road work has not been fully fixed.

We went out that night to town to the French Quarter and to Bourbon street. The town is knows for it's unique people it attracts but also for its old architecture. It was established in 1718 almost 300 years ago, which makes it one of the oldest town in the United states. It does have a feel of an ancient place and reminds me of Nachlaot in Jerusalem, or Florentien in Tel Aviv. The down town is hopping every night and really is a city that doesn't sleep.

During the day we toured Canal street and went to see the local casino owned by Harra's. The casino has symbols and artifacts that resemble the unique city which makes it not generic at all. The specific casino we visited was more touristy and doesn't attract many local, because they gamble on the other side of town. We strolled down the river bank of the Mississippi and ate at a famous coffee shop called Cafe Du Monde. When we returned to our parked bikes we found a gift from the local police. A parking ticket... The only thing that comferted us is that all 4 of us got one including our hosts that live here. Oh well, everything is an experience.

New Orleans is definitely one of the most interesting and hip cities I have been to and spending more than 2 days here would be quite a blast.

DAY 5 - Meridian, MS - Perdido Key, Florida

I went out for a jog early in the morning and it was a lot more hot than I expected. After the short run I jumped into the pool to relax before the long ride for the day. I met an older lady at the campsite who

recommended going to a very unique and old restaurant in town called Weidman's. In 1927 Meridian was one of the largest Jewish communities in the Mississippi and brought a lot of wealth to the small town. However the KKK had a strong and bad impact on the community and even bombed the synagogue. The Jews felt very threatened and most left town, and today there are no more than 40 elderly Jews in the town. The brunch we ate at Weidman's was very appetizing considering that fact we didn't eat any meat cause it wasn't Kosher.

We set off down south on route 45 and enjoyed the gorgeous views of Clarkco State park. As we got closer to the gulf we felt the cold breeze of air rushing towards us. The weather was very versatile and we even got drizzled upon a bit, however it didn't impact our ride at all. Frequently we put on our rain gear and then take it off when it gets real hot, but the more we ride the better we get at predicting how long it will rain.

The next city was Mobile, Alabama. The city essentially is a large port but has a very nice main strip with stores and interesting landmarks. We drank a cup of coffee at a Starbucks in town and pulled out towards Florida. The terrain got really flat and we could almost see the ocean. After an hour or so we got to the bay and enjoyed the magnificent view of the Gulf of Mexico. We stayed in Perdido Key in Florida which is right on the state border with Alabama. The second we arrived the mosquitoes welcomed us nicely and we started getting short tempered with each other. We spoke to the state park ranger who told us where to set camp for the night. After a short meal which we got at the nearest convenient store, we built the tents and relaxed on the beach.

It is shocking to me that it took only a few days to reach the ocean on the south and made me comprehend what an amazing journey we are on. I didn't sleep well on the beach due to the fact that it was very hot and the Mosquitoes ate us alive. We woke up early right when the sun came up and packed the gear on the bikes so we can spend the morning in the water. It was so refreshing! Our muscles were aching from the few days of riding and the salty water really helped us feel a lot better. Because of the heat our clothes were dry in minutes, and we drove off.