57 miles ridden – 500 feet climbed

It was hot again and we had a headwind. There’s a funny balance with headwinds when it’s hot – it can be very cooling but if it gets a bit too strong or you hit an incline it becomes hard work. First half of today it was cooling – the second half……..

We spent most of the day on busy highways but again drivers were generally courteous and gave us plenty of room. There wasn’t much to see until we reached Baton Rouge, the State Capital of Louisiana, and then most of what we saw was roadworks! However we made a special detour to the Tigers Stadium (an American Football College team) where Lon risked life and limb to have his picture taken on the mascot with a Wisconsin Badgers t-shirt which he had smuggled into Louisiana. I gather the Tigers were beaten at home by the Badgers – I guess it’s that whole Arsenal/Spurs thing!

We had a very swift SAG stop today as it was in the full sun and very hot. The straight off on route 61 all the way to St. Francisville. I didn’t take any pictures – think of the A40 (or A12) when it’s really sunny and hot – but St. Francisville is a quaint little town. Prior to the Civil War it was one of the richest cities in the State and while it went into decline after the war and the decline in river commerce it retains a sense of dignity and the main church and cemetery is well-maintained with a Highgate Cemetery feel to it.

There has been its of discussion about average speed in the heat and certainly I am going a bit too fast so tomorrow which is our last reasonable distance day I will pace for the following 91 and 100 mile days.