DAY 5 HEADING NORTH

Left this morning with a daylight ride into downtown Donaldsonville a designated Great River Road city. Started towards Baton Rouge along the river road. The name river road is somewhat misleading since you can't see the river for the levees.

The scenery kept shifting from industrial to beautiful homes and very poor areas all peppered with middle class neighborhoods. Crossed over to the east side and actually saw the river from the bridge, before the day was over crossed at least five times, great bridges. Continued north and the road just kept getting better, bayous, forests, swamps, and small towns. Wandered several miles from the river but still on scenic byways also designated hurricane evacuation routes.

Passed one of those areas were everybody owns at least ten cars that don't run and they keep them all in the front yard half hidden in the weeds. Shortly after saw an old pick-up pulling out of a side road towing a trailer with two wrecked cars. I had to wonder if he was hauling them off or taking them home because his yard was two short of its allotment.

Riding north on the Mississippi side of the river under clear skies, 70 degrees, 65 MPH, great road, who cares if you can see the river. Crossed back into Louisiana to see CE's brother who was busy trying to move his companies equipment out of the flood area. Buck is the younger brother but there is no denying that they are related. On down the road stopped and met CE's Mom and sister at there homes in the very north east corner of the state. We had a nice visit and got the required pictures before heading on down the road. We are in for the night in Clarksdale Missouri just east of the river.

From a motorcycle you have time to look around and take in the sights, sounds, smells, and scenery that surrounds you. We never fail to find roads that are totally off the beaten path waving to people on the porch or mowing the yard. I know that some of these roads rarely see a tourist much less six motorcycle s with Arizona license plates. We are very fortunate to explore these areas off the tourist track, known only to those that live or have business in the area.

Here is a link to our approximate route today, minus some of the side roads, hope it works.

http://goo.gl/maps/GPDX