Biker 7: 2012

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Spiritual Weekend ?

The sharp morning air cut me like a slinky Mexican stiletto, deep, to the bone,biting with no promise of relief or mercy. Colder weather is promised from the calendar but for right now the relativity of cold tortures me. Leggings, sleeves, kerchief, scull cap , gloves with fingers all helped, nothing can stop the wind from beating me like haunted chain slung by a ogre of huge proportions. The North wind carries with it a revengeful bite to share a taste of the misery heaped on northerners every winter . My pace was brisk, blood flow helps warm up the muscles, brain stays numb for about 2 hours, headed downtown on the levee, pedaled my ass off to get off that windy exposed levee, finally at Audubon park the shady Oaks harbored more cold, "get in the sun", I remind myself. The squirrels laugh at me, cozy in their leaf and twig nest coated with fur and grass, high above the predators, safe at night, in a storm, rain, snow, I'm jealous. .
Prepared for disaster I'm packing, a banana, jelly beans, yogurt raisins, cheese crackers , 2 Gatorade's, should carry me through whatever befalls me. Its early , not many people out, took St Charles to to the empty torn up quarter, break on the river, boring, cold, not hanging around.
Elysian Fields to the Lake front, tried to turn right but stopped by the Levee Board Police Officer, "there's a race he says" , "can't go this way", " yea but I know Sally Louviere", he didn't care. Headed to Bonnabel Boat Launch only 3 trailers parked , not much fishing today, the same beer tasters (being nice) that hang out at the shelter so no one else can use it, circled around a 57 Chevy, were on duty, they keep playing that song, stuck in the 50"s, poor bastards, I hate to be the one to tell them man landed on the moon and Elvis is dead. They smear Brylcream on their bald heads for old time sake. I'm down to Yogurt raisins and Gatorade, up West Esplanade , transcontinental , West Napoleon one trip around the park and got my 45 miles, 25 sit ups and a Nutella sandwich. Sunday was better, didn't start to ride till after church, I usher at the 8:00 am my hypocrisy mass, always looking for a way to shorten my purgatory time on that unpadded folding chair surrounded by white haired 80 year old women walking around with tablespoons clanging $5 cans of cat food "here kitty", "here Kitty", and the cats not only have Cheshire grins, but laughing , their tails straight up to expose what they really think of humans, that's giving them credit for thinking. I dont' want to offend cat lovers, actually cats are very smart, I saw one driving a car yesterday, he did miss a turn signal though. After mass I took a different route, like I was guided by divine intervention. I rode Airline Suicide Drive down to Palmetto Dr. intending to take Palmetto Dr to Carrollton then St Charles to Audubon. I crossed the overpass over Airline , speeding down Palmetto about to cross the first intersection my new eyes spot a book in the street, as I approached I could see it was a Bible , how ironic I thought", couldn't leave it there in the street, I turned around and faced traffic coming down the same overpass their right wheels, like me, headed straight for the bible, without though for my own life I stopped over the bible , parked my bike, grabbed the bible, jumped to the sidewalk all before the first car got there, luckily they saw no one on the bike so they just cruised around it. It was a nice Bible , fortunately the owners name was inscribed on the cover, I felt a good chance of getting it back to the owner, across the canal down the street the Church there was open inviting people in , serving lemonade, I rode over, asked the lemonade lady if the bible owner may be a parishioner, not only yes, but she knew her , would give her her bible and couldn't stop blessing me for my good deed, "lady" ,I said," my folding chair just got closer to the exit door in purgatory". Went on my way , Carrollton and Earhart an acre lot planted neatly with vegetables and flowers, across the street from Notre Dame Seminary, I stop, take pictures, a tractor edges the lot, I'm sure it belonged to Jeannie Rushing at one time, the vegetables were done for the season but some winter crops were planted, they had anti pest plants planted at the ends of the rows , the flowers were beautiful, then I'm knocked aback again , I finally notice that each row contains a small frame with a station of the cross, whoa, in the middle row they were growing Madonnas " not the singer" Jesus mother", you know Jesus the Savior, Jewish with blue eyes and blond hair, thanks to the Italian Renaissance, carrying on,, I ;made it to Audubon park, took my pee break , St Charles to the Quarter, hadn't changed much since yesterday. Saw my old friend , his name is "makes me look like a saint", sits in his wheel chair and plays drumsticks on a white bucket and begs the tourist for money,, then when the Natchez is about to dock , he gets up and pushes his wheel chair next block to catch that crowd, sometime s he has to run to get there in time. He plays a bucket, "like shit" it don't even sound good. What a religious awakening. I compare him to the clown that cleans your tennis shoes for 5 dollars or the crook that wants to bet you he knows where you got them shoes, I take their pictures and they hall ass. they don't' want to hear I bet I can put my shoe up your ass , they find that rude, robbing you is ok. The city needs to clear out this crap so tourist coming to the Superbowl can enjoy the city, the Harry Kristnas and their "your on camera,."buy a hat for 40 dollars to help our children's camps" . . Their Harry Kristnas not the Red Cross, there are no cameras . I think a roundup of all the morons that paint themselves silver or gold and stand still over their panhandling bucket should be placed on top the buildings to keep the pigeons from crapping on the buildings. I don't see much talent or need for them or the 50 Jamaicans that put on a tumbling show across from the square, does that fit in with the blues , jazz,, Fench, Spanish, Creole heritage we want to show off, "Jamaican tumbling"..sophisticated panhandling. I do pray that someday Jesus will walk out of St Louis Cathedral with a whip and clear out the fortune tellers. Royal street does have some good bands on the street, Mykeshia Lake from the Lawyer commercials started there. she plays in clubs and shes good. All part of the spiritual Day I was having, I leave the quarter and take Esplanade "the roughest street in New Orleans" toward bayou St John to the Lake, well to my surprise it's been blacktopped, whoa, only to Rampart, how convenient. Stopping at the Bonnabel Boat Launch all was the same , the same guys were there worshipping a Corvette, and an old truck that looked like it was painted with a cheap brush and some watercolor. Made my way to Lafanierre park, thought I'd take a few laps , but no, it was pet day, jammed with people and animals, I thought I saw some goats,I was gonna bring my Chubracabra to suck a little goat blood, I was mistaken, it was giant ferrets. Well back home, 25 sit ups , a hot bath, a trip to the nursing home to see mom. that really made me feel sane after this day. Its like they handed out wheelchairs in the quarter. I return to my metal unpadded folding chair till next weekend. Happy Thanksgiving....thank someone for something.
gary

Mata Delarosa Church on Carrollton

Bike Valet, what a novel idea

Beautiful Flowers on Carrollton across from Notre Dame

Marigolds, beautiful

Each patch has a Station of the Cross on it ..

pretty flowers in a row.

The last squash for this winter.

they even grow Madonna Statues

Is that marijuana on the right? , could be wrong, 5 or 6 leaves.

Jeannie Rushing once owned ths tractor. When it was new.

New fish at the lakes edge, the Bud Light trout.

He actually asked me what I was looking at. Told him to kiss my ass then I thought about that beak .

Leave your bike chained up by frame only and here's what you get left.

Train coming right at me . too slow though. Missed me .

Now that winter hit up north , we are graced with members of the Snow Bird Historical Society and Garden Club. At least that what somebody told me, I'm not sure who they are. I'll bet you know.

2 giant ships at the dock.

Enough said

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Veternas Day 2012

Ernest Hemingway fought in WWI ,earned several prestigious decorations, in WWII he was a correspondent and again was decorated for valor and bravery, what a man , what a veteran,
most of his books cover the era between WWI and WWII an intriguing international political world as Hitler marched east and west of Germany. Jimmy Steward, Lee Marvin, Audie Murphy, Clark Gable, Captain Kangaroo, Ernest Borgnine, Joe DiMaggio, Tony Bennett, Charles Durning, Ted Williams, later there was Jimi Hendrix, Country Joe, Jim Croce, John McCain, Oliver Stone,
Elvis, know who else is a Veteran, my friend Bob Templet a retired store manager from Winn Dixie,, he was a 19 year old radio man on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, my friend Joe Hunt was a Merchant Marine till he was old enough to join the navy, my friend Charles Holdeman fought as marine
at Guadalcanal, my friend Bill Friedman was in Vietnam and his son was in the middle east, my friends George Malony and George Jurak were in the Military Police Corps with me , my friend Donald Bonck is a Marine Veteran, my Friend Perry Custer is retired for the air force, my friend Gary Held retired front the Navy, my friend Raymond Galland was in Vietnam, my friend Bob Campbell the parts man was in the navy, .my friend Larry Jones retired for the Coast Guard, My uncle James Ducote and his son both Veterans, my friend Rose McDuffe's husband an Vietnam Veteran,
Willie Meyer, Richard Rienhardt, Louis Jung, Jack Jones, Jeannie Rushing's Brother (Glenn) several tours in Nam, Louis Heorner disabled from his service, Augie Bondio and I went in together, these are Veterans mostly from my facebook friends,. My policy is when I see a young soldier or a Veteran I thank them for their service whether last week or 50 years ago. It feels good to have someone positively acknowledge the fact that when you donned the green skin you were expendable and if you lived thorough your service no matter where or what, your glad to be home alive.
Thank a Vet tomorrow

Ceremony on the River, 3 cannons.

Not the 105 Howizer we used to raise the flag.

Yea I was there..

Reload time

Yea I'm posing..

they kept me from getting too close.
I have a film of then actual firing, too big to put on here, have to cut it down.

gary

Sunday, October 21, 2012

MS Tour 2012 Part 1

2012 MS TOUR. Part 1 of 2

I'd like to thank all that supported me and or donated to MS research.

Without the support of my friends and family I'd just be another old, chubby, bald headed, worn out bike rider. With the support of my friends and family I am Gary superstar, Ulysses, John Wayne, Green Lantern,, Lance Armstrong , Howlin Wolf, and Truman Gandhi all wrapped into one.

1,000 plus riders jammed the start in Hammond, I surveyed the crowd, I was pretty old but there were others, standing next to my bike my shoes stirred and patted the cement like a thoroughbred 's hoof grinding the sand anxiously waiting the gate to open. Starts with a walk, a slow pedal , a faster pedal then the first turn, every rider for himself or herself.. Weather was great , cool in the morning ,, mild in the afternoon, wore my temporary sleeves, forearms are lean , subject to cold and dampness.

Stayed with the crowd to the first rest stop, didn't stop, (trained for that) , passed up half the riders.

After 1st stop I hook up MP3 player, 1100 songs, should do it, such a motivator for me, the variety is so rich it's beyond explanation, taking as many pictures as I can , it was over 100, culled it to a reasonable amount , like 98. Started off listening to some "Candlebox", "Green Day", "Dr Wu", "Semisonic", "Hendrix:, "Robin Trower" and the best motivator "Santana" doing "Soul Sacrifice " from Woodstock. Those bongos get my feet dancing like Ali. Scenery is beautiful , new route this year, roads are a little better, all on the east side of I-55, seems like the hills were bigger and longer , it felt that way. If you feel the need to have your thighs burn to the bone , climb a few of those hills with intention. Stopping at second stop, quick, pee, cookie, orange, banana, I was packing 4 Gatorade's , good to go... New route crossed many rivers, caught Bigfoot off guard and got him again, he still looks the same, just a year older. Plenty tractors for sale , why?

Lunch stop, usual peanut butter and jelly, a little pasta, some cookies and I'm off. 45 miles , the spiritual mark, brain chemicals , bouncing like Bingo balls in the hopper, a couple of "Staind" songs come on, I"m now a machine, legs moving in perpetuality, vision wide , unfocused, starring into the woods for a Rabbit to take me to a Hookah Smoking Catapiller, and thinking how hot the Queen of Hearts with her big head is. A "Staind" song will do that to you, so will climbing hills for 50 miles .

The cool north wind of the morning became a pleasant breeze afternoon, it carried with it,scent of finish line. My burning thighs, I began to push, last rest stop, pee, 2 cookies , go ,. cross the interstate , close to the park, motorcycle escorts bunching up , sag vehicle loaded, yes the finish line is close., the entrance to the park is treacherous, small fast hills, speed bumps, traffic, turn the last corner and there it is , the big balloon finish line, Mike the announcer, and Marie all waiting just for me , well that's what it felt like..75 miles 6 hrs 27 minutes. not fast but better than last year.

For that one instant when I dismounted bicycle I just won the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia ,Paris–Roubaix, or made it to Audubon Park without crashing. It just feels good that's all, the cornerstone of my life, feel good, take em when I can get em. .

Sunday Morning

Its cooler than Saturday, wearing my sleeves, gentle north wind promises to help us southward, too gentle till afternoon, made a difference in the finish. Started the day with 2 important things, a breakfast of grits, yogurt, 1 biscuit, and some Delta Blues for the brain. Coming out the Park edges on suicidal , narrow, hilly, speed bums, riders trying to expand all their energy in the first 3 miles, I stay to the right, and escape to the highway safely. I light up the mp3 with some "Coco Montoya" "Its my tears that's falling so let me cry", then " Sloe Gin" by " Joe Bonamassa" , then stepped it up gradually along with the pace, "Creed", ' My Own Prison" , "Delbert McClinton", " George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers", "Nirvana " , "Outcast", SRV, all strategically set to escalate my physic with each mile packed to my pocket. Lunch time , another PBJ, 40 miles, starting to feel good, riding the groove like a 33 rpm record at 45 rpm's, can't feel the north breeze , I know it's there helping me, can't feel it, its as fast as I am. Spent very little time at rest stops, pushed, pushed, pushed, reached into my left side jersey pocket , pulled out a vial given me by the White Queen, looked to the right and just into the woods Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum were cheering me on , I knew then my endorphins were raging , time for some ZZ Top, more speed captain ,more speed, my hair flew behind me, (hey, its a story), my cheeks pinned back, legs engorged with blood pumping like pistons on a steam locomotive. In spite of all this I still looked at the sky occasionally thinking, :"what am I doing here", just for an instant, an instant that throws a handful of reality into a spiritual wonderland that transponds day to day mundane life, ordinary in other respects, maybe..

Miles 60 to 75 I'm averaging 18 miles an hour, not fast but fast for me, hills are behind me, I own the road at this point. Flip through songs till I find "Pink" "get this party started", crank up the volume, don't think my tires are even touching the ground . The final turn onto the 4 lane where it all started,

I see the big balloon at the finish, like a preplanned finish mp3 cranks out, " Born to be Wild " by "Steppinwolf", how aprapoe, cheers , clapping , Mike on the Microphone, crossed the finish in 5 hours 44 minutes,, my fastest time ever. Marie drove us home , I sat in the passenger seat grinning with accomplishment and pride..... $785 dollars for MS research, a great ride, great time. great imaginings, plenty pictures. . see part 2 for more pictures..

Click on the Pics for enlargement