Day 44: More on Mamou, Bikin' on the Bayou, and Bonked out in Bunkie

Sunday, October 28, 2012

When we last left you, readers, we had arrived at the dream-come-true hotel room over a bar.  After settling into our room and a nice cold shower (really, the water never got hot), we wandered downstairs to the bar to get a drink.  And guess what?  IT WAS CLOSED!!!!!  Apparently it was only open from noon to 4, and would re-open later for the Halloween party (later being 9 p.m.).  So, thirsty as we were, we wandered up the street to find another bar just two doors up.  Wow -- this cajun country is pretty weird.  At the "6th Street Tavern", we had a choice of 5 fine bottled beers -- Bud, Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller, and Miller Light.  Hmmmm....we were entertained by a "newlywed" couple.  Apparently the guy (a local Cajun) had come to town this day, and met his "bride" and they got married on a street corner (seriously, this is absolutely what I gleaned from their drunken conversion).   She was very excited to meet his family; he said his mama was dead to which she replied that he should take her to his mama's cross and that she wanted him to be proud of her.  And then there was the OTHER Cajun guy (playing pool) who came over and said something (we couldn't understand anything he said),but he touched Rick's jeans and then his own jeans, and smiled and gibbered something to me....not sure what that was all about.  So after only one beer at this FINE establishment, we headed down the street to the convenience store (the Cajun Grocery) where we purchased a 6 pack of Louisiana made beer - Abita Amber -- and headed back to our room.  By the time the party got underway downstairs, we were half asleep and tired enough that the noise from the party didn't interfere with slumber.

The next morning we woke up ASPHYXIATED from the cigarette smoke of the bar filtering up through the ventilation system.  Although we remained lethargic most of the day, we did have a beautiful ride along the bayou and past Chicot State Park.

   After about 44 miles (into a 20 mph headwind) we rolled into Bunkie and there was the All Star Inn, next to Ricky's Dugout Bar & Grill and a 24-hour convenience store - Score!! (The Dugout ended up being closed so we dined on Shrimp Entouffee and Turnip greens, from the convenience store, heated up in our room's microwave).

Hey, and how 'bout those Giants, sweeping the World Series!!!!  Even Rick's dad was pulling for the national league team!  What a great end to a windy day!

Total miles:  43.71
Time:  3:31
Avg:  12.43 mph