Cycle Zydeco
By Gary Gilbert
Friday, September 03, 2004
The official web site of Cycle Zydeco http://www.cyclezydeco.com/
Let the Good Times Roll
The Cycle Zydeco tour is about 250 cyclists, 4 days of about 50 miles each day. The tour is a loop based in Lafayette Lousiana. It is a great excursion for anyone interested in 4 mostly flat riding days in the spring or who has a love for food or music or dancing. You won't catch me on the dance floor but the rest is enough for a wonderful tour.
In April 2003, we still had snow on the ground when I left for Lafayette Lousiana. I flew to New Orleans and rented car for the 100 mile trip to Lafayette.
The night I arrived, riders were bussed to a local restaurant where we had a great dinner, listened to music and dance lessons.I passed on the dancing.
Here Bruce and Nan strut their stuff at Randols.
Down by the Bayou Teche at St. Martinville.
One of the Romero brothers. They play Cajun songs from the 20s and 30s and claim they can sing an entire day without repeating a single song.
The tree to his left is the Evangeline Tree. Longfellow wrote a poem about Evangeline. Read more about her here: http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~jay/pages/evangel.html My trip to Nova Scotia in 2001 followed the Evangeline Trail.
In the Opera House museum.
Did I say there were lots of opportunities to eat Cajun food?
I take a rest. Weather was cool, in the lower 60s most of the days. Perfect cycling weather.
Another photo of the Bayou Teche
At the end of each days ride there was music and food. This day we had jambalaya. Check out the Gumbo Pages for recipies: http://www.gumbopages.com/
Donna Angelle and Posse : Let the Good Times Roll.
Breau Bridge. We were a few days early for the crawfish festival. That wasn't a problem as we had several other chances to devour crawfish etouffee, crawfish enchiladas, boiled crawfish, and more.
Once again we were treated to a fine Cajun meal and music and dancing.
One can't start the next day without more of the same. Cajun breakfast at Cafe Des Amis.
My lunch in Port Barre. Puchased from Bourques market.. Cajun Jalapeno Sausage Cheese bread and a basket of strawberries. Wonderful!!!
View down the bayou from Washington, Lousiana.
And some more dancing. Some cyclists brought their dancing clothes while others used the less traditional cycling shorts.
Freds
Highlight of the tour for me was Saturday morning in Mamou. There has been a live Cajun radio show broadcast from Freds for more than 50 years. Live music from 9 until 11AM each week. . Mamou was 32.5 miles from Washington so I had to hustle to make it there by 9AM. Fred passed away and his widow Taunt Sue keeps the place hopping. At one point she climbed up on a table to declare that she will never be taken to a nursing home.
Leo and Sue discuss the finer points of catching crawfish with the owner of A & S Crawfish processing.
I do ride sometimes when I'm not taking photos. Here I am on my way from Eunice to Grand Coteau on Sunday morning. Despite all the eatin', I managed not to gain any weight.
Plantations offer tours to tourists. I stopped at Chretien Point Plantation.
The ride is complete but we needed a bit more music and something to eat.
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