Leg 21 (Feb 15): Morgan City – Abbeville

Leg 21 (Feb 15): Morgan City – Abbeville, 110 km, elevation 121 m. Total distance 2069 km.

Today was an adventurous day! About 85 km down the road ms. Google Maps led us along a small road up to a ”Road Closed” sign. Being us we percieved that an injunction to pursue the road. I mean, really, how bad could it be?! In addition, rerouting would mean another 15 km which we did not feel inclined to add to todays 110 km ride…

A couple of km down the road we found out why the road was closed, the first bridge over the river was closed (which was sort of an understatement since there was no bridge left at all). Looking at google maps we saw there was a railroad running parrallel to us just under a km north up the river. The first hundred meters we were able to bike, but newly plowed fields are difficult to ride even with our diverges… Pushing and struggling we finally got up on the railroad track. All rusty – perfect, no trains using these track. Started to bike down the track (have I mentioned we love our bikes!?!). Coming up to the first bridge was a little scary, wide spaces between the cross-ties. When Frida was in the middle of the first bridge she exclaimed ”So happy no trains using this track” and of course, that was the exact moment I saw the train coming up from behind her…

Both running/jumping between the cross-ties with our bikes many thougts passed through our minds but the main being ”what do we do if we don’t make it off the bridge in time” – of course we would have jumped into the river (hoping the alligators not being hungry) with our bikes. Luckily the train was moving slowly leaving us plenty time to leave the bridge and when passing us the engine driver waved at us with a big smile on his face…

Specialized Diverge – made for adventure!