Oh, the weather this weekend was simply perfect. Sunny and warm, cool evenings, flowers on the air. Saturday, though, gave us some afternoon showers and left a mist that didn’t lift. After another early morning ride to ACLA and a stop for croissants in the Quarter, I rode over to Bayou St. John to try out a kayak. Continue reading
Beignets at the Hotel Monteleone for the ACLA Conference
I’m not much of a morning person. It isn’t so much that I don’t enjoy the morning–in fact, I’m quite chipper and talkative. But I don’t like rushing. So when I discovered that my panel for the American Comparative Literature Association met at 8 in the morning at the Hotel Monteleone, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I was not a happy camper. Continue reading
A Caressing Breeze From the Bywater to the Lower Garden District
I don’t usually ride my bike with other people. When I go out for a ride it is usually so I can be alone, not because I’m thinking terribly deep thoughts, but kind of so I can empty out, not pay attention to anything but the road, the traffic, and whatever pops into my view. And sometimes I’m just trying to get somewhere, as fast as I can. Tonight, though, I rode back home with B., after a lovely evening out with a whole slew of good friends. Continue reading
Remnants Of An Old Drugstore at St. Bernard and Broad
I had one of those days where I woke up a little grumpy and it just got worse as lots of little irritations and annoyances added up. The only answer was, of course, a long bike ride in the sun under a frighteningly blue sky. I zeroed out my inbox (nothing prettier than an empty inbox!) and hopped on the Surly for a ride. Continue reading
One More To Go Graffiti on Burgundy Near Conti
You’ll have to pardon the next zillion blog entries. All will begin with a report on how truly fantastically beautiful the weather is for bike riding down here. Today, for example, it was just so lovely out–70s, blue sky, light breeze, and then a cool evening. I took the Surly down to the Marigny to meet B. for coffee and grading and then rode over to the gym for some weight training and snoozing in the steam room, because it’s spring break. Continue reading
Surly LHT and Friend at Magazine and Gravier
**Warning: this blog post is just about bikes.**
So I’m back in New Orleans from my mini bicycling vacation, but I’m already scheming my next trip out of town with the Surly (Longleaf Trace, here I come!). I had such a lovely time just hanging out on that bike, and today I went shopping and treated us both to a new saddle that I hope will make those hours on the bike even lovelier. Continue reading
Dilapidated Mobile Home in Lacombe, LA
Today was the last day of my mini vacation, but there was still plenty of time to get another bike ride in. D. threw her fancy bike in her fancy car and drove up to meet me in Lacombe for a ride out to Slidell, lunch and basketball (Go State!), and then back to the cars. Before she got there, though, I did some tooling around the bayou and off the bike path to get a bit more of a sense of this little town. Continue reading
Blighted Tin House on the St. Tammany Trace
Oh, I had a most lovely day on my bicycle. I got up early and drove myself and the Surly to Lacombe and rode up the St. Tammany Trace to Abita Springs. On my way I saw lots of other folks on bikes, a few runners, some walkers, and a kid on a scooter. The sky was perfectly blue and the sun was bright, and I just pedaled and pedaled and pedaled, listening alternately to birds and music. Such a nice way to spend the day! Continue reading
Cabins and Trees at Fontainebleau State Park
It’s spring break and today I took the Surly to the north shore for a little weekend vacation, just the two of us. After biking to and from campus for some quick work, I loaded us into the car, checked into the hotel (thank you, Southern Repertory Theater Backstage Bash Silent Auction!), and then headed back out to bike around Fontainebleau State Park. Continue reading
Buffet Line at Tulane’s 1834 Club
I finally feel significantly better today after dealing with days and days of strep throat and the resulting cough and shortness of breath. This is usually the time when I’ll excitedly go out for a long bike ride, but I decided to take it easy today so that maybe, just maybe, I’ll actually get better for good. I took the Surly up to campus for work and then back home, a little disappointed by the cloudy sky. Continue reading
What I Saw Riding My Bike Around Today 