Bike to Shop...

The weather turned into a good storm here, lighting, thunder and the rain is coming down in buckets. Brenda, Tommy and I are back out on the porch enjoying natures show. Just before the rain I was helping Tommy to adjust his bike, he got himself a bike and I have seen pictures of him riding around with Brenda and her cousin Karen and Moto. That bike he got is way to small for him, I raised the seat, moved the seat as far back as possible and changed the handlebar to give him a few more inches of room. I showed him how to remove the wheel without deflating the tires and a few other tricks. As we're watching it rain I wanted to make that interview with him, it happen a few month back when I was working on a job-site with Rich Flowers that I met John, the general contractor on the site, there was something about John I could not lay my fingers on right away, but after some time when I was not watching him I popped into my head, this is the voice of Tommy here in Walker Louisiana, I went as far as making an interview with him to send it to Tommy to see what he thinks. I never heard back from him until just a while ago when I showed him the video-clip on my computer. I since uploaded it onto youtube so you can see it again if you haven't on my February 25th posting. Now is the big moment to capture Tommy, he is ready as can be, gets a hat to mach John back in Berkeley and of we go, making a little video clip of talking with Tommy. Now this is gonna take me some time to get finished, with all this writing and picture taking, editing, sorting, and uploading I'm busy enough as it is.
Time flies as we're having fun and soon I have to go, have to be back at Karen's by 7 and the way the weather looks like it's not gonna make it any easier.

Bad weather and the route to drive the 80 miles to Karen's...

Leaving the rain-storm behind on Interstate 12 before the I-55 Junction

Back at Karen's the house is already busy, Karen and Sabine are setting-up the dining-table, salad gets cut and pizza's figured out. I make a salad-dressing, Karen calls in 3 large pizzas for Cafe Roma and Moto is just popping into the door. I'm giving Lonnie directions directons on how to get here and he arrives at the same time as Joann and Al do. The party is complete, too bad that Sarah and Lee can't make it! Lets sit down and eat...

A after Jazz Fest and a farewell Sabine, dinner-party at Karen's...


Moto brought a Tiramisu for dessert and all were happy!


In the morning Karen goes to work, Sabine and I get stuck in front of our computers, Sabine to find a place, be frustrated with scams and excited about new possibilities... me, I'm just blogging away. I wanna wish Jabarra Athas a happy birthday, have fun blowing out some candles and hanging out with Peter at the Tonga Room. Hugs and all!!!
Now it is about 12:30 when I finally separate myself from the computer and hop onto the bike, make my way down to the French Quarter to meet with Joann and Al.
I get a phone-call from Joann that they are running late so I went to a local joint to have some Red Beans and Rice, the Monday Special in New Orleans.

Lunch at the Royak Street Deli in the French Quarter...



Then a walk on the levee that separates the Mississippi River from the French Qarter...


The last Beignet with a Coffee au Lait with Al and Joann at the Cafe du Monde...



Joann is taking off to the airport to fly back to the Bay Area, Al probably goes to see family in Houma and I hop back onto the bike to get some groceries at Langenstein's

3 o'clock, it's hot and humid, that makes me extra sweaty while biking...

Some more grocery shopping at the local store here on Metairie Road...

Shopping macht Spass...

Finally I make it out of Karen's house, another day went by, working on the computer, now I'm all anxious to hop on the bike and get my lazy butt to downtown New Orleans. I prepare a few things for Karen that she can take with her in the car, like the second sheet of the Onion-Cheese-Quiche we made yesterday, a six-pack of Abida Amber, a fresh shirt and the scrub-board I bought in Eunice a bit more than a week ago. Then get the bike-stuff ready and finally close-up all the windows and get ready to lock the house when Karen drives into the driveway... I'm out of here.

Route Map to the West Bank, almost 9 miles...


I ride to Algiers via Metairie Road, down on Canal Street to the Canal Street Ferry. Taking the Ferry across the Mississippi River after a short wait. I would like to commute via a ferry, it is just the most peaceful way. The weather all day has been hot and somewhat more muggy than the days I've been here. Now, just as I got onto the ferry it started to rain, a short little downpoor of about 1 minute, actually just a few drops came down but it did rain at Karen's house, because I called to tell her that I'm on the ferry and she told ma that it is raining.
The ferry crossing is just about 5 minutes, them docking on the other side and off I go to the address of the new diggs of Joann and Al.

Waiting for the Ferry...



On the Ferry, crossing the Mississippi River to the West Bank, with a good view to New Orleans CBD (Central Business District)...

See the Merriott Hotel, I visited Kevin & Gina on the 20th floor, last night.

This is the first time I bike on this side of the river, well not true I do live west of the Mississippi, but what I meant is the first time that I bike in Algiers, or also known as the West Bank. Since Hurricane Karina a lot of things have changed here. The revamped the historic downtown area. I have to come here again and explore some more. But I passed a funky bar and lots of redone and cleaned-up buildings. I like it over here.
I find Al B.B.Qing in his new backyard, I could not find the official street, or I should say that the official street has a gate and I did not know how to get to the address, but the house also borders the other street and has a gate in the fence so I can just slip through and start partying in no time.

Housewarming Party of Joann & Al's 2nd Home here in Algiers...

From Part 3 My Time in Louisiana

A real nice house, build about 5 years ago.

Lots of people and tons of good food...



Entertainment everywhere...

Joann's Mom, Flo is giving it a try on the Scrub-board.

While other entertainment is provided by the trash-can...


More trash played on the Scrub-board by me...


Friends and Family of Joann and Al, eating, drinking and laughing, indoors and outdoors...


House details worth seeing...


Before heading out, lets take some pictures with the moon-sickle...


It's eight thirty, time to pack-up and head home. I load the bike, scrub-board and leftover quiche into Karen's car and drive back with her. I forgot to bring my bike-lights along and so I don't wanna bike around at night without any lights, too bad, I could use the exercise to get rid of the pound I've been piling-up. Of course I ate way too much and could not resists a second helping of dessert, b.t.w. I had one of the best Sweet-Potato-Pie, home made by Al's Ante, I want that recipe.
At home it was time to turn the computer back on. Continue on the Blog-writing and picture sorting until I can only see stars on the screen, but might as well stay up until Sabine get here. She is supposed to arrive @ MSY at 9, but because of bad weather she got flown around Texas and got free drinks for that.

A hell of a storm is messing with air-traffic over the Houston Area...


She finally landed @ 12:10,, picks-up her rental-car, drops her friend Amy off in Kenner and gets here just before I collapse. We had a little chat and then I had to go to bed, I'm dead finished done...

There was not much to sleep about in the morning, the work-crew that is installing new gas-lines were at it by 8. Running this amazing "Ditch-Witch" that pushes a rod underground until it pops-out at the other side where they also dug a 6 foot deep hole, then they tie the new plastic pipe to it and pull it through to the starting point, that machine is not designed to sleep next to it and so I had to get-up and make some CHai Tea to start the day more peacefully.

Then as every morning back to computer-work, this time I had some help...

Last year when Christoph and Ina where here too, there were 4 MAC computers vs 1 PC!

After finishing yesterdays entry Sabine and I went for a grocery run to the nearest Pouses, that's where to clock strikes 3 one more time...

Finally Outside again...

My butt is hurting from sitting on these chairs, here in Karen's kitchen, I'm spending way too much time to keep up with this blog, but so it is, I do enjoy the result and one day I can look back and really enjoy it. As for now it is a perpetual lag on the daily dose of words and pictures. Karen is back from work again and I'm still on the same spot as when she went to work, for her it's nap-time and when she gets up again I'm still on the same chair... just one more picture, just one more paragraph. It's way past due for a delicious cup of you know what, so I better brew some now. Make a iced one for Karen and a hot one for me, with this proper beverage in hand it is time to think about tonight's action, and it is clear that we have to go eat something and it is also clear that we're going to the famous Rock n' Bowl in the Mid-city of New Orleans, it is the last bang of the "old" location. Hmm that coffee is good, hmm I look forward for tonight's program!
Alright dinner first, we settle for Taqueria Corona in Metairie, not far from Karen's house, good mexican food sounds good, I'm ready for a Margarita. After a shower and getting dressed we're off to that next adventure. I'm not sure if I have been to this place before, for sure to the one in New Orleans on Magazine Street. We get seated right away and quickly order a couple of Margaritas, on ice with salt, please!!! I scan the menu for food. Karen already knows that she wants a fish taco, I settle for a quesadilla con polio asada, that is a flour tortilla heated with cheese and topped with grilled chicken before a second tortilla covers it all and gets a final grilling on the second side, love it. With that I have a side order of rice and beans, after all I haven't really eaten anything substantial since breakfast.
The food is good, close to delicious, and the Margarita is going down way too easy, life is good one more time.
Next is the last visit of the good old Rock n' Bowl, tonight is Swing and Joe Krown is playing with his band, come to find out later that only his band was playing. Joe's mother passed away and so he could not play for us. Which is too bad, and my regards to him for his last mom...
It is the last time that I crawl up this long set of stairs, pay 5 bucks to get past the cashier and end up on top in a great place. Lots of people, a few familiar faces, smiles and handshakes. John Blancher the owner is there, and many of the dancers from the Zydeco scene are here even though it is swing-night.

The end of a era... Rock n' Bowls last dance...


John Blancher, the owner, sandwiched between Sharon and Karen...


Dancing to the tunes of Joe Krown and his band without Joe Krown...


And all this while bowling is still "in"...


Unfortunately Karen and I were not able to close the place down for good, too tired and have to get up in the morning made us blow this Popsicle-Stand and home we went.
Of course, in the morning the first thing is getting back to "work" got to catch-up here and it's go go go... while eating my muessly for breakfast, drinking my tea to stay awake I'm typing away to have you informed of what, where and why...
Finally by 2 o'clock I post yesterdays blog... now what???
Ahh, so many things I wanna do and see, first lets hop on the bike and get some exercise, I change clothing, take the bike off the car and assemble it, find my back-pack, money and camera and off I go... bike a couple of miles to shop for some groceries.
On my list are the goodies to make some Chai Tea again. The last time I checked the prices for cardamon at Rouses and it is way too expensive. So I give it a try at Byblos Market. A middle-eastern market and restaurant right on Veterans Memorial Boulevard. I love that store, and promptly find what I was looking for, green cardamon seeds, loose leave black tea and anise. I'm set to make some Chai Tea for breakfast.
The bike-ride home is more challenging than getting there, I ride some sidewalk back to Bonnabel Blvd. then turn right all the way back to Metairie Road via Codifer Blvd. and Metairie Ct. Ending up at Fagot Street back to Karen's. Unload my pack just to hit the road again, this time it's Rouses to complete the shopping list.

3 o'clock Central Standard Time is when I get out of Rouses with a full pack...