Day 1: New Orleans to Covington. 79 miles. We checked out of the Waldorf and headed down to Jackson Square for
the official start photo at the same place where I ended my 2008 tour. We had to battle the traffic a little (very little) because
of the Creole Tomato Festival.

I headed off through the shaded streets of New Orleans. It was hot. Rain threatened, but I stayed dry.

Looking back at downtown from a highway ramp in the industrial district.

My route took me through some fairly empty industrial areas. Here I pass through the New Orleans' famous Couch Disposal District.

And suddenly there was a NASA facility! This is the first stage of the last-constructed Saturn V rocket.
There were some guys underneath working on it. Maybe they're gonna use it for something.

Riding east on US90 I came across a shrine to Jayne Mansfield. She was killed in a car accident at this spot in 1967 when the
car she was riding in plowed into the back of a tractor trailer.

I was hoping to tour Fort Pike, but it was closed. By the way, this photo was taken from the highest elevation I achieved all
day: about 41 feet. I usually can't jump that high. It is looking out toward the Gulf of Mexico.

Looking the other way: in toward Lake Pontchartrain. That's about it for scenery today.

Most of the last 30 miles were on the Tammany Trace Bike Trail. It was mostly like this. Straight, and flat.

Although it did have a draw bridge. Never seen a draw bridge on a bike path before.
There's even a guy sitting in a building there watching for boats.

The best thing about the Tammany Trace Trail: No dogs. Sadly, children are allowed.

Covington boasts the world's largest Ronald Reagan Statue. Hard to believe that's the biggest. (It's not actually bigger than that water tower).
People just aren't trying.