Day 2: Friday

Dst: 49.37 mi
Avg: 14.0 mph
Mx: 29.2 mph
Tm: 3:31:33

We slept in late.  I began my day by praying the Breviary and offering Mass. Here's a photo of the "Inn," hidden behind the gas station, in daylight.   Then we went over to Sonic for breakfast, as it was our only option.  I had “French Toast Sticks” and “Sonic Tots” with some O.J.  It was greasy.

We headed east on 83, then southeast to meet back up with the route.  We stopped in Franklinton for lunch at McDonalds.

The roads through Springhill, Plainview, etc., were very rural.  There were many run-down-looking homes, and many areas where trees had been cut down by loggers. 

It was cold, windy, and we had intermittent sprinkles when we left Franklinton.  Thankfully, though, it never really all-out rained on us.

Not much variety in the landscape here.  The not-so-big Plainview Community Center was pretty funny.  Once in Bogalusa, I was surprised at how run down everything was.  Trash was all over, many of the homes were in ruins.  Later, I read how Bogalusa was founded when logging, a sawmill, and later a paper mill came around.  It grew so fast they called it “The Magic City,” much like Minot, ND.

I saw the big paper mill as I made my way to the Traveller’s Rest Motel.  We walked over to Western Sizzler/Country Buffet for supper, where I had some catfish.  Everywhere sells seafood here!  For example, just about every gas station sells boiled crawfish and other odd-looking (to this northerner) stuff.

I later read that this area has an average household income of $19,000/year.  Also, it’s obvious that Katrina trashed this town.  Blue tarps, now rotted after years, flap in the wind over the rooftops they once protected after the storm damage.  The holes still remain in many of those roofs, even now!