On the afternoon of Saturday, March 10th, after waiting out Friday’s rains and spending a third night as the guest of the wonderful Paul & Lori Worrell at Thibodaux’s elegant antique Dansereau House Bed & Breakfast, I continued forward to Raceland, just over 12 miles down the Bayou LaFourche. Two roads run directly from Thibodaux to Raceland, Hwy 308 and Louisiana Hwy 1, each on either side of he Bayou. While some had recommended that I walk the prettier 308, some avid bicyclists told me to stay off 308, and stick to LA-1. Why? There are paved shoulders on the side of LA-1– something nonexistent aside the screaming traffic around the curves of 308. LA-1 quickly won the decision.

Both coming out of Thibodaux and walking down LA-1, what normally may have been a 4-hour race to Raceland turned into nearly a seven-hour affair. Lovely locals were stopping me left and right. Some knew the story and wanted to say hello. Others were curious as to why I was walking across America. I was so happy to meet so many of the abundantly friendly locals of LaFourche Parish.
After taking a brief lunch break with the fascinating Theriot Family, and meeting four generations of lifelong family residents of their local street, I reached St. Charles, where I was to cross the bridge above the bayou over to a treacherous final five miles of Hwy 308. I first decided a pit stop at the corner supermarket was in order. Outside the supermarket, I was approached by a variety of locals, all of whom seemed to cringe at the idea of me walking any distance aside Hwy 308. Their fear of the idea was contagious– and suddenly I began to wonder if I was putting myself into a seriously dangerous situation (not unknown to the Walk). Martin, Kerry, and “Bubba” (all of whom were new to me) were adamant that I should not walk that stretch. As it turned out, Martin & Kerry knew Miss Claudette, the owner/innkeeper of A Chateau on the Bayou Bed & Breakfast, my destination for the evening. They gave her a call for me; we all talked together; and Martin & Kerry agreed to place my belongings in the back of their truck and shuttle everything forward for me to the B&B. I was free to fly fast along the side of hwy 308. This worked out especially well, as the remaining hours of daylight were quickly ticking away, especially given all the great locals that were stopping to say hello…
I ultimately found that walking 308 with the cart would have been possible, for I have dealt with far less preferable scenarios, but not having the cart certainly proved to be very helpful to me. I made great time those last five miles, especially as the Houma Daily Courier caught up to me for the story, just in time for their Sunday edition.
I made it to Miss Claudette’s at dusk, met her fellow guests, and after hours of worthwhile evening conversation, settled into the cozy guest bed in room #1 for a full night’s sleep.

Paul & Lori Worrell, innkeepers of Thibodaux's Danereau House

Halfway between Thibodaux & Raceland, the Theriot Family pulls me off the busy highway to enjoy a meal and time to get to know them. Had I not been on track to arrive to Raceland today, I would have spent at least a day or more with the Theriots.

Breakfast at the Dansereau House

Not only did Paul & Lori provide hosting to me, they also fed me very, VERY well!

I was hosted for three nights at the Dansereau House Bed & Breakfast, in Thibodaux.

Halfway to Raceland, Kerry, Bubba & Martin find out what I'm doing and where I'm going. They warn me that Hwy 308 is very dangerous over the next 6 miles: fast, curvy, and no roadside shoulders. They volunteer to give me a ride to Raceland. I have to walk all of my miles, so I ask if they wouldn't mind simply dropping my cart full of belongings instead. They insist on doing so-- which saves me a whole lot of time as my feet fly out to Raceland over the course of the next two hours. I arrived shortly after dark.