The big picture of our ride.
Starting our ride along the Orleans / Jefferson Parish border.
Nice ride along the Mississippi River for fifteen miles.
Exploring some trails between the levee and the river.
Exploring some trails between the levee and the river.
"Go to the light grandpa!" Actually, that is the Mississippi River a tad overexposed.
Nearing the Jefferson / St. Charles Parish line and St. Rose, LA.
The water towers are in St. Rose, LA.
No ride to the west can escape crossing the Bonnet Carre Spillway.
The Bonnet Carre Spillway bridge.
The Bonnet Carre Spillway.
An American icon, Airline Motors Restaurant survived the 1970s I-10 bypass of Laplace, LA.
The Casino Store located at the beginning of Old Highway 51.
Next services 25 miles!
Roadside Memorial on Highway 51.
Looking for Indigo Buntings along Old 51.
Highway 51 is abandoned for the most part thanks to
the elevated I-55 right next to it.
Basic overview of the area.
The I-55 Exit at Ruddock provided the only shade for 20 miles and 20 years.
This picnic site was added in 2002
doubling the number of shady respites along Old 51.
Enjoying some shade and a breeze.
That bench is shaded by I-55 in the afternoon.
Old Hwy 51 veteran.
I have made at least 150 trips along this stretch over a 30 year period.
Ride anywhere you want to on this road. No one cares.
"Where's that confounded bridge?" - Led Zepplin
Notice the Manchac Bridge way up ahead.
It does not seem to be getting any closer.
When the bridge first comes into view it looks like
the monolith from 2001: A Space Odessy.
There's that confounded bridge at Manchac Pass.
Often the only breezy spot for 25 miles.
I always stop up here for a snack and a view.
Highway 51 stretches off into forever.
View to the east from the bridge.
The parking lot for the hiking trail at Joyce Wildlife Managment Area.
Hwy 51 joins Interstate 55 just a few hundred feet up the road from Joyce WMA.
Doorway to the Joyce WMA hiking trail.
Ponchatoula, LA is the Strawberry Capitol of the world.
Notice my bumper sticker that reads "Oil Bless America".
Fuzzy self portrait taken while riding.
Photo taken over my shoulder on Sisters Road north of Ponchatoula.
Detail of route through Ponchatoula.
Sisters Road
Bridge over Interstate 12.
Bridge over Interstate 12.
Detail of route north of Ponchatoula to Hidden Oaks Campground.
Interstate 12
Dropping down onto Sontheimer Road from I-12 overpass.
Sontheimer Road
Setting up camp at Hidden Oaks Campground
Robert, LA near Hammond.
Hidden Oaks Campground
Hidden Oaks Campground
The Tangipahoa River
Wildflowers along the Tangipahoa River.
The Tangipahoa River
The Tangipahoa River
The Tangipahoa River
The Tangipahoa River
Nice shot of my shadow and litter in the ditch.
Back in Ponchatoula on the way home.
Crossing Interstate 55 to get to the southbound shoulder
at Ponchatoula.
View of I-55 from the bridge looking south.
North and Southbound cyclists must ride a one mile stretch of shoulder on I-55
just south of Ponchatoula.
Riding south on the northbound shoulder avoids the bridge crossing.
Exit I-55 and follow the exit road under the Interstate.
At the next intersection bear right (south).
You can't get lost for 25 miles after that.
Detail of I-55 and Hwy 51 for north and southbound cyclists.
A huge flock of tree swallows (black dots in the sky).
They spend the winter and early spring here.
Back over the Manchac Bridge.
Note the bullet holes.
Birdwatching is super along Old Highway 51.
Note the bullet holes.
The Bonnet Carre Spillway from Hwy 61.
The Bonnet Carre Spillway from Hwy 61.
The Bonnet Carre Spillway from Hwy 61.
The Bonnet Carre Spillway from Hwy 61.
The Bonnet Carre Spillway from Hwy 61.
Mississippi River Levee at Ormond, LA
I-310 Bridge as seen from the Mississippi River Bike Trail (MRT)
Destrehan Plantation
That's me on the MRT
Grain elevators abound on the river.
Grain elevator on the Mississippi River.
The Mississippi River as seen from the MRT.
Happy Camper
Ending the tour with a burger at The River Shack

The route from New Orleans to Hammond makes a great bike ride to get out of town for a two day weekend. This journey begins near the Mississippi River Trail (MRT), drops down onto the shoulder of busy HWY 61 for a few miles, then turns right onto Old Highway 51 (parallel to the raised Interstate 10 highway). Hwy 51 is a lightly used two lane road with wide shoulders and swamp views. At Ponchatoula, LA the route wiggles along back roads along the eastern edge of Hammond, LA to Hidden Oaks Campground. As with any campground, weekdays (Monday-Thursday) is quiet. Weekends can be rough, although there is a strictly enforced noise rule starting at 10PM. Bring ear plugs anyway.

The return route follows our tracks exactly as there is only one road option for cycling from New Orleans to Hammond.