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New Orleans Test Pilot

Having been on several Rat Race trips, I was keen to try out a test pilot, which my husband & I experienced in New Orleans.I would classify this trip at the easier end of their portfolio. It wasn’t the prettiest or most challenging of trips, however it scored highly for culture and Creole experience. Never before have I been in a bar full of people when the only females were either serving drinks or with Rat Race! The accommodation was alongside a runway, which was also the local road & fish cleaning station. The Mississippi was a short distance away.The kayak on the first day was a tale of 2 half’s. The first an easy paddle in the Mississippi delta. There were lots of birds, cows & the occasional pair of alligator eyes. However it could have been prettier as it goes past an oil refinery. The second half was more like paddling in the open sea, but the finish point was visible, just a few miles away.We had the option to cycle on the levee or the road. However being 32 degrees of direct heat, the road was the easier decision. This continues into the second day, when we cycled on the highway, but the traffic was very accommodating & so much more considerate than UK cycling. We ended with a short run along the Mississippi & a ferry which brought us right into the French Quarter.The contrast between the fishing community in the South & the buzz of music & jazz could not be more different. And the excuse to experience both, whilst kayaking, running & cycling was certainly worthwhile.In being a test pilot, our equipment was ‘the best available’ but I understand may be upgraded if this becomes a listed trip.So on balance I would classify this as an easy entry point into a multi-day trip. It is a really great reason to experience the people of the Deep South & the great Jazz which is available at ‘Maison Bourbon’ on Bourbon Street.

Date of experience: May 17, 2025