New York man bicycling to all 50 states meets long-lost half-sister in Louisiana: ‘Can’t make this stuff up’

A person from Syracuse, New York, who’s biking to all 50 U.S. state capitals in a single 12 months has revealed the kindness he skilled in Louisiana. 

He additionally took a slight detour from his capital-to-capital route to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and meet his half-sister for the primary time. 

Bob Barnes, 52, has been sharing his experiences and insights with Fox Information Digital alongside his journey. On Feb. 22, he reached his twenty eighth cease: Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

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After his go to to Baton Rouge — and later, New Orleans — Barnes mirrored on The Pelican State, a spot that he stated “felt like a trip” day-after-day.

‘They handled me like a celeb’ 

Barnes arrived in Louisiana on Feb. 18. He advised Fox Information Digital that Louisianans had acknowledged him from media interviews.

Throughout Barnes’ cease for a fast chunk at Burger King, the cashier didn’t cost Barnes for his French fries and even gave him further. As soon as Barnes was again on the highway, a pair pulled over of their automobile to talk with Barnes as a result of they acknowledged him.

“They handled me like a celeb,” Barnes stated. 

Although Barnes advised Fox Information Digital that most of the state capitol buildings he’s visited are comparable, Baton Rouge stood out for its peak, with 34 flooring.
(Bob Barnes)

“I did get to go as much as the twenty seventh flooring, the observatory,” Barnes added. “Obtained to see all of Baton Rouge. It was fairly cool. So it’s very distinctive in that regard.”
(Bob Barnes)

Later that very same night time, Barnes stated he met up with considered one of his followers on his “Bibbery Travels” Fb web page, who handled Barnes to dinner and a room at a close-by lodge. 

Barnes, an avid camper, stated he’s sometimes towards the concept of staying in resorts besides throughout extreme climate — however he ended up accepting the provide. 

“I used to be simply handled nice all day lengthy,” Barnes stated. 

Kindness “appears to be the theme in america, from what I see.”

— Bob Barnes

The kindnesses continued the subsequent day, Barnes stated. Another person seen Barnes and pulled his automobile over to supply Barnes some “snacks and encouragement.”

“It’s type of bizarre being acknowledged,” he stated. “I’m in Louisiana. I’m from New York.”

Barnes stated the factor he saved interested by Louisiana was that everybody was so sort. “I really feel like I say that so usually, it’s getting outdated,” Barnes advised Fox Information Digital. 

He added that kindness “appears to be the theme in america, from what I see.”

Barnes stated he would describe Louisianians as “insightful.”

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“They’re simply very insightful and useful and correct with their info,” Barnes stated.

‘You possibly can’t make these things up’

Since beginning his journey throughout the nation, Barnes stated he found by means of social media that he has a half-sister whom he’d by no means met earlier than. 

His sister, Rose, lives in Louisiana together with her husband and three youngsters, so Barnes determined to drop by for a go to on his approach to New Orleans.

Barnes stated he not too long ago found he has a half-sister he’d by no means met earlier than. Barnes met Rose for the primary time whereas touring by means of Louisiana.
(Bob Barnes)

When Barnes visited his sister Rose, they’d a Mardi Gras king cake — and he bought the plastic child, which suggests he has to deliver the king cake subsequent 12 months.
(Bob Barnes)

“The perfect factor about that was we glance alike and that was simply — it was unusual, however cool,” Barnes stated. “It was like a type of issues that you simply examine … You possibly can’t make these things up.”

Barnes had dinner with Rose and her household and even stayed the night time. “We bought alongside, every thing was nice,” Barnes stated. “It was superior.”

Barnes stated he “completely” plans to be in contact with Rose. Plus, since he bought the plastic child within the Mardi Gras king cake, he needs to be again subsequent 12 months so he can deliver the cake, per custom.

A police escort

Barnes additionally had a couple of interactions with cops in Louisiana. 

Barnes stated that sometimes, as he cycled by means of Louisiana, he was on four-lane highways with sufficient of a shoulder for him to remain protected. 

Every time he would get to a city, the shoulder would flip right into a curb, which meant he needed to journey within the lane with vehicles, “which might be unsafe if you happen to don’t do it proper,” Barnes stated.

When Barnes first bought into Louisiana from Arkansas, he stated he seen the distinction within the states nearly instantly. 
(Bob Barnes)

When requested if something stood out to him about Louisiana, Barnes stated the factor he saved interested by was “all people being so sort.”
(Bob Barnes)

“The air smells completely different and it will get hotter and also you simply really feel such as you’re heading South and also you’re in Louisiana,” Barnes stated of when he first arrived within the state.
(Bob Barnes)

In Gilbert, Louisiana, Barnes stated he noticed a police officer parked by the highway who ended up escorting him by means of city together with his lights on. “That was only a good gesture,” Barnes added.

Later that night time, Barnes was tenting by the facet of the highway when one other police officer confirmed as much as ask what he was doing. When Barnes defined, the officer let him keep for the night time.

“That was no massive deal,” Barnes stated.

Reaching the tallest capitol

Although Barnes advised Fox Information Digital that most of the state capitol buildings he’s visited are comparable, Baton Rouge stood out for him. 

“This capitol is completely different from all the opposite ones,” Barnes stated. “Within the greatest means, it’s the tallest capitol out of all of them, by far. It’s 34 flooring.”

“I did get to go as much as the twenty seventh flooring, the observatory,” Barnes added. “Obtained to see all of Baton Rouge. It was fairly cool. So it’s very distinctive in that regard.”

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Barnes additionally met up with a few members of the Baton Rouge Bike Membership, who gave Barnes a biking tour of the town, handled him to his celebratory beer and gave him recommendations on the place he might spend the night time safely. 

“It was like a type of issues that you simply examine … You possibly can’t make these things up.”

— Bob Barnes

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“There’s nothing higher than having the ability to speak store with those that know what you’re speaking about and have been by means of the identical experiences,” Barnes stated. 

“In order that was nice,” he added. “That was simply one other nice day.”

“I didn’t wish to depart,” Barnes stated about Mardi Gras in New Orleans. “I needed to pressure myself out of there the subsequent morning. I might’ve stayed.”
(Bob Barnes)

Louisiana is aware of good eats

Barnes stated the factor about Louisiana that caught out to him probably the most was the scrumptious meals.

“My [social media] followers inform me I ought to go do this stuff extra usually, so I’m making an attempt to be extra energetic about making an attempt the native delicacies,” he stated.

Whereas he was in Louisiana, Barnes stated he tried a shrimp po’ boy, which he stated was “completely scrumptious.”
(Bob Barnes)

“The po’ boy was completely scrumptious,” Barnes added. “I’ll keep in mind that. That was actually good. It simply melts in your mouth. It’s fried shrimp, inside a toasted bun … Completely scrumptious.”

‘Didn’t wish to depart’

After assembly his half-sister Rose, Barnes headed to New Orleans to rejoice Mardi Gras.

“Mardi Gras is simply an expertise … It’s an enormous celebration.”

— Bob Barnes

Although he had some issue, Barnes was lastly capable of finding somebody to look at his bicycle and equipment within the metropolis whereas he went to go to Bourbon Avenue. 

Whereas he was there, he had a basic Hurricane and “in all probability one too many beers” whereas he witnessed the celebrations. 

After assembly Rose, Barnes headed to New Orleans to rejoice Mardi Gras.
(Bob Barnes)

Whereas Barnes was in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, he had a basic Hurricane and “in all probability one too many beers” whereas he watched the celebrations, he stated. 
(Bob Barnes)

“It was fascinating simply to see all people,” Barnes stated of Mardi Gras. “There’s lots of character down right here. All people’s in costume… all people’s in a great temper. It’s only a good vibe.”
(Courtesy of Bob Barnes)

“There’s lots of character down right here,” Barnes stated. “All people’s in costume. All people’s in a great temper. It’s only a good vibe.”

“Mardi Gras is simply an expertise,” he added. “It’s an enormous celebration, that’s all it’s — one enormous celebration, all the way in which round.”

“I didn’t wish to depart,” Barnes continued, including that he arrange camp in a church parking zone. “I needed to pressure myself out of there the subsequent morning. I might’ve stayed.”

Subsequent cease: Mississippi 

As he cycled by means of Louisiana, Barnes spent lots of time using alongside the Mississippi River and crossed into Mississippi for about 40 miles, he stated. 

Sadly, the elements of Mississippi that Barnes rode by means of didn’t have sufficient of a shoulder for him to journey on, so he needed to journey within the lane with vehicles. 

When he spoke with Fox Information Digital final week, Barnes stated he anticipated there is likely to be “powerful” roads forward on his approach to capital quantity 29 of Jackson.

“I’m mentally ready for that,” Barnes stated. “It’ll be seven days of tough journey.”