The group has assembled at the Airport Hilton in New Orleans.  We have 12 riders on board for the full 25 days to Minneapolis, and another 2 rider as far as the first off day in Memphis.  Several of the riders (I think 5) are alumni who rode together on the Across America North ride in 2012.  This reminds me of my 2010 North group doing Ride the West in a group in 2012.
At any rate, it looks like a good bunch, with a great staff team.  I am looking forward to getting started tomorrow morning.  We breakfast at 6:30, and load luggage at 8:00.  The first day to Gonzales should be a pretty easy 60 miles.  I am attaching a couple of shots of the crew at the in-brief and our first dinner.



The group at orientation.


Our first dinner was a spaghetti buffet at the hotel.