50K in 50 States by 50 Years Old
The Road So Far: Louisiana — at least 50K from multiple visits
Southern Louisiana is part of my personal heritage. Whenever I visit I bring back po-boy bread in 3-foot-long mailing tubes, and cans of creamed red beans and boxes of Gambino’s doberge petit fours. Drinking coffee with chicory is sublime, particularly when paired with the kind of pastry that seems only available in New Orleans.
I lived in a New Orleans suburb as a kid. In high school we’d visit New Orleans and just wander the Quarter, a habit I’ve kept into adulthood even as I expanded my wanderings. I spent nearly 20 years avoiding New Orleans because it contained such powerful memories, both painful and joyful. When I reclaimed it on foot, a lot of trauma was put it its proper historical context and I’m not ashamed to say I just wept to have the joy back. The food. The smells. The MUSIC. The sheer life of the city.
Reclaiming things that were taken from me is what walking is partially about, and Louisiana is one of the most powerful of those places for me to reclaim. Walking is not just freedom to move around, but freedom to redefine with every walk how I relate to a place.
Where to get some distance in Louisiana
While I did live in Louisiana, it was a long time ago and my knowledge now is as a super nostalgic tourist and limited to New Orleans.
My last several long walks were as a tourist and completely contained to the French Quarter proper with some roving into the Warehouse district, Marginy and Bywater.
If you’re new to the city, you’ll easily find long walks that are safe, fun, and offer plenty to see. But that does not do proper justice to a large, vibrant state with a rich history and plenty of natural beauty (despite the bugs…did I mention the bugs?? DEET ya’ll. DEET).
If you’re in and around Louisiana, add your favorite long walks to the comments.
Celebrating Louisiana Indigenous Voices
Water rights and food sovereignty are among the most important topics for modern indigenous people — and all people. The bayous of Louisiana have been eroded for decades, exacerbating storm damage and threats to traditional ways of life. L’eau Est La Vie Resistance Camp are water protectors fighting an oil pipeline, and they have started a Just Transition movement called Ndn Bayou Food Forest. Check out both and learn about parts of this amazing state that have nothing to do with laissez les bons temps rouler.
There are 15 nations and tribes recognized by the Louisiana state government, of which four are also federally recognized. Approximately 0.5% of the population identifies as American Indian.
I have set myself a goal of completing at least 50Km in all 50 states by the time I’m 50. To acknowledge that I’m traveling on land that was stolen from others, I am donating $500 to the First Nations Development Institute for each state I complete.
Thank you for reading and supporting me on this journey. If you’re able to chip in — for your state, or for all 50 states — you’ll help me double the impact I’m able to make on my own.
If you’re from Louisiana or living there right now, please consider supporting the Ndn Bayou Food Forest or another local and indigenous-led organization.
