Today was the big day. We got into New Orleans around 6 the night before and made a fairly early evening of it (comparatively speaking of course) so we’d be ready to go. Nikki & Holly were special guests of New Orleans Inaugural Bike Week, so the folks there went out of their way to make us feel welcome. They had arranged for us to have a Champions for a Cause booth at the Bike Show at the Convention Center, so some C4C crew got up super early (6 a.m.!) to load up stuff to take over there. Meanwhile, the bikers and crew were getting ready to appear in the bike parade at nine, so they were cleaning their bikes and such. Once the booth was set up, we all regrouped and headed over to Basin Street Station to meet our hosts. Larry Oliphant was very excited to have us, and we also met MJ Reynolds, who was instrumental in hooking us up with the bike week stuff. Everyone was so nice to us and excited about our cause.

New Orleans Bike Week Parade. Jay Allen is in front with his buddy, we are the group behind them. Then there's everyone else waaaaaay back there.
Sherry and Renee thought to get us pink beads to throw out at the parade to passersby. Everyone put on the beads and was ready to rock. Holly & Nikki did a few interviews with local TV and press explaining their charity, and also got to meet Jay Allen, who owns the Broken Spoke, which is a legendary biker bar in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Holly & Nikki with Jay Allen, owner of the Broken Spoke in Sturgis, SD.
Leatherheads divx
We also got to hang out with the legendary Budweiser Clydesdales who were going to lead the parade.
The Guardian rip

How many folks get *this* view of the Clydesdales?
Backdraft trailer Those horses are so magnificent! Just big, strong and beautiful animals. So the line up was the Clydesdales, Jay Allen and then our crew – and then everyone else. The parade meandered through downtown New Orleans - and we are sure we spotted former NBA star Dennis Rodman watching the parade. He *was* in town for the Gumball 3000 rally, so it’s a possibility. Take a look at the pic and see if you don’t think it’s him.

That is the former Mr. Carmen Electra. Check out his tattoos and such.
The parade ended up in front of the convention center – and across the street from the Bike Week festivities. The gang then went into the tents and checked out the vendors and attractions, one of which was the Wall of Death. The Wall of Death is basically a tall barrel type thing where several crazy dudes ride motorcycles inside it. The really crazy thing is, they ride them right up onto the wall.

The Wall of Death. These guys are nuts.
They start with a go kart, then a small Harley Davidson, working their way up to a 1928 Indian motorcycle. Then they do dueling bikes, riding two bikes in the barrel at once. One of the coolest things they do is when they take tips from the audience. Fans fold a bill lengthwise and hold it out – and the crazy riders drive by and take it out of their hands!

The crazy dudes of the Wall of Death. They were actually very sweet, don't let 'em fool you.
Everyone had a bit of down time for lunch, then we headed to the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans. This would prove to be a highlight of the trip. Holly & Nikki brought photos to sign, miniature basketballs, pink beads, adidas rubber bracelets, pens, keychains and all kinds of goodies for the kids. The kids were fascinated by the big shiny bikes, and more than a few ventured over to honk the horns, sit on the bikes, and ask lots of questions. Many of these children are very sick, so even if for a little while we were able to lift their spirits, it was all worthwhile.

Nikki gets a hug from Children's Hospital patient Jordan.

Nikki & Holly pose for photos with a patient from Children's Hospital.

Chad and Tim let one of the kids honk the bike horn.
Nikki and Holly were both touched by the children, and more than one C4Cer shed a tear. The kids had a great time and the staff there couldn’t have been nicer. We enjoyed the visit very much – maybe more than the children did!
Everyone had a bit of free time to explore New Orleans – the French Quarter, the Garden District, and we even saw some of the hardest hit areas from Hurricane Katrina, in particular the Lower Ninth Ward. That’s the area of town where one of the levees broke and flooded it so badly that even a barge came through the levee and into the neighborhood.
The Happening trailer
Who Killed Doc Robbin divx
Invasion of the Pod People dvdrip

The wall on the right is the one that broke and flooded the Lower Ninth Ward.
Surf’s Up movie Fats Domino grew up there and still lives there.

Fats Domino's house. You gotta love how he wants everyone to know how to find him.
Needless to say, there were so many homes lost in that ward, and so many in disrepair. This is the area where Brad Pitt is doing his Make it Right Foundation Project.

The Make It Right Foundation sign, the organization started by actor Brad Pitt.
Pitt is an architecture buff, and you can see those influences in the design of the new homes being built by his group.

One of the Make It Right Foundation's homes.

Another of the Make It Right Foundation's homes.
Many of the homes are being built just beyond the levee. To find out more about this project, go to http://www.makeitrightnola.org. Although there are still many signs of devastation in New Orleans, the city is vibrant and resilient.
The Big Lebowski full
Star Wars: The Clone Wars psp
The Wild Bunch divx
Raiders of the Lost Ark trailer Before Sunset full movie
We wrapped up the visit to New Orleans with dinner at Carmelo’s. This New Orleans institution serves some of the best Italian in the city. They had a private room for us, and it was really nice because this was a chance to recall the day’s events. In fact, each person talked about what their favorite moment of the trip was so far. There were a lot of laughs, as well as some serious moments too. Many people recounted why it is that they are on this trip, as so many of us have been personally touched by breast cancer. It was a really nice evening and a perfect way to cap off a successful trip to the Crescent City.