Joined a group of riders from my office that got tired of riding the Mississippi River levee for a ride on Lakefront Drive along Lake Pontchartrain. They've figured out a 12.5 mile loop that they do twice around. For the most part, the drive is a 4 lane road, with light car use, goes part way through a park - and very few traffic signals. It's a flat ride, except for the canal overpasses or passes over and back across the lake front levee. With a light breeze coming off the lake, it's rather pleasant. I got to see parts of the city I've never seen before, like the yacht club. Hard to believe much of the area was soaked under water 4 years ago, although some parts of the park have not been rebuilt.

The ride was much more fun than the levee, and not as windy. The route had some gentle curves to make it interesting, sail boats on the lake, a few overpasses (hills) to add a challenge, but otherwise flat and fast. There were lots of cyclists doing the circuit. I managed to hang with the fast group (20mph) before I dropped off. I did 23 miles, average speed 17 mph.