Inaugural 9/17 Freedom Ride Jeep And Motorcycle Run [Pictures]

On Saturday, friends and families took part in the Inaugural Freedom Ride Jeep and Motorcycle Run,  put on by the Acadiana Patriots in conjunction with the Constitution Celebration , held at Comeaux Recreation Center/Beaullieu Park in Lafayette.  The Freedom Ride was a 60-mile trek through a beautiful part of Acadiana, with stops for refreshments and prizes.

The day started with an incredible view:

Registration opened at 8:30 at Beaullieu Park ($20 per driver, $10 per passenger), and included a door prize ticket, t-shirt, and appetizers/lunch/dessert!

Over a dozen motorcycles and almost twice as many Jeeps were lined up in the parking lot by 9:45, ready for the 10am departure.

Our route consisted of Ambassador Caffery to Broussard, Highway 96 to St. Martinville (where we parked along S New Market Street, near Evangeline Oak Park, to re-group).

From St. Martinville, we took Highway 347, following Bayou Teche all the way into Breaux Bridge.  then on to Henderson to Crawfish Town USA!!

Catfish boulettes and boudin, door prizes and a nice cool beverage were waiting there for us.  After a 30-minute rest, we hit the road again, driving through Poche Bridge, over to Lajaunie Road, and then on to Gloria Switch, arriving moments later at our lunch destination, Prejeans!

At Prejean's, it was cold beverages, chicken and sausage gumbo, pistolettes, more door prizes and lots of laughs and fun!

After lunch, it was time to head back to the Constitution Celebration at Comeaux Recreation Center.

We staged at the I-49 entrance ramp, and then convoyed all the way down I-49/Evangeline Thruway to Verot School Road, then on to Ambassador Caffery and finally West Bluebird, where we pulled into the parking lot en masse, with reserved parking just for the Jeepers!!!

At the Celebration, there was a 'private' room set aside for the ride participants, where we enjoyed our dessert and the last of the door prizes and the 50/5o raffle.

The Constitution Celebration went through 6pm, with guest speakers, comedians (Maw Maw Thibodeaux!!) and music.  Even Jaycee Badeaux performed!

Thanks to the organizers of the Constitution Celebration for a great day, and special thanks to Andree' Barras for helping to organize the Jeep/Motorcycle run!  I'm looking forward to next year!

Be sure to check out the photo gallery  below for many more pictures from the event.