Louisana 2014

June 20, 2014

Biloxi, MS

Left Westwego, LA around 9:00, wanted to miss the downtown rush hour traffic which we did.   The drive to Pass Christian, MS was uneventful, which made me happy!  We crossed several causeways, which is amazing that they even built them, sure they encountered several alligators!

Once we got settled in at TLC Wolf River Resort (http://www.tlcwolfriverresort.com), we took a drive into Biloxi, MS.  The Mississippi coast line is beautiful and the white beaches are amazing.  You can still see some the damage that Katrina did, even though it's been 9 yrs.   The houses along the coast hwy are new but built to look like Antebellum homes, not only did they get destroyed but 170 people lost their lives.  Pass Christian took the eye of the storm but all of the towns within 60+ miles on either side also got hurt.   So sad!!

Biloxi Convention Center

We stopped at the visitors center in Biloxi and this lady (at the car show next to the visitors center) told us about that day.  The huge oak trees along the coast hwy were destroyed and they've created designs from the trunks.  Their home was 5 miles inland and they had tornadoes that caused them damage.  Hard to believe that people stayed thru that hurricane!  Walked around the car show, so some pretty interesting low riders.

Seebee Museum in

Had lunch at the Blue Crabshack in Biloxi, I had catfish (best yet!!) and Bobby had a shrimp Poboy.  His first, really liked it.   Our waitress was so friendly, she told us what to see, gave us a sample of gumbo (we didn't like is....too spicy) and told us what to do if a jellyfish stings us....put meat tenderizer on it.



Last stop for the day was the Seebee museum in Gulfport, MS.  Wasn't much to see but thought we'd take a few pics for Ron....since he retired from the Seabee's.


 

June 19, 2014

Oak Alley Plantation

This is our last day in Louisiana anhttp://www.oakalleyplantation.com/.   This sugar cane plantation home was built in 1839 by the Roman family.  Mr. Roman owned approx 116 slaves, which were his most valuable assets.  It’s hard to believe the life they lived but this plantation gives you a great feeling as to what it was like.  

Bobby looking out to the alley

d we’re going to tour the Oak Alley Plantation

The main house is plain in that it’s fairly square but the details in the wood, furnishings, etc. are magnificent.   Obviously they were very well off up until the time of Mr. Roman death and then the family went into debt.  It was given back to the bank, and in 1925 the Stewart family bought it and made it what it is today.  

Dinning Room

The oak alley is made up of 28 oak trees that are 300 yrs old.   The average oak tree lives to be 600 yrs.   They are beautiful!   The home got its name from these trees, boat captains would travel up and down the Mississippi River and when they reached the alley of oaks, they knew there were halfway between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Fireplace made from cypess and painted to look like marbel

We also saw the St Joseph & Laura Plantations, but did not tour them.   We got home around 3, and I cleaned house while Bobby graciously did the laundry.  Thank You honey!

Tomorrow, we head for Pass Christian, MS

June 18, 2014

 

Chalmette memorial

Graveyard at Chalmette

Today is a history day; we toured the Chalmette Memorial & Cemetery http://www.nps.gov/jela/chalmette-national-cemetery.htm.  This is a battlefield from the battle of 1815, in which the Union fought against the British during the Civil War.   They did most of the fighting near or on the Mississippi River, which is just a throw away.   In the Graveyard there are over 15,000 graves, of which represent the Civil War, World Wars I & II plus Vietnam. 

Lighthouse at Pontchartrain

Next we drove out to Lake Pontchartrain, where we saw the world’s longest causeway, 24 miles long.   Also saw the lighthouse/museum, which was closed.  

We then drove to Costco for a few supplies/lunch.  After we arrived home at 4:00, we went swimming.  The State Park has a pool, which makes it very handy!

June 17, 2014

Hard to believe we've been on the road for a month already.  It's been an amazing trip so far.

Firefighters Crypt

Elks crypt

Another day of sightseeing in New Orleans.  We decided to take the trolly and see the city from it, hoping to give our legs a rest, suffering from the heat!   We got on the Canal Street trolly and took it to the end, this is where some of the cemeteries are located.   Once off the trolly, we went into the Grove & Greenwood Cemeteries.   Some of the crypts date back into the 1800's.   In the Greenwood one, we saw a crypt for the Conferred Amy, Firefighters and BPOE (Elks).   These were very impressive, as were some of the family ones.

Got back on the trolly and took a different one to the City Park.   Here we toured the sculpture gardens, they have 63 different sculptures located through out this park.  Some of them were very unique and clever.

Sculpture Garden

Sculpture Garden

We headed back into town, stopped at Harah's Casino, did not play.  Grabbed some lunch and then took the St Charles Trolly, it goes past lots of old homes, Loyola & Tulane Colleges and the Zoo.   This trolly was not air conditioned like our earlier ones, so it was a little hot.  Stopped at Wendy's for some ice cream to cool us down before we headed back into downtown area.

Left New Orleans around 4:30, great day.   We decided that the folks of New Orleans are not nearly as friendly as Lafeyette!


 June 16, 2014

Cafe Du Monde

Riverwalk

Left around 8:30 and headed to the Algiers Ferry, as it's very expensive to  park in New Orleans.   It cost $2 each way per person, much better than the $30 they want to park for a few hours in New Orleans.   We arrived at the dock around 9:00 and headed to Cafe Du Monde for beignets.   They are wonderful but oh so messy!   Think we might have to come back again before we leave...lol.

We then walked around the Jackson Square area, stopping at the St Louis Cathedral , it magneficent.  Next stop was Bourbon Street.   It was fairly dead, since it's around 11:00 AM, we'll defineitely have to come back at night.   Looked through several of the shops, did not buy anything.

WWII Museum

Next we walked to the WWII museum.   What a wonderful display of WWII, especially the movie "beyond all boundries", narratived by Tom Hanks.  The special effects are amazing, it's done in 4D.   After the movie we toured the exhibits, they have 3 buildings, of which only 2 are open, the newest one opens in 2015 and they're building another one, which will open in 2016.   We highly recommend visiting this museum.

St Louis Cathedral & Jackson Sq

We were tired, we'd walked almost 7 miles, so we are calling it a day.  Headed back to the ferry but along the way found the Riverwalk, so we decide to go in and have lunch at their food court.   They have 75 stores, so we window shopped while walking back to the ferry.   Got on the ferry about 3:30 and got home around 4.  Won't be doing much this evening, wore out!

June 15, 2014

Armadillo

Today we left Lafayette and headed to New Orleans.   We took I-90, don't recommend it, very bumpy road, especially for a motorhome.   Thought for sure we were going to break
something, but we didn't.  

Bobby examines a flood door

We arrived at Bayou Segnette State Park around 1:30, had a late lunch and then took a walk around the park.   They have a swimming pool and a wave pool.   The swimming pool is included in the daily charge but the wave pool cost an additional $10 per day....doubt we do the wave pool.

From the boat ramp, you can see New Orleans, we are about 10 miles by road but by the crow, we are approx 4 miles.   You can see the flood gates they installed since Katrina came through.   These are amazingly huge doors, hopefully they'll never have to test them to see if they'll hold back the water.

After dinner we took another walk, saw our first live Armadillo.   He's quick, I must say!   Hope we'll see him again tomorrow.

June 14, 2014

Crypts behind church

Attended a flea market, had about 500 booths, Bobby bought a plastic flask.  Then we drove around downtown, nothing exciting.   Next we went to see the Cathedral of St. John, it had a wedding going on, so

Cathedral of St. John

we were unable to go inside but the outside is stunning.   They have a large graveyard directly behind the church, so Bobby got to see his first Southern Graveyard.  They are amazingly beautiful.....lots of history.  Fun to walk around and see the dates and names on the crypts.

Our next stop brought us to Vermilionville, it's a recreation of the Acadian settlers.  All of the buildings are originals that have been donated.   Some of them date back into the early 1800's.   You get to meet many artisans and see their crafts.   The most amazing one to us was a gentleman named Merlin Fontenot, he was 91 years old and served in WWII.   He was in the school house and played the violin for us.   Had a lovely time talking to him and the other artisans.   After touring the buildings, we stopped at the pavilion and listen to a group play Cajun music.   It was wonderful!   Could have stayed all afternoon, but I was starving.

Old ferry at Vermilionville

Next we went to see the State BBQ contest...nothing like Havasu's.   They did not have samples for us to taste, only the judges got food....very strange to us!

Milton Fontenot...91 yr old WWII vet

Decide to try Poches for lunch, it a restaurant near us that the rv parks owners own.  We split a shrimp dinner, it was excellent.  I did order a piece of catfish also, it was heaven!   We also had a sample of the Crawfish Etouffee, it was spicy but great flavor, we'd order it next time.

While at Vermilionville, the lady at the gift shop recommended we go I-90 and bypass Baton Rouge, so we'll try that route so we can see more of the Cajun portion of the south.

June 13, 2014

Started out by driving to Avery Island, home of the Tabasco factory.   You watch a 7 min film about the
history and a tour guide gives you a little on the history of Tabasco, plus you get to walk thru the mfg plant and see the bottles coming off the line.   You don't really get a tour but it's interesting to learn about the history of Tabasco.   They gave us some samples, which was very nice.   Next we went to their country store, where you can sample all the varieties.   I did not try any.

Next we went to the Jungle Gardens, they are also

our first wild alligator

on Avery Island and were created by Mr. McIlhenny (founder of Tabasco) 2nd to oldest son.  He wanted to protect the snowy egret.  You take a 3 mile driving tour where you drive around the island.   We saw many egrets, an alligator and other birds.  It's beautiful on this island with all the old oak trees and the Spanish moss.

Our next stop was the Lake Martin Rookary, but we couldn't find it.   We did see more allegators in the swamps that are part of Lake Marting, which was exciting for me.

We had thunderstorms, so we call it quits for the day....3:00 pm.  Tomorrow, we'll tour the area some more.


June 12, 2014

Cane River Plantation

Lives at the pond at rv park

Left Gladewater around 8, do about 20 miles down the road when the freeway was stopped, apparently a car ran into the back of a truck.   It was around 9:30 before we got going again.

We stopped in Natchitoches, TX to walk around the Cane River Creole National Park.   It's a plantation that was built back in 1821.  It was Bobby's first time to a plantation.   We did not go inside the main house, as we did not want to wait for the tour....to muggy
!!!!

Sunset from RV Park

Had lunch at coach and then continued on to Lafeyette.   We are parked at Poche's RV Park, in BReaux Bridge, LA, just outside of Lafeyette.   Got here around 3:30, so we decided to just rest.  Bobby washed the truck while I walked around and took pics, etc.   This place has four fishing ponds that are 5-10 acres in size.   It's lovely here.

After dinner, I went for another walk, the reflections in the lake are gorgeous.   We have this red cardinal that like pecking
on the truck and our mirrors.  He's so much fun to watch!