New Orleans, Lousiana

  It was a "Big Easy" drive from San Antonio to New Orleans. I-10 all the way. Smooth four lanes and not too many hills. This was a much needed break from rugged two lane highways through the mountains. 

  We got to Lake Pontchartrain Landings Campground at around one O'clock on Thursday, July 3rd. We set up our rig, and took the Camry to the city in search of some fresh oysters and craw fish. We parked at the visitor center which is just next door to the famous St. Louis Cemetery that you always see in the movies. You know the one where all of the tombs are above ground? We decided to make a quick walk through of this notorious historic site where we experienced a very ere stench of death there inside the walls right before lunch/supper.

OK, been there and done that so, lets go get our Cajun chow on! If you don't already know it, those Cajuns know how to eat because they are always practicing. Spend a few days with people from Louisiana and you'll soon find out that while your eating breakfast, the topic of discussion is what's for lunch, and while your eating lunch, the topic of discussion is whats for dinner, and while your eating dinner... You get the idea.

Yum!

We walked in to Deanie's Restaurant and had fried shrimp and oyster Po boys, soft shell crabs, char grilled oysters, and some raw ones. They rolled us outta there...

Next we walked down Bourbon Street. Its not what we expected. There was a distinct smell of urine in the air as you walked down the street. Every other storefront was a topless bar with their employees standing at the door inviting you in, and the crowd was somewhat intimidating to a man with his wife and children with him. After making it a few blocks we quickly headed away from Bourbon street and headed towards the River. 

The shops and fellow tourists were much more mild as soon as we got off of Bourbon St. but we were all pretty tired after a half of traveling and a belly full of food, so we headed back to the car and returned to our camp.

 Erica picked a great campground for our visit to New Orleans. This place just so happened to serve the best BBQ in town, and had great live music every evening. We enjoyed both the next day on the 4th of July, after we visited the French Market, had Beignets at Cafe Du Monde and before watching the fireworks. It was another great day. The last one of a really great trip. Shortly after the fireworks, we moseyed back to our camper, broke down our rig, and left New Orleans headed for Ruskin, Fl. I drove until about 1am and then pulled in to a rest area for some sleep before finishing our journey.

Here's Betsy napping with the Big Boy's just East of Pensacola (below)

 I'll try to publish one more post summarizing the trip and highlight the peaks and valleys. Overall it was an outstanding experience for us all. As soon as we got home, I was asked by a friend if I would do it again, and I said "No, because We've already done it. But if your asking me if I had to do it again, then I would in a heartbeat and wouldn't change a thing".