In the morning we drove out to Slidell to go on a swamp tour. We were going alligator hunting, but fortunately we weren't going to be providing meals for everyone on the boat, as the only gator we saw was about 4 feet long. Guide said it had been warm for the past few days and the gators had been out, but the air was cold so they went back into hibernation. Gator bury themselves in the mud and bring their heart rate down to one beat a minute. Sound like a great diet plan. Gator season is in September so we didn't see Troy or any of his friends. Wouldn't have made much money on that little guy anyways. So, not seeing any gators, we went hunting for other wildlife. Really didn't see anything to speak of, but did go into the swamps.....as far as I wanted to go. There were people frome every place on that tour, so it made for an interesting few hours. Learned more about the changes people have made in their lives since Katrina. heck, our storms are nothing....even Irene when we lost so many trees on our island. The tour guide lost his house; had to sell his shrimp boat and build a new home on a higher level of land. Driving through New Orleans, you can still see places which were destroyed and have not been repaired. The French Quarter wasn't one of those areas. Water didn't get to the French quarter as it is on the Mississippi, and it was Lake Pontchartrain that caused the damage by going over the levees. There is so much water around here, and so many bridges. I really don't like high bridges, especially when we are towing, but we made it here.
We did drive by the Super Dome, and I had to send a text back to one son-in-law to ask if it was a new one, but it had just been rebuilt. Super Bowl was there this year, I think. It really is beautiful, although it looks like a spaceship. We camped in a completely different area last year so did not bump in to it.
Oh, while on the swamp tour, we had to sail under a drawbridge, which was in much worse shape than the old Memorial Bridge. Doesn't get used much, about three times a year. But one of our fellow tourists had never seen a bridge like that and wanted to know what all the stuff was above the bridge was. Just a miniature old Memorial Bridge.
Going to have to stop now, as we need to figure out what we re going to do today and get moving. Hope. I hit the right spot to save this so I don't have to start all over again.
Its evening now, still on the 21st and we are sitting outside, doing our laundry. Such a fun thing to do, but works well when there are more than one washing machine and dryer.
Well, today, we went back into the city. We were considering going on the NATCHEZ, a steam powered paddle boat, and thats what we did. It has two day time cruises, both with meals, but we decided to just get something to eat before hand and go on the 2:30 cruise. Last night, while on the cocktail tour, Russ asked about the best place to get a roast beef po boy. Found it, and had lunch there. I had chicken three decker sandwich and Russ had his beef po boy. No complaints from either of us except mine was huge. His was the special, so was just a half, and they don't serve half po boys unless they are on the special. Well, we wondered around the city for quite a while after that and before we could get onto the boat. Found a place where we could get our 'to go' cups of hurricanes and margaritas. New Orleans has no problems with their quests wandering the streets with a drink in hand, as long as its not in a glass cup. The cruise lasted two hours, and first we went down the river. We were shown where the piers were prior to Katrina, and were burned during the storm, and where the city is planning on rebuilding piers for the tour boats. Carnival is going to be sailing out of NO, so we have heard. Also went by two Navy cargo boats, the KNOX and the KENNEDY, which can be loaded and sent overseas for a 6 day crossing of the Atlantic. Some of the areas looked like Portsmouth, with the salvage metal being craned out of the hulls of barges, in this case. Also, saw Domino sugar being taken from barges and going to the refinery. Just like Portsmouth, but on a much larger scale.
New Orleans is 110 miles from the Gulf, so we didn't go that far. Did go up past the pier, which is an area we have not walked to. Coming back down to the pier, the captain came on the loud speaker to ask everyone to remain seated as the winds were stronger than normal, and it took a little extra time to get docked. All's well, and we are now back at the campground doing our laundry.
Oh, mentioning Carnival. When we left Pensacola, we drove through Mobile on Route 10, along the river. The Triumph is under repair there, and we were able to see it from the truck. I'll ask Russ to download a couple of those pictures, as I am sure it will be so interesting. Just looks like a cruise ship, a big cruise ship.
Oh, another thing, this campground, in case I hadn't mentioned it before, is across the river from NO, so today we took a ferry to get to NO. Had to drive about nine miles from the campground. Walked onto the ferry, for the 20 minute ride, and then returned the same way. Ferry is free, apparently paid for by the state. Beats going over some of these bridges.
Well, wash almost done, and we are leaving in the morning. Russ is on the IPad trying to figure out where we are going next. Can't stay in any one place for too long.
We'll let you know tomorrow where we are......
Its evening now, still on the 21st and we are sitting outside, doing our laundry. Such a fun thing to do, but works well when there are more than one washing machine and dryer.
Well, today, we went back into the city. We were considering going on the NATCHEZ, a steam powered paddle boat, and thats what we did. It has two day time cruises, both with meals, but we decided to just get something to eat before hand and go on the 2:30 cruise. Last night, while on the cocktail tour, Russ asked about the best place to get a roast beef po boy. Found it, and had lunch there. I had chicken three decker sandwich and Russ had his beef po boy. No complaints from either of us except mine was huge. His was the special, so was just a half, and they don't serve half po boys unless they are on the special. Well, we wondered around the city for quite a while after that and before we could get onto the boat. Found a place where we could get our 'to go' cups of hurricanes and margaritas. New Orleans has no problems with their quests wandering the streets with a drink in hand, as long as its not in a glass cup. The cruise lasted two hours, and first we went down the river. We were shown where the piers were prior to Katrina, and were burned during the storm, and where the city is planning on rebuilding piers for the tour boats. Carnival is going to be sailing out of NO, so we have heard. Also went by two Navy cargo boats, the KNOX and the KENNEDY, which can be loaded and sent overseas for a 6 day crossing of the Atlantic. Some of the areas looked like Portsmouth, with the salvage metal being craned out of the hulls of barges, in this case. Also, saw Domino sugar being taken from barges and going to the refinery. Just like Portsmouth, but on a much larger scale.
New Orleans is 110 miles from the Gulf, so we didn't go that far. Did go up past the pier, which is an area we have not walked to. Coming back down to the pier, the captain came on the loud speaker to ask everyone to remain seated as the winds were stronger than normal, and it took a little extra time to get docked. All's well, and we are now back at the campground doing our laundry.
Oh, mentioning Carnival. When we left Pensacola, we drove through Mobile on Route 10, along the river. The Triumph is under repair there, and we were able to see it from the truck. I'll ask Russ to download a couple of those pictures, as I am sure it will be so interesting. Just looks like a cruise ship, a big cruise ship.
Oh, another thing, this campground, in case I hadn't mentioned it before, is across the river from NO, so today we took a ferry to get to NO. Had to drive about nine miles from the campground. Walked onto the ferry, for the 20 minute ride, and then returned the same way. Ferry is free, apparently paid for by the state. Beats going over some of these bridges.
Well, wash almost done, and we are leaving in the morning. Russ is on the IPad trying to figure out where we are going next. Can't stay in any one place for too long.
We'll let you know tomorrow where we are......
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