Well here we are almost half way across the country again. We had a very restless night at the rest area south of Jacksonville, lots of trucks & reefers coming and going so not at all quiet! Finally, after much tossing and turning decided we might as well get up and get on the road. This was at 4:15 a.m.!!! It didn't take us long to get organized and before you know it, we were heading out while it was till pitch black.
The roads are very well marked, except while I was checking the directions on the computer and wasn't watching the road, "we" missed one critcal off ramp off I-295 to I-10 West so we had to go down a couple of miles to do a turn around, but with little traffic at that time of morning it was not a big deal.
As the sun didn't rise until after 7:00 p.m. we did miss quite a bit of early scenery but soon made up for that as we cruised along I-10. Going across northern Florida it is a much longer drive than I imagined. I think mileage wise, at the top of Florida it is as many miles wide from east to west as it is from the northern to southern end. A beautiful, clean state and we definitely want to come back for a longer visit.
Crossing into Alabama, we stopped and loaded up on maps and brochures at the Tourist Info Centre and Dale found where there was supposed to be a good flea market. Needless to say we had to make a "slight" detour and after a little jogging through Mobile, we found it. Well, for those of you who are familiar with Yuma, this flea market is on par with the old Dog Track. For those of you who aren't...you are not missing anthing!! However, it was a good break and we got to see a little bit of the city.
Continuing on I-10W we arrived in Mississippi and again loaded up on maps and information at the Tourist Centre. While we were not stopping on this trip, will be good research material for a possible future trip or for any of you who read this, that might be interested, or planning a trip yourselves. Mind you, I now have three large bags full of guides,maps, brochures etc that are taking up space on my side of the bedroom floor!!!!
Finally, we were on our last leg of the days' drive and entered in to Louisianna. Again, more guides, maps, brochures from the Tourist Centre and a phone call to few RV Parks. We couldn't get into the first two parks I called and got a little worried that we might have to Wal Mart it again, but third time lucky. We are in a newer park (only been open 3 years) called the Pontchartrain Landing RV park, on the canal leading to Pontchartrain Lake. It is a fairly small park, gravel sites, but nicely kept. They also have a small pool, hot tub, bar up by the pool and you can order pizza and wings if you want a snack (and they will also deliver..snacks only, no drinks!!) We arrived here just after 6:00 p.m. (actually 5:00 p.m. as we had turned our clocks back one hour) so it had been a very long travel day.
Once plugged into power and water and the bus "unpacked" (and of course the perverbial load of laundry going), we walked up to the clubhouse to check things out and talk to a few other RV'ers. Then it was time to have some dinner and then an early night. It was/is quite hot here, at least we find it so. During the night we had to get up and turn on the air conditioning. It was just too hot and muggy to sleep and the noise of the air conditioner in the bedroom was better than the heat!
Today, after a bit of a slow start we caught the jitney into town to see the sights. We walked down Toulouse St., thru Jackson Square, Decatur St., and through the French Market. Quite a large market area and an amazing number of people out and about (and more arriving every minute...a busy, busy tourist area). Lots to see and it was fun to watch and listen to the various musicians playing, on the street and in many of the open air restaurants. We walked the market until we found a bench to rest our weary feet and watched all the goings on. You could spend hours just watching the people and the street entertainers.
Working our way back up Decatur on the far side of the street, in and out of all the many little shops, we stumbled upon Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville Restaurant. Well, an opportunity not to be passed up!! We went in for lunch and we were so glad we did. Funky atmosphere and excellent food..yes we are eating again!! Dale had the Crawfish Etouffe and I had Jimmmy's Jumping Jumbalaya. Both were excellent and after sampling one marguerita while waiting to place our order, decided to enjoy a second while we enjoyed a very lesiure lunch.
We continued our tourist explorations for a wee bit longer and then it was just getting too hot and way too crowded. A lot of the tour busses were dropping off groups and the narrow streets were getting plugged with cars, bikes, jaywalkers, busses..the bedlam was both exciting and nerve wracking!! Catching a cab, we came back to the park and at first intended to go to the pool but with the heat, decided it would be wiser to stay inside, enjoy the air conditioning and maybe have a nap!
Having eaten such a big lunch neither one of us wanted any dinner so have just spent the balance of the late afternoon and evening either outside and when it got too warm, inside. Now just being totally lazy; catching up on computer stuff, doing the finances (hmmm...the last few days have not been too bad at all) and just enjoying being here. Planning on a tour tomorrow through the bayou's..should be most interesting and will keep you posted.
Till then...keep well, travel safe.
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