Florida and Georgia, March 15^th till March 30^th 2018

When we get up Thursday March 15^th its freezing cold. The temperature is below 40 degrees and last night there was frost. We have a shower on the campground. Although the water is warm, the building feels like a freezer so I don’t even dress up but wrap a towel around me and walk to the RV. There our heater made it a comfortable temperature inside. When the Sun emerge above the forests the outside temperature is also more pleasant.

On quiet roads we drive through endless forests and slowly we arrive in a more populated area, we are near Tampa. In front of us on the road we see the first trucks with oranges.  Would those be used for our “Florida’s Natural” Orange Juice?

Little Manatee River State Park is fully booked but, when we arrive further South in Lake Manatee State Park at 2 pm, after much groaning and moaning by the Ranger (something’s not right in the administration) there is a spot available. Dick says that we have to stay for two days, a good decision when we see the spot which is big, very nice and quiet. Again we were lucky because this was the last available spot. In the afternoon we walk around in the park. Of course, we take a look at Lake Manatee but it’s not tempting to swim in this dark brown water with algae. There is nobody around in the water and so we walk on and end of the afternoon we are back at our RV where we still enjoy some time in the Sun.

It‘s now 78 degrees and the freezing cold weather from this morning is gone. Friday March 16^th, we get up at half past eight, terrible to stay in bed so long but obviously we needed some extra sleep.

 

After breakfast Dick removes our carpet from the RV and outside he is working on it with foaming detergent while I clean the floor of our RV. Everything is shining.  Now we have the opportunity to look between our floors where, indeed, we find our diving suits. We will not forget them. We take our time. Because we have electricity I finally cut Dick’s hair, of course outside, it’s really necessary. After the carpet has dried up and brushed again Dick places it back in the RV, “Wooow it’s really clean”. We now earn it to sit outside in the sun and enjoy a glass of beer.

Saturday morning March 17^th we get up early. It’s still cold in the morning, only 50 degrees, but there was no frost in the night. Over small roads we drive slowly further south. Finally Dick gets his favorite landscape, green pastures with cows and horses. He had to wait for it almost 10 months because I love the mountains so we always take narrow and steep mountain roads instead of a flat landscape. Men must endure a lot considering how woman, at least I do, always force a way through. Fields with pine trees alternate with citrus trees. Strange, while citrus fruit is everywhere in the trees, at Walmart Arcadia we cannot buy any citrus. After enjoying a Sonic milkshake in Arcadia, we continue our trip, partly on Interstate 75 and partly over small roads.

It is St. Patricks Day and everywhere people walk in green. At 2 pm we arrive in Collier Seminole State Park, East of Naples but the last spot is just forgiven so we continue and in Big Cypress National Preserve, at Burns Lake, we manage to find the last but beautiful spot next to a small lake. Although the water here looks very inviting and the temperature is 87 degrees, swimming is prohibited.

 

The next morning I see why, when a number of alligators float on the water, waiting for a prey within their reach. They have a lot of teeth! Sunday March 18^th we leave this beautiful spot in the National Preserve. Rather than going east, we drive a few miles back to a viewpoint. A good decision because here we find our first real big alligators, swimming, floating and lying on the shore. They are vigilant because when I come too close the smallest of the 5 slides into the water. The other alligators are significantly bigger and even when I sit next to them they stay and don’t move, but definitely look at me. Fortunately we are not a prey at this moment. Ofcourse we drive to the Visitor Center to stamp our National Park Passport and to see the movie about Big Cypress. An impressive movie. A (natural) area comes always more to life when you know the background of the park and what interesting there is. You cannot count the number of large alligators in the water in front of the Visitor Center. It’s impressive to see so many of them.  Near the end of the park is a narrow road leading back to Big Cypress. And we follow that road. First the road is paved till a campground. This campground is not appealing, too dark and lonely, so we decide not to stay here and drive back to Burns Lake.

 

This brings us on a dirt loop road through Big Cypress. We have beautiful vistas in the forests and of the cypress trees, see alligators on the road and orchids hanging on the trees. Ibises run across and scavenge between the water and the tree roots. It looks like a tropical rain forest. The temperature is 87 degrees and humid hot and also feels like the tropics. The road is getting worse, there are many dips, bumps and potholes and the RV shakes back and forth, this road is not really suitable for our camper. Even our dashboard announces that we have to check the diesel filter. Not a really comforting feeling in the middle of nowhere. Luckily, after an hour we arrive at Burns Lake campground where place is still available and we stay again next to our neighbor Kevin.

He left last night for a couple of hours to find a nice spot to photograph the Milky Way. I wake up at half past 1 and indeed I saw a beautiful starry sky but it was too early for the Milky Way. You could only see it around 4 am and staying awake for so long, my delicate constitution couldn’t handle.  Even when growing older I still need lots and lots of sleep. We walk around the lake but unfortunately there are no alligators on the shore. Then we enjoy the sunrays sitting behind the laptop because I have to translate.

 

The Sun is burning and we have to put sun cream on otherwise we burn alive. It stays warm, 87 degrees. Late in the evening, the sun disappeared long ago, it’s getting cooler and we go inside. Next morning Kevin shows us a beautiful picture of the Milky Way with our RV in the foreground. We had to get up last night!!! We leave in time, say goodbye to Kevin and exchange addresses and I make a last picture of the RV when Dick drives along the lake. At 11 am we are back in inhabited area, nurseries are all around us, and it is very busy on the road. A little later we enter Everglades National Park. There are a lot of people at the Visitor Center but there are very few watching the beautiful film about this park. 5 Mile from the entrance is Long Pine Campground. As we don’t know how busy it is at the bay, at Flamingo Campground, we decide to stay here. It is a beautiful place but it is boring between the huge Pine Trees. Oh well, Dick has now the opportunity to publish the English text and I can arrange the “Escort service” we need in the harbor of Baltimore when we deliver our RV there, end of April.

 

Again it’s very warm and we can even eat outside. The sunset is great, a large red sphere slowly disappears behind the Pine trees. Long after darkness we go inside. The next morning, at 7 am, it‘s warm, 69 degrees and it looks more like high summer than the beginning of spring. After breakfast we dump our grey- and black water and fill with clean water and then drive further into the park to Flamingo Bay. The campground here is almost empty and we can choose a spot. Nobody protest when I ask to stay at the bayside, actually the “only tents” spot. We drink a cup of coffee and then grab the bikes and ride the trail along the coast. In the distance we see some of the thousands of islands that are all still part of Everglades National Park.

In the Flamingo Visitor Center we hear that there is a Ranger talk about Manatees at half past 1 so we hang around. Not an annoying place to do because we have a yummy ice cream, watch the Manatees swimming around in the Marina and look at a large Osprey nest with two little ones.

 

The parents fly off and on to give food to their youngsters, it is awesome to view the birds. Incredible, but 6 years ago, when we visited this place with Sandra and Rene, an Osprey nest was in the same spot. Rene made a beautiful picture when the Osprey flew to the nest. It’s hot outside, despite the wind the temperature is well above 90 degrees so we walk to the shade where we socialize with Lucia from California and Anita from Minnesota. Before we know it is half past 1 and we take our bikes to the Marina where the Ranger tells us everything about the Manatees living here along the coast of Florida. To prove that they really exist, the Manatees regularly show up to breathe. They are awesome and we can’t get enough seeing them. Here are also American Crocodiles, different from the alligators but unfortunately we don’t spot them.

Around 3 pm we are back at our RV and stay outside in the Sun. Here along the shore is also an Osprey nest but the birds are more shy. The elderly beep and let the small ones go deep into the nest when I’m too close by. The sea water is warm, at least 72 degrees. No wonder when you consider that the Bay remains shallow for a very long distance. I would love to swim around. But as the Ranger said that is not wise because there are some creatures around that you don’t see in the shaded water until they got you. So I stay on the shore and look at the sea.

 

At 5 pm the tide is coming in and thousands of birds land on the partially flooded land of the campground. Quite impressive to look at. After making a lot of pictures it is time to see the sunset, more impressive here than on the other campground. Even Dick, not a fan of sunsets, is fascinated and makes pictures, perhaps also because there is nothing else to see and inside the RV it’s too warm to stay. At 6 pm it’s still 86 degrees. When the Sun is completely gone the temperature drops till 75 degrees. Still very warm but after the heat of the day it feels cool. With these temperature we take our duvet away we can easily do with only a sheet. We leave this beautiful spot on Wednesday March 21^st. There are many more clouds and the Sun is barely visible, although at 7 am it’s 75 degrees.

We have breakfast and then we drive to Florida City to do some shopping at Walmart. Not far away is a laundromat we really need. After 10 days 2 laundry bags are filled. Although the washing machines don’t really wash clean everything went through soapy water and if it is dry, despite the dirt that’s still to be seen, we declare it clean and store it in our closet. Now at 2 pm it’s too late to travel to the North so we decide to go back to Flamingo, to the coast of the Everglades, where again we book a night on the campground. This time, we may not stay on the tent field but because we were there yesterday and it is still quiet and after some talking and begging we are allowed to stay again at the edge of the tent field. It’s really a beautiful spot, silent, only a couple of tents and the sea in the background.

The temperature is significantly cooler compared to yesterday. The wind is blowing harder and it’s not warmer than 60 degrees. The strong wind is unavoidable in this open field so earlier than yesterday we go inside. However, not until Dick pitch up a tent which lies totally flat against the ground. The owner camps for the first time and has not the condition, because of his already advanced age, to get the tent stand up again.

Once again we have a magnificent sunset so we made the good decision to return. Thursday March 22^nd we wake up at 8 am. That’s because again we had our down Duvet covering us and thereby it was warm or do you sleep better and longer after a day of sea air.

We fill and dump water on Long Pine Campground because at Flamingo is no fresh water. Possibly due to hurricane Irma that caused a lot of damage in September 2017. We have to wait at the dump, we are third in line, so at 10.30 am we finally leave the Everglades. Originally we would go to John Pennekamp State Park for diving but the same hurricane Irma wiped out the diving center and destroyed the compressor so for the time being it is not possible to dive there. That’s why we drive straight to the North and arrive late afternoon at Lake Okeechobee. The road is not really special, many corn-and sugar cane fields and at the lake a high dike prevents seeing anything of this enormous freshwater lake.

 

Only at one point we can look at the Lake and then we see a large Raccoon on the side of the road. I thought you only could see them in the dark. In Okeechobee we can stay at Walmart and find a quiet and nice spot. The temperature is not really high, 63 degrees. We walk around and of course do some shopping.  I cannot resist a nice bright yellow shirt with Manatees and even Dick has no objection if he sees this beautiful shirt. Unfortunately there are no diners around and the potato wedges are sold out at Walmart so we have a simple supper of potato salad, sausages and lettuce. Friday March 23th we get up early because I want to Skype with auntie Ank and it works, we enjoy our 50-minute chat together before we move on.

 

Quickly we reach Hwy 1 and follow this road further North. It is no particular route but we are away from the hustle and bustle of hotels along the beach. We cannot stay on Merrill Island, nor on Cocoa Beach and there are far around no more places to stay except an expensive KOA campground, so we drive to a public park, Manatee Hammock County Park, just south of Titusville where we find a place. It takes a lot of time and begging to get a place for two nights (its weekend and everything is full booked) and only after a lot of talking and insisting I manage to get a second night. It’s on another spot but that is not important for us because tomorrow we leave anyway with the RV to John F. Kennedy Space Center. It turns out to be a sunny spot despite the many trees here and it’s protected by the wind. The latter is important because in the bay, we overlook, are huge waves. The wind blows hard and feels cold. However In the lee of the trees and in the Sun it is 77 degrees.

 

At 7 am the alarm wakes us Saturday morning and after a shower, breakfast and disconnecting our electricity we drive to the Space Center. Just 9 mile from the campground but the road works and lot of traffic doesn’t make it really nice to ride a bike. As one of the first we arrive at the Space Center and this allows us to park our RV in the front and without standing in line, we can buy a (senior) ticket. Then we have to wait in front of the fence because opening is at 9 am. The Sun is shining and it’s not really cold with 55 degrees so waiting is not bad. We are the first to enter and after some orientation and a picture with the many missiles everywhere, we walk to the bus that tours around the space center.

Although buses drive throughout the day it is very pleasant to be on the first bus. Not only it’s still quiet on the road so you can see alligators but at the end point where information is to be to found over the Apollo flights, it’s still not crowded and without hundreds of people around you can look at the exhibition.

 

The bus takes us along the launching pads and of course we see the huge building where the rockets are assembled and cross the enormously wide roads where the rockets are transported to the platforms. 3 Years ago we’ve been here and of course when we were young we saw the first moon landing (July 1969, I still remember that) but nevertheless, it’s marvelous to see how they managed to get the first rocket into an orbit around the Earth and later succeeded in a lunar landing.

We don’t stop looking around. We have lunch outside in the Sun (unfortunately there is no launch today because from this place you would have a fantastic view). After that we take a bus back to the main area of the Space Center where we see how the Space shuttles took over the task of the old rockets. We admire this spacecraft which has made it possible that the ISS space station was built and also the Hubble telescope could be adjusted and repaired.

 

And then we go to the future, the journey to Mars. Starting from 2020, the first test flights with new, improved missiles are carried out, the moon will be a testing ground and in 2030 a Mars landing should follow. It all seems very unlikely but our parents probably thought the same and they saw people walking and driving on the Moon. And Mars is maybe not at all so far away when you consider that there are already two vehicles driving around who regularly send images to Earth. You can find pictures of “Curiosity Rover” on the web. Of course there are several movies about space and life in the space station. They are fantastic, take you to another world and give another dimension to life. The images, from ISS, also make that you’re going to think about our Earth. You see ancient forests destroyed and glaciers disappear but also the difference between North- and South Korea. At night one country is brightly lit while the other side of the border shows a deep dark landscape.

At 7 pm, closure of the park, we leave Kennedy Space Center and drive back to the camp site where we occupy the place next to our old place. It’s already dark so we stay inside the RV and don’t go to bed very late after this impressive day. Sunday March 25^th at half past 9 we drive away. We want to go to Tampa

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, on the west coast of Florida, to visit Christer, the former Director of our “Waterproof” dry suits sales office. Unfortunately when we call him he has already other appointments and at a time it suits him, we cannot be there, so it makes no sense to visit him now. We agree that we drive by in summer when he is back in Sweden.

 

 

So we drive to the North and near Lake Norris we search for the Cache across America of Florida. It is not really easy because the cache consists of several steps and we cannot find some points in between. But the Lake must be very nice to see so we walk on and not in vain because the view of the Cypress trees standing in the water is beautiful. And in doing so, we also find a hint that with some calculation will lead us to the final cache. After a long walk, we find the cache between the palm trees. What a pity that we are so far away from Texas because Aad, one of our friends, cracked the code of the lock so we should be able to open it now. Unfortunately we cannot test Aad’s solution until we return to Texas (and that is not during this trip) in the afternoon we are back at our RV, so we look for an overnight spot not far from here.

 

 

 

In the National Forest near Lake Dorr is a beautiful campground and many empty spots, where we enjoy the Sun, a glass of wine and talk about again a wonderful day. For the first time in weeks on Monday March 26^th it‘s cloudy weather, the sky is completely covered and there is no sun. The RV is soaking wet of the condensation because we stay near a large lake. While we slowly drive to the North it’s drizzling and the temperature is only 58 degrees. What a difference with all previous days. After a nice lunch at Subway we arrive in Georgia and end of the afternoon we stop at Walmart in Waycross. Fortunately the rain stopped but the temperature is low. Tuesday March 27^th it is still heavily cloudy but it’s dry.

After some shopping we drive to the North-West on quiet roads. Around us are flowering trees and Pine forests alternating with vast estates and plantations where peanuts, cotton, sugar cane or corn is grown. The Interior of Georgia is beautiful and lovely. Around half past 12 we arrive in Cordele, Georgia. Despite the fact that on every Pole is a sign: “No Overnight parking” Walmart allows us to stay overnight. After the past weeks the RV is filthy nasty and needs a wash. After some searching we find a carwash and our RV fits in. Moments later Dick is cleaning the RV with lots of foam and bubbles, while I put quarter after quarter, after quarter, after quarter in the machine (every quarter gives 40 seconds). The result is great because after half an hour the RV is white again and looks like a mirror. After also cleaning our clothing and bedding we drive back to Walmart.

 

 

It is now 5 pm and the rest of the evening we do nothing. Next to Walmart is a Chinese restaurant where we get a tasty meal.

Wednesday March 28^th the sun shines again. Let’s hope also at the coast where Gerhard and Beate stay, on Jekyll Island. Nothing is better than celebrate your birthday (congratulations Gerhard) while the sun is shining.

After some last shopping we drive further inland. We stop on the way to find a cache and in Smithville while Dick is logging the caches I skype with auntie Ank. We stay next to a Government building and library and Dick got the password so we have Wi-Fi.

 

 

At noon we arrive in Plains, Georgia, where we go to the old High school, a National Historic Site. This little town with less than 800 peoples is the hometown of Jimmy Carter, the 39^th President of the UNITED STATES (1977-1981). In different buildings the story of his life is told. It is impressive.

Now is proven again that if you lose yourself into someone and hear or read, you understand more. I couldn’t remember that Jimmy Carter, at Camp David, accomplished the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. Unfortunately it is no Sunday otherwise we would certainly visit Sunday school. Jimmy Carter still lives in this town and although he reached the age of 93 (same age as you auntie Ank and also the same birthday month, October 1924) every two weeks he teaches Sunday school in Plains.

The Ranger in the Visitor Center said that the food is more than excellent in the Buffalo Café so between visiting the different places in town we have a late lunch there. The food indeed is great and it also gives us the opportunity to speak with some older persons from town that know Jimmy Carter and tell about him and what it was to hire a long train for the whole town to attend the inauguration in Washington DC. After 4 pm we leave Plains, we had a particularly instructive afternoon and drive to the Florence Marina State Park. There is more than enough place and while sitting in the Sun, we talk about a special day unfortunately the sky is clouded when we get up on Thursday, March 29^th. But it’s not cold so we do not complain. We’re lucky to be here and not further West in Alabama or Tennessee, where we originally intended to be. We heard on the weather channel that a severe storm with flooding is on its way from Houston, Texas, to the North-East.

Let’s hope that storm will not damage a lot. After having breakfast we walk slowly to the Visitor Center. Yesterday when we arrived it was already closed. We decide to stay another day. Not only we can explore this park along the border with Alabama and find some caches but I also can write for the website. After all, it is time again to publish. Despite the clouds the weather is good. The Sun tries to penetrate several times but it doesn’t last long and for the most part of the day clouds continue to have the upper hand.

 

 

But it is around 68 degrees and on our place surrounded by large oak trees, covered with Spanish Moss, it’s good to sit outside.

The trails are nice and I would love to be here with Halloween. On a trail through the spooky looking trees (because of the Spanish Moss hanging down the Oaks) we find storage of tombstones and crosses and also black cloths between the trees with (fake) spider’s webs. Something for you Susan. Not until end of the afternoon I finish my writings for the website. Now it’s Dick to give it another critically reading, search for pictures and to publish. I can start with the English translation.

Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, March 2^nd till March 14^th 2018

The sun shines already when we get up on Friday March 2^nd and it’s warm already, 70 degrees. A good day to continue travels. Unfortunately Beate and Gerhard cannot leave, they are still stuck at Walmart. Fortunately the mail says their master brake cylinder has arrived so there is hope they will quickly be able to travel again. We chat a little about travelling and dealing with problems you experience on long trips and then we leave Thibodaux. It’s Spring, the trees around us have fresh green and flowers are blooming.

 

Just before Grand Isle we have to cross a toll bridge. We’re lucky, charged only the rate of a car because we don’t have a double rear axle and via endless long bridges over the swamps and waters in the south we arrive finally on Grand Isle, South of Louisiana.

The spot, designated by the State Park, is not good because the full wind blows against our door so we look for another empty spot and we may change places. I do not understand that the Ranger has problems with getting a place on your own as there is plenty of space on this campground and despite the weekend it does not seem that this campground gets full. Good weather and Sun is for me the equivalent for sitting outside with my computer. It is necessary because we have to publish again. But when Dick mentions that there are (free) washing machines and dryers on the campground, I stop writing. What is nicer than emptying your laundry bags. So I place our laundry bag and detergent on my bike and go to the other end of the campground where indeed are two washing machines and dryers. It’s 3 pm and the machines are not occupied so the rest of the afternoon I cycle back and forth between the toilet block (with laundromat) and the RV and the result is that at 5 pm everything is clean and dry and our beds have clean sheets too.

 

After done so much it’s great to sit outside in the Sun and relax with a glass of wine. When the Sun is really gone and it’s getting cooler, we go inside. On Saturday March 3^rd  the sun shines bright but there is a hard and cool wind, so the temperature is significantly lower and doesn’t exceed 65 degrees. After having breakfast we take our bikes and explore the island. Of course we search for geocaches because they bring us to all corners of the island. The sea is not appealing because it is dark brown in color (caused by sediment of the Mississippi River) but we don’t need to go into the water and inhaling sea air is great too. Partly we cycle with the wind and partly against the wind , the last is at least 10 degrees cooler in temperature. Of course we look around at the General Store where you can buy everything and end of the afternoon we ride after an awesome trip back to the campground. There, out of the wind and in the Sun it is for sure 77 degrees.

I get on with the translation of our website while Dick looks for pictures and read through the Dutch text. Every now and then you need a quiet spot and Sun to relax.

 

End of the afternoon we cycle to the pier that protrudes into the sea and admire the beach with brownish sand and the oil rigs in the distance. The sea is calm and quiet, the pelicans fly over in groups or one by one and the sun shines in a blue sky. At night there is a beautiful starry sky. But it seems that the stars here are further away than, for example, in Joshua National Park. But maybe I am wrong. On Sunday  March 4^th  we get up at 7 am and after showering, but before breakfast, I fill up two washing machines. I do not understand how this is possible (I did laundry yesterday) but I manage. That’s why we don’t leave before 9 am, but everything is clean by then. We drive to the North because we got a message from Gerhard and Beate that they were not able to retrieve their master brake cylinder, despite the fact that it’s on the airfield at the Cargo Division. First they have to clear the parts through Customs but in the weekend customs is closed.

 

On our way to the North we visit an old sugar cane plantation, there are still 65 old slave houses on the grounds . Unfortunately all of them are nailed up so we can watch them only from outside but it is impressive to see them standing in rows. To be a slave had to be horrible. It’s a good thing that with the civil war slavery came to an end.  At 5 pm we are back at Walmart in Thibodaux. Beate and Gerhard are not there but when they return it’s again a pleasant reunion. We talk a lot, we are never short of a subject of discussion. It feels good to be back again. On  Monday March 5^th we get up early because Gerhard and Beate leave 7.30 am for New Orléans to get a clearance for their brake cylinder at customs.

We wave them off and wish them good luck and leave Thibodaux over small  roads through down town New Orleans. In the middle of the city, when Dick stops, we hear a ghastly noise. However there is no light on the dashboard so, according to Dick, there is nothing wrong with the brakes. But to be on the safe side we take the highway so we don’t have to use our breaks so often.

 

When we arrive in Waveland, Mississippi and exit the highway,  the sound of the brakes is so terrible that we do not drive to Buccaneer State Park but to a small workshop “Bayou Motors” opposite Walmart. The mechanic there only needs one look at the brake rotor to know that something is really wrong with our right front brake. The brake rotor is completely carved and the brake pads badly damaged. We cannot drive anymore.

Fortunately, there is a supplier for auto parts in the workshop and a fiat dealer in Biloxi, 40 mile further on, so after taking our Fiat Vin number, everyone tries to find the appropriate brake pads. This workshop can polish the brake rotor, they have a machine, so that’s will not be a problem. The rest of the afternoon Dick remains calm (there’ll be a solution) but I feel the tension. It cripples and I don’t do anything. I should have known better.  Always when something breaks down we manage to repair it. I told it Beate several times.  Nevertheless, tension is building up in my body. Waiting, without having influence, is not really pleasant. End of the afternoon Tony comes to tell us that appropriate brake pads are found. They will arrive tomorrow at 9.30 am. Good news, let’s hope they really fit. Dick has no doubt at all, but I……

 

After Tony connect us to the net power of the workshop and pointed out where we can take water when we need it, we drink a beer together, outside in the Sun and talk. During the night are thunderstorms and rains, so heavy that we awake and on Tuesday morning we get up very early. It’s still raining , more pouring and now I am concerned about the repair. We cannot get into  the workshop with our RV and outdoor working  is not an option. But as always I worry about nothing because at 9 am Dick drives the RV to the side of the workshop with a high shelter where we can stand out of the rain. While Dick stays at our RV, I walk away to Walmart across the street. I will come back when the parts fit. When I return after 1 ½ hours (in the meantime I could look at the mail and sent some messages) our new brake pads fit and a machine is smoothening the brake rotor.

Our Motor oil is also refreshed and the filter changed. It was necessary after so many miles.  I am so relieved that everything worked out as Dick said.

 

The old brake pads are really bad. Not the one at the left front wheel (they have normal wear and tear) but the ones at the right front wheel are completely worn off. There even is a hole in one brake pad. It make sense that there was no warning light on the dashboard because there is no indicator on the right wheel, only on the left wheel. Tony and another mechanic work hard on the motorhome resulting in working brakes and a brake rotor looking like new. It’s really surprising that the appropriate materials were present in this State and that Tony works in this workshop because the head mechanic said, when we arrived, that they don’t work with RV’s , he didn’t want us to help. Though it’s only noon we don’t want to leave today so, after paying we say goodbye to Tony and the others mechanics in the workshop and drive our RV to the other side of the road on the parking lot of Walmart. In the afternoon, I walk around in the area while Dick is publishing in English.

 

We are surprised that Beate and Gerhard arrive at Walmart around 5 pm. Fortunately their RV is repaired and they can travel again. We sit together and talk about the experiences of the past few days. It is great to see each other again. We go to bed early, at 9 pm. Exhausted by tension (at least me, Tita).  Wednesday March 7^th after breakfast I skype with my auntie Ank while Dick, Gerhard and Beate drive to Bayou Motors on the other side of the road. When slowly braking they still have an alarming sound that should be checked. After an hour skyping I walk to Bayou Motors too. As their other workshop did not screw the wheel bolt well, the brake rotor damaged. That caused the sound  if you put on the brakes. Fortunately, the damage is not so bad that there must be a direct intervention. Till they arrive in Germany in May the RV will be OKE. So we say good bye to each other and while Gerhard and Beate immediately leave (they reserved a spot on a campground in Florida) to relax for a few days, we drive along the beautiful white strands of Mississippi to Shepard State Park near the border of Alabama.

 

The rest of the afternoon we walk around in the State Park, Dick socialize with other motorhome travelers and I fall asleep, sitting in the warm sun. By 4.30 pm it’s getting cooler outside, 54 degrees, because the Sun disappears behind the trees, so we make a campfire where we stay till 7 pm. Thursday March 8^th , in time we leave the campground. The road brings us along the Gulf, over endless bridges and bays. Several times we try to get a spot on a beautiful campground along the coast but everything is fully booked. It is Spring break and everyone wants to be out.

Finally we arrive in Florida where after some failed attempts we arrive at the Gulf Islands. We simply follow our Hakuna instead of directions from our “Good Sam book”. That makes that we see a beautiful part of the Gulf Islands and around us are only the azure blue sea and white beaches, but after a 15 mile drive we find out that we drive to the wrong side of the island.  So we turn and drive 25 mile back before arriving at Gulf Islands National Seashores. It is now 3 pm and we have little hope that there is still a camp site available . No, is the answer of the Ranger. Whether it’s my very disappointed look or the ranger overlooked something I do not know but when I leave the office, the ranger comes after me and tells me that there is one place available, the camp host place.

 

We can have this spot for 8 days. We don’t need it that long but two days is great to stay on this island off the coast of Florida. After our RV is connected to the electricity we walk to the beach close by. The sand is white and except for some racing birds along the waterfront there is none to be seen. A nice spot. Unfortunately, it is not really warm, only 57 degrees, so we don’t stay very long on the beach. Back at the RV, it is too cold to sit outside. Sadly because we have a beautiful place with lots of space. Friday March 9^th , the sun shines again in a blue sky when we get up at 7 am and after having breakfast I sit outside in the sun behind my computer. Under the Lee of the RV it’s good but in the full wind it feels cold. It’s not warm. Once again it’s time to do everything on a snail’s pace. Not that we wouldn’t do that otherwise. As Dick always says, we are never in a hurry and have plenty of time.

 

At noon we grab our bikes and ride over narrow dune paths to the Western side of Santa Rosa Island to Fort Pickens. This fort has not only played an important role in the American Civil War because it was in the hands of the Union and controlled the access to a deep port which was in the hands of the Confederates,  but the fort was also part of the coastal defense.  It’s was one of the many forts built after Fort Mc Henry in Baltimore, Maryland managed to survive the attack of the English. Remember the national Anthem: “The bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our Flag was still there” . After we watch the movie on the history of fort Pickens we walk around with the ranger and hear what happened around this place. The ranger walk ends on top of the fort from where we have a good view over the Pensacola Bay. It’s beautiful weather, 68 degrees, and it’s great to be outside and walk and ride. Of course we look at the end of the island with its white beaches and many fishermen.

 

On our way back we see a few turtles in the water. One of them is quite large and swims to us to get a better view. We are obviously not dangerous because he hangs out with us for a while. Back at the campground, it is 4 pm, we can still sit outside. The wind is less and the sky is still steel blue. We chat with other RV’ers who want to know everything about our “exotic” looking camper. At half past 5 clouds are coming and it cools down so we go inside. Saturday March 10^th there is no sun anymore but on the campground is less wind and it does not feel cold, at 7 am it’s 63 degrees, so we have breakfast outside. After filling up with  water and dumping we leave this great spot.

 

We drive over the lengths of the island and along the deserted beaches. It is incredible how white the sand is, like in a tropical resort, only the temperature is different. The wind has changed and comes over sea so the sea looks more ferocious and there are waves, but because of the emerald color of the water the sea is still tempting and we take a stroll over the beach. When we arrive in Navarre, Florida, we go back to the Mainland,  where we continue our travels along the Emerald Coast. We regularly see fins of dolphins out of the water. The coast consist now of a chain of hotels, casinos and beach bars and everywhere are people in swimwear.

In Destin, where it’s very busy, we drive in a traffic jam, three rows thick, we see  on the other side of the road the German RV of Beate and Gerhard, also stuck in a traffic jam. We wave to each other but with this hustle and bustle it doesn’t make sense to turn around. Nowhere we can stop and before we can turn around we are many miles further.

Therefore our contact will be limited to whatsapp, when we will have wifi again. We try to find a place for the night along the coast but everywhere the campsites are fully booked. Of course we know, it’s springbreak! According to a ranger this will take till the first week of april and it will be hard to find a spot. That’s why we decide to leave the coast and drive inland. There also every State park is full booked, so we end up in Chipley at the Walmart parking lot. Despite the huge signs “No overnight parking” it is allowed to stay here. After a 172 mile drive  it is enough and we call it a day. Sunday March 11^th it’s still dry although it’s heavy cloudy and there is no sun. After being on the road again  the Sun breaks through so we cannot complain.

 

Obvious we came in another time zone  because both our Hakuna’s indicate that it’s an hour later. Strange because, according to our map ,  the time zone is much further to the East. It doesn’t matter because we don’t intend to drive far and we’re lucky because 28 miles away, at Florida Caverns State Park, is an empty spot. We put our RV in a very spacious place and in the sun we enjoy a good cup of coffee. We have to spray ourselves with repellent because mosquitoes are present in very large numbers and each part of skin, uncovered and not sprayed, these ferocious biting insects know  to find without failing. Although Alaska has the name with mosquitoes, we didn’t find them there in so many great numbers. After talking to our neighbors, we grab our bikes and ride through the park with its many water holes and swamps. Thanks to the geocaches we ride many trails and discover great places in this state park. The name of this park reveals that here are also caves and of course we want to visit them.

At three pm there is place on a tour and after viewing the movie about the caves it’s time to walk to the cave entrance. Just before the tour starts it’s going to rain, heavy rain, so quickly we take our thin jackets , otherwise we will soaked. Fortunately we don’t need to walk far to the entrance of the cave. The tourgroup (20 people) is actually too big but by staying behind every now and then we can admire the many beautiful formations in the cave. However, the imaginative lighting here and there is less. After one hour walking in the caves we go  outside and the rain is still heavy so we cycle back to our RV where we arrive somewhat wet. We left our chairs outside so the covers are soaked and we decide to wash these together with our dirty clothes in the two washing machines on the campground.

Not until 7 pm we can stowe everything away in the closets, clean and dry. The rain stopped too so Dick can grill our sausages outside. Monday March 12^th  the sky is still completely covered with clouds and it is only 50 degrees but after driving an hour to the South-East the sky brightens and blue skies appear. A cold wind is blowing but with sun it’s a lot more pleasant. We are on the way to Newport, Florida, because we saw a red dot on our map, the sign of a campground. To our bewilderment our Hakuna’s (Garmin navigation) loose an hour again when we are south of Tallahassee. The time difference with the Netherlands is now 5 hours.  But we don’t understand why we lost two hours within two days.  Just outside of Newport we find a County Park with empty places and we decide to stay. The sun is shining again.

 

Dick search some geocaches and I take my laptop to write for our website. Although the sun is shining it’s not really warm but with a hoodie it’s agreeable outside. However, I have to move my chair regularly to find the sun. But the wind is good for drying our awning. Unfortunately, I am too late with my camera to take a picture of the Armadillo hanging around the campground but from the distance I see, at least, the real animal. Three years ago Elfi and Milou gave us the stuffed version and this armadillo with his nice Texan head is travelling with us. As the Sun disappears, it’s now 50 degrees, it’s too cold to stay outside and we move inside. We wake up at 8.15 am on Tuesday March 13^th , the result of the two hour loss of time within two days. Our constitution  is not yet adjusted to Eastern and Summer time.

We have a great shower on the campground and after leaving we take quiet roads through endless forests with huge pine trees, to the Southeast. The sky is steel blue and the sun shines brightly but a cold wind is blowing so it’s not warmer than 59 degrees. The distance to Manatee Spring State Park isn’t that far so we arrive at noon. I help the host with translating for a Canadian guest,  not speaking English and after that we find out that there is a place for us at the campground. We are lucky because this is one of the State Parks that fill up quickly. The spot must be cleaned (raking and cleaning the fire pit ) but after half an hour we may  put our RV on the site. It’s tricky because the ground is sandy and soft but Dick manage anyway. Tomorrow, when we leave , we have to use our snow grabber mat because otherwise, on our own we cannot leave

 

After having hot chocolate with cream and a muffin, we grab our bikes and drive to the Springs to see if there are any Manatees. And yes they are there! Normally, at this time of the year, manatees already left for the Gulf but because it’s been so cold the last month, at night the temperature is less than 43 degrees, they are still in the Springs. The springs are year round 72 degrees and a more pleasant temperature in winter than the Gulf of Mexico. After taken some pictures of the Manatees we drive to the Ranger station to get a trail map. If we say that we will do some Geocaching along the trails, the Ranger takes his repellent and starts spraying us. Ticks are present In the forests therefore spraying is no luxury, especially if you walk around in shorts.

After cycling around for three hours along the trails we are back at the Spring. We had a great day, on the trails, through the Woods and along huge palms. We have a last look at the loitering manatees and then cycle back to the RV where we still enjoy the last rays of sunshine.

 

When the Sun is too far behind the trees we take our chairs next to the fire pit and make a campfire. It’s awesome. A herd of 5 White Tailed Deer also think that because they come to look at our place. Totally not afraid of people they walk around. After an hour we suffer from burnt knees and an icy back and neck, so we go inside. On Wednesday March 14^th  we get up early and after breakfast we drive to the Springs.

Thanks to our snow grabber mats Dick manage to leave our spot without problems and don’t get stuck in the deep soft sands.  Again, we see two groups of Manatees in the springs and we enjoy their waking up and sniffing air and moments later they swim to the mouth of the Suwannee River where they  hang around the rest of the day.

 

At the top of the trees are vultures (Turkey and Black Vultures) looking lazy at us. We are (still) no prey. After talking some time with other guests we leave Manatee Springs State Park to do some shopping at walmart. It’s almost noon so we decide to drive to the nearest State Park, Rainbow Spring State Park. Unfortunately, when we arrive after an hour, there’s no place available but the Ranger knows another State Forest (Ross Prairie Trailhead) close by. When we arrive there half an hour later

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, there is still plenty of place and it’s nice here so we stop and enjoy the great weather.

Sheltered by the wind it’s warm, 78 degrees but when you are in the full wind it’s only 60 degrees. Dick is doing some small repairs. On a trip like this regular things brake down and he inflates our tires with a small 12 volt pump. It takes ages to fill them but it works.  I sit behind my laptop. I have to write for the website but also for our diving club magazine, so I have work to do.

Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, February 18^th until March 2^nd 2018

 

After yesterday’s beautiful weather with sunshine, on Sunday February 18^th it’s not so nice. It is gray and the clouds are on the ground. The temperature is only 62 degrees. We have breakfast together, the eggs tastes fine Iris, and then we say goodbye to Sugarland, Robert, Iris, Elfi and Milou and drive to the North.

 

Just above Austin, the capital of Texas is the Cache Across America we want to have. And we find this cache but there is a special lock and we cannot open it. We try all possible combinations, try and try again but after almost an hour the lock still don’t open. It’s sad but I also have a sense of relief. Now we cannot get this cache it has no point to drive like crazy along all the other Caches Across America. We definitely cannot solve the final cache in Washington DC.

Dick was already done with it, he said it’s ridiculous to drive so many miles for a cache and earn nothing.  That was different with the Utah caches, if you found 3 out of 5 in a county, you earned a nice patch. We drive further to the North, through Holland, where, of course, we take a picture although the town is nothing, some silos and a few houses. And then after driving some Interstate, because there is no other road, we arrive in Waco, TX. Unfortunately we cannot find the camping on the fairgrounds so we drive to Walmart where we may stay overnight. An advantage of this Walmart is that next to it is an Outback. We cannot resist this restaurant, so in the evening we walk there instead of cooking and have a great meal. After a good night sleep we wake up early, accustomed to an early rise the last few days. Unfortunately, Auntie Ank is not on the skype so we leave Waco early in the morning.

 

That makes that around half past 11 we arrive in Fort Worth. There the cowboys on horsebacks drive the last Longhorns to the corrals. The show is over and lots of people walk away. After taking a look at these real Texan cattle and their huge horns, we continue our trip. It’s really touristy in Fort Worth. The weather is not really nice, only 60 degrees and it is cloudy but dry. In Eisenhower State Park we stay. There are only two other RV’s and places enough to find a nice spot. We really have to write for our website and do our administration, so the rest of the afternoon we are working on that, but we rather wanted to read. We have good books. The next morning we see Deer and a Roadrunner at the campground. It is beautiful here, on this northern coast of Texas where the city of Denison is situated (at a lake).

After breakfast we walk some trails in the park. Unfortunately the drizzle stops and it starts to rain. The last part of the trail it’s even pouring rain so after one hour we end up somewhat wet and with incredible muddy shoes, but we found the two caches here. With our muddy shoes we cannot board our RV so Dick stops at a dump station where we need half an hour in pouring rain to clean our shoes and get rid of the mud.

 

At 11 am we finally leave the State Park and drive to the birthplace of Eisenhower. It rains very hard so we don’t get off at the house and leave again but then, all of a sudden, I remember that we drove all the way up to here just to visit this house so Dick turns around at the end of town and drives back. Just in time to get a tour of Mrs. Maxime. We see the simple cottage where General Eisenhower, later president of the United States, was born. He lived here for 18 months. After that his parents moved back to Kansas where he grew up. Yes Susan, there has to be something in Kansas. Maxime tells incredibly fascinating about her president and the past times revive in this little house along the rails in Denison. We are glad we stopped here because the story about this special man, who made the liberation of Europe possible and also shaped the NATO, is particularly interesting. Do you know that he was one of the candidates for president, both parties (republican and democrats) wanted?

Finally after lunch we leave Denison at 2 pm and moments later we are in the State of Oklahoma. This is Native American country because at least 7 Indian tribes call this state their home. Unfortunately the rain doesn’t stop and it seems as if we drive under a waterfall.

 

The visibility in some places is almost nothing, but then we see a sign “Dulcimer”. Despite the rain we stop at the building and walk inside. Yes, it’s a Dulcimer factory. Not the Mountain Dulcimer I would like to have, but the Hammer Dulcimer and the Bowed Psaltery, a small triangular Dulcimer you play with a bow, are made here. Even I get a nice sound when playing.

A Dulcimer is a wonderful instrument, I am still impressed and determined to learn to play on it when we will be back in the Netherlands. Then we arrive in Hugo, Oklahoma. It is 4 pm but because of the rainfall already dark. We stay in the parking lot of Walmart. We had enough for a day. We are also sick of all the rain and cold. Wednesday february 21^st it still rains and it is cold, icy cold, only 40 degrees. Everything is moist, wet and misty.

 

 

 

Many pastures are flooded and the weather forecast indicates that at least till Sunday it remains bad so we decide not continuing to the North but taking a more southern route. That brings us in Paris, Texas. Paris, France has the Eiffel Tower and Paris, Texas also has one, we are told in the library and of course we want to see that one. This Texan Eiffel tower is not as charming as his French counterpart but it has a cowboy hat and that’s funny.

Next to it is a very impressive War Memorial and the Texan Eiffel Tower actually detonates here. After walking around we drive further to the East and hear a kind of alarm inside our RV. We have no idea where it comes from but Dick doesn’t see any lights coming up so there is nothing to worry about. When this alarm repeats later at my side, it turns out to be a (weather) alarm on our phones. Not one but several times we get this alarm going on. Our phone tells us we are in a danger zone and may expect flash floods. After looking regularly at the largely inundated parts of land next to us we didn’t plan to go to lower areas but with this ongoing emergency alarms we certainly won’t. The rain is still in full force so, on the Arkansas side of Texarkana, after visiting a Washateria (yes, it’s again time to wash) we stay at Walmart and read the rest of the evening.

Thursday February 22^nd there is still a hard wind, it is 43 degrees and the sky is clouded and grey but at least it doesn’t rain. We drive through the hilly countryside of Arkansas. There had to be a lot of rain here too because meadows and forests are under water. After some shopping in Magnolia, AR we drive into the State of Louisiana.

 

We check the weather in the North, it’s still too cold and too wet so we continue our trip to the South. Through small towns such as Homer, with beautiful wall paintings and old buildings, we drive over quiet hilly roads. Around us the trees are blooming and everywhere are Daffodils. However, the side of the road is extremely dirty, everywhere lays plastic and cans, and a “cleanup” wouldn’t be superfluous. The cottages along the road are shabby, this is not the rich part of Louisiana. Many houses are into disrepair, tattered or partly collapsed.

 

 

 

In the afternoon we arrive in Coushatta, LA, near a lake. For $ 22, – we have a beautiful place in a nearly empty resort. It’s hot here, around 78 degrees, so once again we can sit and cook outside and enjoy nature, but also the mosquitoes because with this moist and hot weather it looks like the mosquitos are all over. Fortunately Dick tastes better than me so in the evening there is almost no place on his body where no bite appears. But it’s good to feel the warmth’s again. We made the right decision to go south. The next morning we search the Cache Across America of Louisiana. Though we decided not to do detours, this cache on the road has to be found.

 

In the cache description we read that the town of Natchitoches, pronounced as “Nack a tish”, is worth a visit. It was the first European (French) settlement in Louisiana and thus the oldest. You may know this town from the movie “Steel Magnolias”. The movie played here and is also shoot here. We drive to this town. It is indeed a very nice town with beautiful houses and metal balcony’s, people also call it “mini New Orleans” and it looks alike. After parking our RV next to the Cane River we walk around, admire the old buildings, visit the oldest General Store of Louisiana (1863) and drink a coffee (with tiramisu, the best I’ve ever had) in a local bar. The Sun is shining, it is 76 degrees and pleasant outside so we decide to stay and further explore this town by bike in the afternoon. The nearest campground however is 13 mile away and also very expensive so there is no other choice than to park, once again, at Walmart.

From here it is a short cycling trip to the center of town. The area has many caches that give us a sightseeing of Natchitoches. A pleasant surprise is fort St Jean Baptiste, a State Historic Site. This fort was built in 1714 by a Frenchman (Louis Antoine Juchereau de St. Denis) to protect the country from the Spanish.

 

Thanks to existing drawings it’s reconstructed and placed on higher grounds than it was before, the Fort looks impressive. We even find wooden shoes in the fort. Where there also Dutch here?

Ofcourse our cache tour also brings us to old buildings and the oldest cemetery of Louisiana. All played a role in the already mentioned film “Steel Magnolias”. At 6 pm we are back at our RV after a beautiful ride. It’s still 72 degrees but the real heat, today it was 79 degrees, is gone. Saturday february 24^th it is still warm, 66 degrees at 7 a.m. although it’s cloudy. Over small roads we leave Natchitoches.

 

In Cloutierville, we stop at a Pecan store. If you drive through a region with so many Pecan trees you have to buy pecans. We talk with the owner of Little Eva Plantation before we drive to Alexandria. The Garmin want to bring us to Alexandria in Egypt but in the end she leads us to this town in Louisiana. Unfortunately we cannot find the city park so we continue to Pine Prairie where, next to a large lake, we find a beautiful park where we can stay overnight. Despite the fact that we had some solid rain showers in the morning, during the afternoon it stops raining and we can sit outside in the Sun. Of course we also walk around in the area and stay at the Jetty next to our RV.

 

We admire the trees in the water with their aerial roots. We think the water level is high but according to the people who come here regularly it’s always this high. We are the only ones walking around. The rest of the people take their truck, even if they just want to fish or look around on the jetty. During the night it doesn’t stop raining and the wind rises. The temperature drops straight to 57 degrees. Sunday morning on the fields is water everywhere and to fill up our water tank we must walk on the from water saturated soil. It feels like sinking in a swamp. Dumping today is not such a fun because it’s pouring rain. When we drive over the narrow roads we see ducks swimming on the shoulder of the road. Normally there is grass but now it’s covered with a thick layer of water. Finally at 10 am the rain stops and the sun starts shining again

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, it directly increases the temperature till 75 degrees.

 

 

 

In Opelousas, LA we stop. The South City Park has a pleasant RV spot. We only have to look for a spot that’s not completely a deep puddle of water and moments later we sit in the sun next to the RV and enjoy a good cup of coffee.

There are also some caches in the park so we go for a walk. It is pleasant outside in the sun, we only have to be careful where we put our feet because some pieces of land are so swampy that you sink in. At 1 p.m. we take a Sonic milkshake and then it starts raining again. It’s only a shower so after the rain stops we can walk back to our RV and stay rather dry.

It definitely is no weather to go walking or cycling anymore, there are too many rain showers after each other, so with a brush and a bucket of water we clean the outside of our motorhome. Just in time for the next big rain shower we are ready. The rest of the afternoon, it’s now 4 pm, we sit inside, enjoy the rain and sunshine, which alternate. At 7 pm it stops raining and it starts pouring, like a fire hydrant is opened.

Indeed it’s a downpour. Slowly everywhere is water around us but we don’t have to leave our RV and stay dry inside. When we get up on Monday morning it stopped raining and the Sun tries to get through the grey clouds. After filling up with water we leave this pleasant place and go further south.

 

 

 

Around noon we arrive on Avery Island, near the town of New Iberia, LA. Here is the Tabasco factory. Who doesn’t know this product? I think almost everyone has used tabasco. We walk around at the factory, see the stages of growing of several pepper plants, like Red Chili Pepper, Green Peppers, Okra and ofcourse the Tabasco Pepper plant. The Tabasco peppers are much smaller than the other ones and we see how after making pulp of the peppers, the pepper pulp is stored in large oak barrels where it, covered with a layer of salt, stays for 3 years before the pulp is processed into the Tabasco we all know.

 

 

 

 

It’s a fun and informative tour in the factory and I am glad that we went here. At 2 pm we leave, the Sun shines in a steel blue sky. In New Iberia are campgrounds but they are very swampy by the many rain so we drive to Charenton, LA where, at the parking lot of a Casino, on Indian territory, we stay. While enjoying a cup of coffee and a muffin we let the sun penetrate. We will not visit the casino so until late we sit outside on the large and empty parking lot. Tuesday february 27^th we leave the Chitimacha Nation and drive to Thibodaux, LA.

 

 

 

Gerhard and Beate are stuck here with their RV. Their main brake cylinder is broken, the same problem we had three years ago, and of course we want to know if we can help with anything. The road brings us along the Bayou’s and old towns. We see magnificent plantation houses, with ancient oaks but also small houses definitely in need of repair. In Patterson, LA are some caches hidden so we stay here for a while and search for them.

We talk to Captain Caviar. He is touring around the bayou’s and we admire his old oaks. One is 400 years old and the other 486 years. Together we search for a cache, hidden somewhere around his house. We cannot find it but after talking to the Cache Owner, who also lives in this town (the cache is really there but you need a flashlight) we go back and finally find the cache under his house. Next time we will take a tour in the Bayou’s (now there isn’t a tour).

 

Around us are large rivers and a lot of small shipyards. Next to the rivers are huge walls with every now and then a large gate. Not much fun for the people who live there right behind because they have no view anymore but this wall brings them more security if another storm hits the coast. And then we arrive at Walmart in Thibodaux and put our RV near the RV of Beate and Gerhard.

They look surprised when arriving with their rental car moments later and seeing us. We have a beer, talk and talk and talk and eat together at a Greek -Lebanese restaurant next to Walmart. It is a pleasant evening. On the last day of february we are early out of bed. All four of us are visiting New Orleans. Despite the fact that there is a dense fog it feels hot and when we leave Thibodaux with the rental car at 9 am, the sun shines in a blue sky.

 

Around 11 am we arrive in the French Quarter of New Orleans and Gerhard parks the car near everything, close by. As soon as we walk around we hear music. When we wait at Jackson Square to cross the street a big bus stops in front of us, full with people with make-up. As curious as we are, we wait for what’s going to happen. We do not need to wait long because everybody get out of the bus, music appears and the singing and dancing starts. We walk along with the music and enjoy.

It turns out to be a promotional tour of Cirque du Soleil, having a new show starting in two days. There is definitely a party going on in the street with this kind of music and our day in New Orleans is already a success. After an hour we leave the crowd and walk to the French market where we look around and relax on a terrace with live music. We are in New Orleans!

 

 

We have lunch together and in the afternoon we walk through the French Quarter. Time and time again there is music, everywhere, sometimes very fascinating music, playd on a KORA, an instrument from Western Africa and we enjoy. It is always great to be in this town and it is warm, 80 degrees. There is a steel blue sky and the party mood is everywhere. Here is nothing more to see of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it brought to this city.

After walking around for more than 5 miles, it is now 6 pm, Gerhard drives the 65 mile back to Walmart in Thibodaux, where we enjoy a cold beer and talk about our great day.

 

 

 

 

We intend to leave Thibodaux on Thursday March 1^st. But first Dick has to print the custom papers for the brake cylinder that Gerhard received from the ADAC (German AAA) and Beate and I walk a couple of times to the gas station on the parking lot to get water for their RV. Then we say goodbye to each other and we drive away. When we fill up with propane, almost outside of Thibodaux Dick says that it is wise to get a pocket querie for Grand Isle so when we arrive there we can find some geocaches. That’s why we drive back to Walmart, we need the wifi here.

 

Then it turns out that our mailbox is almost full, more than 90%. It’s because the last months I sent lots of pictures (with always a copy of every sent mail to myself). I consumed more than 40% of our mailbox in sending pictures. We cannot longer receive nor send mail. This makes that Dick has a long, very long phone call with our internet provider “XS4ALL” and later with our friend Rene. At 3 pm everything works well again and we can e-mail again. Now it’s too late to drive the 85 mile to Grand Isle at the gulf so we decide to stay another night at Walmart. The weather is changing, there are black clouds and the wind blows but fortunately it doesn’t rain. It is less hot, 69 degrees.