Westward Ho the RV

Leaving out from Alabama the dogs and I made an uneventful trip to the Louisiana State Park just south of New Orleans and fairly close to fellow WomenRVer Claudia's home in Metaire. It was uneventful mostly but did provide me an opportunity to remain once again humble as I was required to unhook the Honda at a Pilot station as the the turning radius for getting lined up to the pumps was just a "bit" too tight for the car to clear the large cement block provided to protect the pumps. As I pulled over to the side of the lot to re-hook the car I observed a much larger Class A (also towing a car) attempt to line up close enough to one of the pumps and give up and pull out of the lot altogether.   I raise a toast to the truck stops that offer RV (gas) lanes.   I will state that of the handful of places that I have had to unhook and turnaround or reattach the car, a gas station is probably one of the safest and least stressful places.  (Those old narrow roads leading to blocked entrances to state parks are the worst, unless you enjoy the challenge of backing up a rig on narrow road until you find the wide spot to turn around and reattach the car.)

And before I forget to add somewhere.  These Louisiana State Parks rock.   Walking around two different parks now I can say I haven't found a site that wouldn't be doable.  They are either graveled or with cement pads and all fairly level to the eye with plenty of space for clearance on all sides.... length and width and height.

Now back to the New Orlean's Claudia tour.  We started at the parking lot on the levy with a quick walk over the levy to look at the river.  See the river?  It is right there.

Then we started walking.

And then I started noticing the carriages and the mules.  "Let's go find the station!" I say. And off we went.  The hip and sciatica last longer this way and having taking carriage rides through historic cities in the past, besides the neat history the guides share, there is just an opportunity to listen to the neat sound of clop, clop, clop, that resonates with the visual history of the architecture going by.   

Included in the tour was a stop at one of the older cemeteries.   Each "site/tomb/crip?" is owned by a family. Some hold multiple bodies over time. Some hold hundreds.  The family own the lot unless someone buys them out.  Nicholas Cage did just that. Then the original family has to move out its family's remains.  Nicholas' choice was to build a pyramid.   It appears strange against the stones of history here. I did take a picture but if you want to see it you will need to Google it.  Claudia added that when Nicholas lost all his money, the powers that be repossessed all his New Orleans houses, etc but cemetery plots are not allowed to be touched.......

There were many stories about Marie Laveau.  She gathered great power around her during her life.  The family of famous folks buried around her were not pleased to find their loved ones placed next to her.   I am thinking that those that passed didn't waste much time worrying about that.

Some of the crips have families that paid up front for perpetual care. Some did not.

This guy was famous about town and loved the blues which had its birth, so the legends say, in the area right behind that brick wall.   Again, according to the story, the family built the wall to keep his spirit from returning to the less savory world that the blues might pull him back to.

Not all families are still around to worry about their ancestors. And another fun fact, the tombs can get to temperatures up to 400 degrees.  As the bodies are reduced over time, is how they can add more to the family tombs.  The rule is that you can't open any of the family plots until a year and a day after a body has been interred.  But don't worry they have rental tombs you can use until your beloved is ready for the family crip. 

Architectural details are easier to notice when you don't have to watch where your feet are traveling.

"I was a good mule, wasn't I"

She liked nose rubs but the carrot her driver gave her seemed to please her more. Mules are bright creatures.

Back to the State Park, the dogs and I walked down past the cabins. They all sit out on the water with screened in porches and wonderful views of the canal.

The second day Claudia and I made our way to "Mardi Gras World". Not the museum but the company responsible for designing, building and often storing a large portion of the floats that appear in the parades.   The tour helped explain the process and how the Krews plan out their parades.  And for one who has never been to New Orleans and certainly never during Mardi Gras I now know about the multiple Krews and just how many parades there are during those two weeks. And how many parades occur each day. 

The large warehouse is right  on the river. 

Many of the "heads" are repurposed from year to year.  This lady is a work in process with much Styrofoam carving left to do. 

Need some extra body parts?

This slide reveals the two compartments all the floats have. Porta potties!  The tour guide reminded us that often the participants on the floats can be out on a float for 6-8 hours at a time before they return to the warehouse.

A field of flowers waiting for their assignments

Claudia, queen of the_______ .  "   Tour guides. That is what I meant to write in there.

The Stern Company also has about 20% of their work come from outside corporations and for parades for other areas of the country.

Now back to our drive around town.   Yes, the houses in the Garden District are beautiful but not so distinctive from other southern towns like Charlotte, NC, Beaufort, SC, etc.  The smaller houses were a little more plentiful and reflective of over all New Orleans.

This tree might be New Orleans version of Alaska's, "Let's take bets and see when the spring ice break up will come."   It has been there a long time but just for safety sake lets not park right next to it. Or across the street either now that I think of it.

You are looking at corn stalks. Not your usual design motif.

For my tree addiction/collection, just because I can.

Claudia drove us along one of the parade routes and showed me the results of bead throwing on the local trees.

Lark wanted her friends to think she had been out partying when I was away from the rig, but Audrey refused to back up her story line. 

Bye New Orleans. We are farther along our road to the west.   More pictures to follow.

The Beginning of Winter Travels

The beginning of winter travels took me down from Ohio with a stop over at the Escapees Raccoon Valley RV Park just north of Knoxville.   The next day Lark and Audrey and I continued on to Charlotte, NC, and a stay in one of my two favorite driveways, my daughter's.

But before we start here is a photo left over Josef's recent trip to Orlando.   One might think that show dogs might feel stressed to be kenneled in a large room with over 4500 other dogs.  One would think but not necessarily so. For this Golden those times between rings were just another opportunity for a nap. 

Back to the best driveway camping in Charlotte.  Kate and Lucas' house.  My Christmas present was accidental.  The recent winter ice storm had taken out the tree on the left of the driveway.  Apparently the remaining bushes were sad looking and the entire area was cleaned out.  There is now a new tree planted but it will be several years before it interferes with the side.   So for ow I get a parking slot and am able to extend the slide!  

Two days later after driving down I-95 with only a few slow downs, I made it to Liz's place in Dowling Park.   Liz lives in one of the best senior residential communities I have ever seen.   Besides all the options of living from private homes, modular units, condos, independent apartments, assisted living and skilled nursing care, the community have 15 full hook up RV spaces.   The community is surrounded by green spaces and forest and sits along the Suwanee River.  There are hiking trails throughout.  Lark was thrilled to see Liz and Thistle every morning for our walks.  Thistle liked Lark more after her initial morning enthusiasm toned down.   

One of Liz's neighbors comes with interesting pets and hobbies.   I tries to check with Sherri Martin back in Ohio if she was interested in diversifying the reading program back in Morrow.

Sometimes we met Liz and Thistle on the road, the house and our rig being only a small block apart.  One time Lark and Audrey got to wait outside on the road for Thistle to get his harness on.

We were invited on the initial family tour of Liz's two daughters and their family.  Other than the wedding last summer, this was the first time they got to see the extent of the community Liz and Bob call home.   I think they appreciated the range of activities and the beauty of the setting.

The morning walks pretty consistently included a pass by the river side.  With all the rain Florida had been getting the river was up over it bank but still nice to look at.

No swimming allowed kids, this isn't Ohio.

Liz and I contacted a fellow WomanRV member and she put the word out on the street that we would drive down to Ocala and suddenly we had a get-together for lunch.  Back row: Liz, myself, Nan  Front row: Steve and Irmi, Paulette and Donna.   I am so thankful that folks were able to come on short notice.   Since I was planning to head west from Liz's this was the only chance to see folks this year.

The last day at Liz's, one of her hiking and kayaking friends put together a kayaking trip. With the river waters so high and swift out in the main river area, the alternative that the local kayakers have come up with is to kayak up and back on the "Red" hiking trail.

Liz, in her signature blue hat, helped her friends get setup and launched.

Off we went through the calm, clear back waters.

Yep, we "hiking" the right trail.  See the red square on the tree trunk on the left.

As usual, multiple cameras were involved.  Liz's friend Judy is known for her photographic talent, too!

Paddling through the water in the forest to the right of the trail was unique as the perception of tree trunks and water line and reflections was fluid.   

No stopping for a picnic today as we made our way back to our starting point.

Over New Years I stayed at the Escapee's Rainbow Plantation RV Park in Alabama.  I didn't really want to have the rig on the road on New Years Eve.   Apparently neighbors across from the RV Park enjoyed their fire cracker much more than the RV'er in the park did.   Luckily it did eventually start raining harder and the "excitement" across the road settled down.

Before settling down for the traditional New Years Eve going to sleep early routine, I did drive the Honda over to the coast earlier in the day with a pleasant drive down the roads with coastal cottages and palaces exquisitely tucked among the live oaks and sandy lanes.   I admit also to a Walmart stop, a quick visit to Harbor Freight and a Thrift Store that was just there along the way.

Once again I am enjoying the ease of finding my car in the parking lot.  Which Honda is it?  Those kayaks stand out even in the busy Publix lot.

And I leave you with my best find at the Thrift Store.  I quiet, well mannered, young man waiting patiently for his mother.   Apparently the best behaved ones were already spoken for and were not for sale.