ANOTHER WEEK FROM THE ROAD
Sunday, after seeing Terri off for home, we drove on to St. Augustine where we enjoyed a nice visit and dinner with our Palm Coast friends, Bob and Kitty.
Monday morning we moved on into Jacksonville where we spent the day having some routine maintenance done on both the “coach” and the “vue”. Inasmuch as the work was not completed until 8PM, we overnighted at the Elks Club in preparation for an early departure Tuesday.
We decided to spend two nights in the Savannah area so Ken booked us onto Tybee Island for a pleasant two nights of Southern Coastal hospitality in a RV park near the water. Wednesday we revisited old Savannah and enjoyed a walk through the down town area that is Georgia’s “Southern Spirit”. We then drove to Hilton Head Island for a visit to that very modern, well planned and coordinated community that is truly a showcase of modern day planning and upscale living. This community has managed to maintain very strict standards of architectural design and even the fast food establishments maintain the color and design scheme of the community “fathers of design” decree. It is obvious that there is a dedicated group of persons who run a very tight ship in enforcing their the planning and design of their city image. I can only imagine what it must be like dealing with the Homeowner’s Associations!
Thursday we moved from Tybee Island to Charleston South Carolina and immediately upon completing our normal hookup, departed for Myrtle Beach. That was my “must do” for the day and for it, I must do penitence until Ken pulls a similarly dumb “ gotta do”. We arrived in Myrtle Beach to learn that the city was hosting a convention of motorcycle enthusiasts and the town was overrun with bikers. I was thoroughly disappointed. We had driven 95 miles from Charleston to Myrtle Beach and were not able to get a really good look at the town. I felt doubly bad because Ken drove the distance there and back and by the time we got back to our coach, he was exhausted. We did enjoy a drive “about” Charleston for a view of the lovely homes that overlook the ocean that brings the era of Rhett and Charlotte to life and further endows the spirit of the south to my memory.
Friday morning we “broke camp” and took to the road for our holiday weekend stay at a RV resort at Salisbury, North Carolina. Our “digs” are in a rustic setting with all of the amenities provided in the city. It is a good setting in which one can stop, enjoy the clean air and admire the countryside. We will be here until after Memorial day when we will again take to the road on the last leg of the Southern portion of our trip.
Hope all of you out there are having a wonderful holiday weekend.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
BACK TO REALITY
Because Terri had an early morning flight out of Orlando Sunday, we packed our bags and checked out of our condo early Friday. We made the 150+ mile trek to Hollywood where Terri and Helen checked into the Comfort Inn for an overnight and we went home to our “coach” a few miles away.
Our week was relaxing and, as always, a pleasant tropical stay amid a Caribbean atmosphere of party frolic and shopping frantic. Sunday we had brunch on the veranda of the Wyndham Casa Marina (the old Flaggler Hotel) and enjoyed the view and the bountiful champagne brunch. Three trips to the bountiful buffet resulted in a choice of everything from Island fruits, breakfast items all -- including biscuits, gravy, sausage, ham, bacon, eggs to taste and choices of waffles or pancakes made to order; greens and salads to extreme; a pasta bar, omelet bar, ham, prime rib, roast pork, potatoes, vegetables etc. With these contributing factors to a combined breakfast lunch and dinner we suffered a lethargic return to the condo for a “wallowing in indigestion” and a satisfied feeling of over indulgence. At the end of the day, Sunday resulted in one big burp!
Monday provided a reasonably priced bbq at the condo’s patio bar, a relaxing afternoon in the sun at the pool and dinner at Turtle Crawls on the wharf. I enjoyed an eggplant tostado (I was hooked by the nomenclature) which turned out to be quite tasty. Ken had a fish combination, Terri an enchilada and Helen a nachos and dip dish that she found too spicy and “lacking”. Terri and Ken ended their day by paying their respects to the evening entertainment on the pier where “far out” residents who aspire to show business entertain the tourists with a myriad of “cat and dog” shows, hanging antics, fire eating and the village “no talents” show their artistic wares. Helen and I passed on the frivolity and relaxed on the balcony and watched the people on the boats at the marina b below.
Tuesday involved a nice long walk, mostly window shopping and a “drive about” that included photo OPS at the Southern most point of the continental US and at Fort Zachary Taylor where we wandered through the grounds, enjoyed an outstanding view of the Atlantic from the rooftop and examined the cannons that remain with their fire power of old. Dinner at the Outback provided our pallets with prime rib, and bbq ribs provided Helen a break from the fish and customary “island cuisine”.
Wednesday was another “pool” day though competition with the bathroom habits of the angels did seem to frustrate my commitment to adding some color. Helen and I enjoyed lunch on the patio while Ken and Terri ventured out to a local “hot spot” called Rick’s Blue Heaven”. Blue Heaven is a “must” for us when we are in Key West because it serves well prepared Caribbean cuisine amid falling leaves, roosters crowing and hens clucking. In spite of my “not so appetizing” description of the ambiance, the restaurant has a reputation for having the best “island” cuisine in Key West. No matter when you go there – morning, noon or night – it is pretty much standing room only. It was Terri’s first visit there and she enjoyed it. We finished our day with dinner at a local Italian restaurant and a presentation of “NUN NONSENSE” at the Red Barn, the island’s only theater that was open. It was well presented and most enjoyable. I had not seen this particular play before, though our friend, Marvis, had highly recommended it and I enjoyed it immensely. Helen was more familiar with it and she gave the presentation a “thumbs up” as did I but I am not sophisticated in these matters.
Thursday morning Ken and Terri boarded the ship for Fort Jefferson at 7:30A for a day out on the high seas, a snorkeling adventure and their very own tour of that famous old Fort 70 miles off Key West and a “stone’s throw” from Cuba. Helen and I enjoyed a quiet day with some window shopping and lunch at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaretaville. Dinner was a “clean up” of the week’s “doggy bags” and over purchases from the grocery store. After dinner, Ken, Terri and I made our way to the pier for one last sunset from Mallory Square and, in our own personal way, said our goodbye to Key West and the island life that it sustains.
Friday morning with suitcases packed, car loaded and clouds moving in we made our way down the Keys and back into reality with a rude awakening that the laid back lifestyle of Key West does not extend into Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood. Nevertheless, we have the memories of a good week spent with our daughter and our friend Helen, and though we will miss the island life, we will have our special memories until we return to the “call of the islands” and the “lure of Key West”.
Saturday we made the 200 mile “hop” to Orlando in the RV. We me Helen’s son, Jeff and cat Sassy when we dropped her off at her home and said goodbye. Since Terri had a 710A flight out of Orlando, we called it a day early Saturday evening in anticipation of an “early call” for the airport. This was the first time we have shared a vacation with either of our children and it was a real pleasure. We now realize what we have missed and we are looking forward to sharing a week in the sun with the whole family at some agreeable and coordinated point in time. We think it would be a wonderful and fun “happening”.
There you have it – another week of “Burns nonsense” from the road.
Because Terri had an early morning flight out of Orlando Sunday, we packed our bags and checked out of our condo early Friday. We made the 150+ mile trek to Hollywood where Terri and Helen checked into the Comfort Inn for an overnight and we went home to our “coach” a few miles away.
Our week was relaxing and, as always, a pleasant tropical stay amid a Caribbean atmosphere of party frolic and shopping frantic. Sunday we had brunch on the veranda of the Wyndham Casa Marina (the old Flaggler Hotel) and enjoyed the view and the bountiful champagne brunch. Three trips to the bountiful buffet resulted in a choice of everything from Island fruits, breakfast items all -- including biscuits, gravy, sausage, ham, bacon, eggs to taste and choices of waffles or pancakes made to order; greens and salads to extreme; a pasta bar, omelet bar, ham, prime rib, roast pork, potatoes, vegetables etc. With these contributing factors to a combined breakfast lunch and dinner we suffered a lethargic return to the condo for a “wallowing in indigestion” and a satisfied feeling of over indulgence. At the end of the day, Sunday resulted in one big burp!
Monday provided a reasonably priced bbq at the condo’s patio bar, a relaxing afternoon in the sun at the pool and dinner at Turtle Crawls on the wharf. I enjoyed an eggplant tostado (I was hooked by the nomenclature) which turned out to be quite tasty. Ken had a fish combination, Terri an enchilada and Helen a nachos and dip dish that she found too spicy and “lacking”. Terri and Ken ended their day by paying their respects to the evening entertainment on the pier where “far out” residents who aspire to show business entertain the tourists with a myriad of “cat and dog” shows, hanging antics, fire eating and the village “no talents” show their artistic wares. Helen and I passed on the frivolity and relaxed on the balcony and watched the people on the boats at the marina b below.
Tuesday involved a nice long walk, mostly window shopping and a “drive about” that included photo OPS at the Southern most point of the continental US and at Fort Zachary Taylor where we wandered through the grounds, enjoyed an outstanding view of the Atlantic from the rooftop and examined the cannons that remain with their fire power of old. Dinner at the Outback provided our pallets with prime rib, and bbq ribs provided Helen a break from the fish and customary “island cuisine”.
Wednesday was another “pool” day though competition with the bathroom habits of the angels did seem to frustrate my commitment to adding some color. Helen and I enjoyed lunch on the patio while Ken and Terri ventured out to a local “hot spot” called Rick’s Blue Heaven”. Blue Heaven is a “must” for us when we are in Key West because it serves well prepared Caribbean cuisine amid falling leaves, roosters crowing and hens clucking. In spite of my “not so appetizing” description of the ambiance, the restaurant has a reputation for having the best “island” cuisine in Key West. No matter when you go there – morning, noon or night – it is pretty much standing room only. It was Terri’s first visit there and she enjoyed it. We finished our day with dinner at a local Italian restaurant and a presentation of “NUN NONSENSE” at the Red Barn, the island’s only theater that was open. It was well presented and most enjoyable. I had not seen this particular play before, though our friend, Marvis, had highly recommended it and I enjoyed it immensely. Helen was more familiar with it and she gave the presentation a “thumbs up” as did I but I am not sophisticated in these matters.
Thursday morning Ken and Terri boarded the ship for Fort Jefferson at 7:30A for a day out on the high seas, a snorkeling adventure and their very own tour of that famous old Fort 70 miles off Key West and a “stone’s throw” from Cuba. Helen and I enjoyed a quiet day with some window shopping and lunch at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaretaville. Dinner was a “clean up” of the week’s “doggy bags” and over purchases from the grocery store. After dinner, Ken, Terri and I made our way to the pier for one last sunset from Mallory Square and, in our own personal way, said our goodbye to Key West and the island life that it sustains.
Friday morning with suitcases packed, car loaded and clouds moving in we made our way down the Keys and back into reality with a rude awakening that the laid back lifestyle of Key West does not extend into Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood. Nevertheless, we have the memories of a good week spent with our daughter and our friend Helen, and though we will miss the island life, we will have our special memories until we return to the “call of the islands” and the “lure of Key West”.
Saturday we made the 200 mile “hop” to Orlando in the RV. We me Helen’s son, Jeff and cat Sassy when we dropped her off at her home and said goodbye. Since Terri had a 710A flight out of Orlando, we called it a day early Saturday evening in anticipation of an “early call” for the airport. This was the first time we have shared a vacation with either of our children and it was a real pleasure. We now realize what we have missed and we are looking forward to sharing a week in the sun with the whole family at some agreeable and coordinated point in time. We think it would be a wonderful and fun “happening”.
There you have it – another week of “Burns nonsense” from the road.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Sunday May 15, Key West – We departed Salt Springs Wednesday morning and spent Wednesday and Thursday night in a RV park in Kissimee. The park site was chosen because it was handy to the airport as well as to Helen’s home. Our location made for an easy pick up of Terri at the airport on Thursday and Helen on Friday morning. Friday morning we drove to Hollywood, where we left the coach for the week that we will be in Key West.
Saturday morning we left Hollywood Florida for the 150 mile trek through the Keys. We stopped at The Fish Company in Islamorada for a wonderful seafood luncheon on the water and visited the sporting goods shop to show the restored Hemingway boat to Helen and Terri. After an extended and relaxing lunch stop, we arrived Key West about 5PM, checked into our condo, unpacked and hit Mallory Square for the usual sunset entertainment on the docks.
We enjoyed Sunday brunch at the Wyndham Casa Marina (the old Flaggler Hotel), shopped for life sustaining items at the grocery store and relaxed on our balcony during sporadic rain showers. The forecast calls for isolated thunderstorms and for sure, they have not disappointed us today. Nevertheless, the tropical wind that brushes our cheek and reminds us of the Virgin Islands is refreshing and a nice feeling to “come home to”.
We are looking forward to a nice week in the Keys and you will have to wait until next week to find out what interesting adventures we are able to confront,.
Until then, take care
Saturday morning we left Hollywood Florida for the 150 mile trek through the Keys. We stopped at The Fish Company in Islamorada for a wonderful seafood luncheon on the water and visited the sporting goods shop to show the restored Hemingway boat to Helen and Terri. After an extended and relaxing lunch stop, we arrived Key West about 5PM, checked into our condo, unpacked and hit Mallory Square for the usual sunset entertainment on the docks.
We enjoyed Sunday brunch at the Wyndham Casa Marina (the old Flaggler Hotel), shopped for life sustaining items at the grocery store and relaxed on our balcony during sporadic rain showers. The forecast calls for isolated thunderstorms and for sure, they have not disappointed us today. Nevertheless, the tropical wind that brushes our cheek and reminds us of the Virgin Islands is refreshing and a nice feeling to “come home to”.
We are looking forward to a nice week in the Keys and you will have to wait until next week to find out what interesting adventures we are able to confront,.
Until then, take care
Monday, May 09, 2005
Sunday, May 8, Salt Springs Florida – Our week has been filled with travel and sightseeing. Monday was our last full day at Abita Springs and we capped it off with a drive in the countryside where we were impressed with the many beautiful homes and plantation like settings. In my lowly opinion, no one should discount the beauty of the country and lifestyle that the people of the South enjoy.
We were told that the surrounding area of Abita Springs is one of the wealthiest parishes in Louisiana and much of it is “old money”. The countryside was inviting, the homes beautiful and a visit there brought forth all of my basic yearnings for a beautiful mansion located on a hill overlooking a valley of green grass, shaded by magnolias and pine trees. Maybe in another lifetime? Ken insisted that we should visit a local family museum in Abita Springs which was interesting and seemingly included all of the items that a family garners over a lifetime.
Tuesday we drove into Mobile, Alabama where we visited Battlefield Park and the battleship, USS Alabama and the submarine USS Drum. We explored both the Alabama and the Drum and were awed by the complexity of life aboard ship as well as the lack of privacy and tight quarters from which “wars are fought”. Many years ago Ken was a guest aboard the USS Redfish which he found similar to the Drum in its quarters and technical capacity. As a first time visitor to “life in a sub” or on a battleship, I was duly impressed. Anyone who takes for granted the great role that is played by our servicemen and women in preserving our freedom, suffers from lack of first hand knowledge of life aboard ship or on a military base. Our servicemen and women sacrifice their own personal freedom and privacy to preserve our freedom and we owe them a great debt of gratitude.
Wednesday, we drove to Fort Walton Beach where our dentist and good friend, Dr. Roy has purchased a house on the Gulf and is relocating. We stopped by to see his purchase and were duly impressed with his grand seaside home. The rear of the residence looks out upon the Gulf and the front faces the tennis courts located across the street. On days when fishing is not on his agenda, he can choose from a round of tennis or 18 holes of golf on the links of the adjacent golf course. I was startled as I walked around to the rear of the house by a fox which apparently lives in his front yard. I am not sure which of us was most startled, the fox or I, as it ran across the road and toward the golf course. Dr. Roy is moving to this residence within the next month or so and I am sure that the fox will be seeking alternative residence.
Thursday, we checked into the Spirit of the Suwannee RV Park on the Suwannee River from which we toured the Stephen Foster Museum and enjoyed the “spirit” as they put it here. We were too early to enjoy the music and the folklore of the special weekend attractions that begin later this month. At least, we beat the crowds which have been prevalent everywhere we go. We found it interesting that the State of Florida has invested millions in building a tribute to Stephen Foster and his great folk music when in fact, there is no evidence that Stephen Foster ever visited the Suwannee River or the State of Florida. We were moved to invest in a CD with renditions of Foster’s songs and ballads and came away feeling the spirit, as we listened to the renditions of his beautiful music.
Saturday morning we moved onward into Salt Springs, a lovely park next to a good sized lake with all of the amenities (except Verizon cell phone service) that are, in my opinion, required to qualify as a Gwelda park. The RV sites are grassy, shaded by numerous beautiful magnolia and oak trees, with a large club house, two pools (an adult and a “kiddy” pool) two restaurants and wifi that can sometimes be accessed from our coach. We have found that most of the wireless network systems are intermittent for reliability but at the club house, it is high speed and reliable. The park operates as a RV resort as well as a large percentage of the sites are privately owned and used either as second homes or as recreational enjoyment of the lake. Water skiing and fishing seem in vogue.
Wednesday we will move on into Orlando where Terri and our friend Helen will join us for the drive to Ft Lauderdale where we will leave the coach for the week that we are in Key West. Next week, the 15th, I will post from Key West provided access to the web is available.
Until then, have a good week, stay well and be happy!
We were told that the surrounding area of Abita Springs is one of the wealthiest parishes in Louisiana and much of it is “old money”. The countryside was inviting, the homes beautiful and a visit there brought forth all of my basic yearnings for a beautiful mansion located on a hill overlooking a valley of green grass, shaded by magnolias and pine trees. Maybe in another lifetime? Ken insisted that we should visit a local family museum in Abita Springs which was interesting and seemingly included all of the items that a family garners over a lifetime.
Tuesday we drove into Mobile, Alabama where we visited Battlefield Park and the battleship, USS Alabama and the submarine USS Drum. We explored both the Alabama and the Drum and were awed by the complexity of life aboard ship as well as the lack of privacy and tight quarters from which “wars are fought”. Many years ago Ken was a guest aboard the USS Redfish which he found similar to the Drum in its quarters and technical capacity. As a first time visitor to “life in a sub” or on a battleship, I was duly impressed. Anyone who takes for granted the great role that is played by our servicemen and women in preserving our freedom, suffers from lack of first hand knowledge of life aboard ship or on a military base. Our servicemen and women sacrifice their own personal freedom and privacy to preserve our freedom and we owe them a great debt of gratitude.
Wednesday, we drove to Fort Walton Beach where our dentist and good friend, Dr. Roy has purchased a house on the Gulf and is relocating. We stopped by to see his purchase and were duly impressed with his grand seaside home. The rear of the residence looks out upon the Gulf and the front faces the tennis courts located across the street. On days when fishing is not on his agenda, he can choose from a round of tennis or 18 holes of golf on the links of the adjacent golf course. I was startled as I walked around to the rear of the house by a fox which apparently lives in his front yard. I am not sure which of us was most startled, the fox or I, as it ran across the road and toward the golf course. Dr. Roy is moving to this residence within the next month or so and I am sure that the fox will be seeking alternative residence.
Thursday, we checked into the Spirit of the Suwannee RV Park on the Suwannee River from which we toured the Stephen Foster Museum and enjoyed the “spirit” as they put it here. We were too early to enjoy the music and the folklore of the special weekend attractions that begin later this month. At least, we beat the crowds which have been prevalent everywhere we go. We found it interesting that the State of Florida has invested millions in building a tribute to Stephen Foster and his great folk music when in fact, there is no evidence that Stephen Foster ever visited the Suwannee River or the State of Florida. We were moved to invest in a CD with renditions of Foster’s songs and ballads and came away feeling the spirit, as we listened to the renditions of his beautiful music.
Saturday morning we moved onward into Salt Springs, a lovely park next to a good sized lake with all of the amenities (except Verizon cell phone service) that are, in my opinion, required to qualify as a Gwelda park. The RV sites are grassy, shaded by numerous beautiful magnolia and oak trees, with a large club house, two pools (an adult and a “kiddy” pool) two restaurants and wifi that can sometimes be accessed from our coach. We have found that most of the wireless network systems are intermittent for reliability but at the club house, it is high speed and reliable. The park operates as a RV resort as well as a large percentage of the sites are privately owned and used either as second homes or as recreational enjoyment of the lake. Water skiing and fishing seem in vogue.
Wednesday we will move on into Orlando where Terri and our friend Helen will join us for the drive to Ft Lauderdale where we will leave the coach for the week that we are in Key West. Next week, the 15th, I will post from Key West provided access to the web is available.
Until then, have a good week, stay well and be happy!
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Sunday May 1 Our week at a glance.
Sunday last we meandered from Dallas into Lake Conroe where we spent two nights. It was a pleasant quiet park and we enjoyed looking out over the Lake and watching the birds do their thing.
Tuesday, was supposed to be an overnight in Midland, Texas but we passed through that area relatively early in the day and decided to go on. As it turned out, we did not find a suitable RV spot until we reached Tye Texas, between Odessa and Abilene. That turned out to be a bit noisy inasmuch as there was an air base nearby and each time a jet took off it sounded like it was flying through our coach. The first one startled us enough that we thought it was falling for sure. Fortunately, we only had to endure three departing flights but at 2AM, all of the birds came home to roost and there must have been 15 jets landing within the space of 1 hour. Needless to say, I don’t think we would choose that park again.
On Wednesday we arrived at Abita Springs just across Lake Pontchartrain, from New Orleans. We enjoyed a warm pleasant Thursday at the park and a rather mediocre dinner at a local restaurant, but alas it’s okay, it was for a good cause, local enterprise. .
On Friday we braved the traffic into downtown New Orleans and enjoyed a quick visit to Bourbon Street, river walk and a ferry ride to Old Algiers before calling it a day and making our way back to our home base. There is a jazz festival in New Orleans and we toyed with the idea of attending that on Saturday but our enthusiasm was subdued by the anticipation of great crowds.
Friday night we were tormented by a gala of electrical storms that passed over the area and Saturday remnants of thundershowers were severe enough for us to relax within the safety of our RV. In the afternoon, the storm clouds subsided and we braved the elements for a drive up the road to Picayune, Mississippi, where a friend from our younger days resides but alas, we didn’t locate her. Also located near there is a NASA facility where engines for our space vehicles are made but alas, we missed the last tour of the day. Tours are conducted Monday through Saturday but the last tour on Saturday is at 2PM and we were too late.
Today, Sunday, we drove up the to Plaquemiines Parish, along the Mississippi River and its delta and the long Gulf Coast coastline. We drove to the very end of the road, at Boothville/Venice. We were impressed with the beauty of the area as well as the enterprise exhibited by the many refineries and oil related industries, fishing and farming along the delta. According to a local brochure, “the rich delta that makes up Plaquemines Parish was created over 700 years ago when the Mississippi River shifted 50 miles east from its ancestral banks and created a landmass and wet lands that is unique in the entire world. Nearly 14 percent of United States wetlands are contained in Plaquemines Parish.”
We stopped at historic old Fort Jackson and toured that old facility where a famous Civil War battle took place. According to my trusty brochure, “In April of 1862 Fort Jackson was in battle for several days before surrendering to the Union forces on April 28,1862. Each year the battle is reenacted at the fort and includes a living history encampment.” All in all an interesting day.
On Tuesday, we will move on en route to Orlando, and the arrival of our daughter, Terri who, along with our friend, Helen Holzaepfel, will join us for a week in Key West, Florida. Goodness, a week from today, we will be reporting from Key West.
Have a good week.
Sunday last we meandered from Dallas into Lake Conroe where we spent two nights. It was a pleasant quiet park and we enjoyed looking out over the Lake and watching the birds do their thing.
Tuesday, was supposed to be an overnight in Midland, Texas but we passed through that area relatively early in the day and decided to go on. As it turned out, we did not find a suitable RV spot until we reached Tye Texas, between Odessa and Abilene. That turned out to be a bit noisy inasmuch as there was an air base nearby and each time a jet took off it sounded like it was flying through our coach. The first one startled us enough that we thought it was falling for sure. Fortunately, we only had to endure three departing flights but at 2AM, all of the birds came home to roost and there must have been 15 jets landing within the space of 1 hour. Needless to say, I don’t think we would choose that park again.
On Wednesday we arrived at Abita Springs just across Lake Pontchartrain, from New Orleans. We enjoyed a warm pleasant Thursday at the park and a rather mediocre dinner at a local restaurant, but alas it’s okay, it was for a good cause, local enterprise. .
On Friday we braved the traffic into downtown New Orleans and enjoyed a quick visit to Bourbon Street, river walk and a ferry ride to Old Algiers before calling it a day and making our way back to our home base. There is a jazz festival in New Orleans and we toyed with the idea of attending that on Saturday but our enthusiasm was subdued by the anticipation of great crowds.
Friday night we were tormented by a gala of electrical storms that passed over the area and Saturday remnants of thundershowers were severe enough for us to relax within the safety of our RV. In the afternoon, the storm clouds subsided and we braved the elements for a drive up the road to Picayune, Mississippi, where a friend from our younger days resides but alas, we didn’t locate her. Also located near there is a NASA facility where engines for our space vehicles are made but alas, we missed the last tour of the day. Tours are conducted Monday through Saturday but the last tour on Saturday is at 2PM and we were too late.
Today, Sunday, we drove up the to Plaquemiines Parish, along the Mississippi River and its delta and the long Gulf Coast coastline. We drove to the very end of the road, at Boothville/Venice. We were impressed with the beauty of the area as well as the enterprise exhibited by the many refineries and oil related industries, fishing and farming along the delta. According to a local brochure, “the rich delta that makes up Plaquemines Parish was created over 700 years ago when the Mississippi River shifted 50 miles east from its ancestral banks and created a landmass and wet lands that is unique in the entire world. Nearly 14 percent of United States wetlands are contained in Plaquemines Parish.”
We stopped at historic old Fort Jackson and toured that old facility where a famous Civil War battle took place. According to my trusty brochure, “In April of 1862 Fort Jackson was in battle for several days before surrendering to the Union forces on April 28,1862. Each year the battle is reenacted at the fort and includes a living history encampment.” All in all an interesting day.
On Tuesday, we will move on en route to Orlando, and the arrival of our daughter, Terri who, along with our friend, Helen Holzaepfel, will join us for a week in Key West, Florida. Goodness, a week from today, we will be reporting from Key West.
Have a good week.