New Orleans!

So first of all, a small backtrack...  after visiting with Tricia and Chris in Tampa we once again hooked up with our New Jersey friends Jim and Maureen.  They had travelled south between Christmas and New Year's and are staying for 3 months in the Villages in central Florida, just northwest of Orlando.

What an interesting place.  Three large housing developments organized around central "small town business districts," with shops and lots of recreational activities.  Jim showed me a printout of about 40 pages outlining organized clubs and groups from tennis or dancing to pickle ball and cards.

At the end of the last post, we were near Pensacola, Florida.  Before heading out, we went to the Naval Air Museum, of course following our GPS.  Turns out it's located on the naval base itself.  For an old hippie like me it was a little unnerving getting that close to the power of the military.  Just sayin'...  The guy checking IDs at the entry didn't seem to have much of a sense of humor.  But I guess I wouldn't either.  Tough job.  Glad someone's doing it...

Anyway, the museum was free and it was AWESOME!!  I would recommend it to anyone in the area.   They had 20 or 30 actual airplanes in this huge building, some on the ground and some hanging in the air.  When I was a kid I used to build model airplanes, so I actually recognized some of the WWII fighters and bombers.















But there were two areas of the museum that really spoke to me.  One was a re-creation of a small town from the late 40s, with a grocery store, a home, a movie theater (tickets half price for someone in military uniform), and an auto garage.  It was very detailed and realistic.  Another time and reality for sure, a much different world.  More safe and trusting in my mind...

The other was a listing of the Medal of Honor winners through the years.  This award was started by Abe Lincoln during the Civil War.  They had a video library of statements from recent recipients.  There was an index, and at random I picked a guy from my era, the war in Vietnam.
It ended up being a guy from Wisconsin.  Honestly, it brought tears to my eyes.  Like many of us, a guy caught in a situation not of his making, and just trying to do the best and not get caught with his ass in the vise.



After that we drove through a slim section of Alabama, past Gulf Shores, where Marge used to winter, then through a narrow slice of Mississippi, over Lake Ponchertrain and into New Orleans!  We are camping at St. Bernard State Park, about 15 miles southeast of the city itself.  Nice and quiet, wooded and CHEAP!  $18 a night, with electricity and water hookups!  Just what my credit card needs!

We got in on Saturday late and decided to just stay in the camp.  But Sunday morning we went to the Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues!  Rocking the joint!!

We followed this with playoff football...  the Vikings blowing a sure victory in frigid cold, and the Packers rising to the occasion and beating the Washington Redskins.  Well, next weekend I will officially be 100% green and gold!

We started off Monday with a tour of the Metierre Cemetery.  Because of the high water table in New Orleans, burial is above ground in crypts.  Some amazing buildings!!  Both Karen and I said we didn't really understand the grandiosity of the buildings.  The dead are dead.  To each their own I guess...

Cemetery escapees sighted in French Quarter!

Karen is an all star on the online searches, and came up with a place called Crabby Jack's for lunch.  Red beans and rice, jambalaya, po' boy sandwiches and shrimp etouffe.  Great food at a reasonable price, with leftovers for the next day.  And a very eclectic place!!

 

Then we parked by the French Street Market and spent an hour strolling through the wares.  Ended up with praline beignets. Awesome taste treats!

We topped off our day with a fill up of cheap gas!!

Hey just a shout out to Mike Barklow, my Utah son in law, who rode 200 miles on a fat bike in the snow!  Wowza!!!  Well done!!!  You da man, Mito and you da bomb, Kaitlwyn!!

Mike and Kaitlin after last year's ride, with matching third place finishes.  Love you two!!

And this one's for you, Rick Kondora!

And last night we played an open mic at the House of Blues, Big Mama Thornton's Lounge on Decatur Street in the French Quarter!!

What a thrill!