Beyond the End
Lake Charles, Louisiana: Can you believe,
we are no longer in Texas? It is a big state and we spent 18 days crossing
Texas by following the Rio Grande to the Gulf and following the Gulf to
Louisiana. Plus, when we ever decide to point this bus back to Oregon, we
plan to visit Texas on the way home too.
We left Palacios and followed Highway 35 to Galveston. Devastation from
Hurricane Ike is everywhere, but most businesses are open and many homes
have been repaired. Hotels along the seawall were open, but it didn't look
like there were many tourists.
This hotel has not reopened (obviously)
We drove all the way to the end of the point
east of Galveston. Here everything is simply gone - with
debris piled up by bulldozers. I made lunch and then took a
few photos.
Notice the Red Cross box... and even the kitchen sink
This was once a motel with small shop stalls. (Notice the
ships in the bay.)
At Galveston, the road ends - yet continues
- via a free state-operated ferry, to a barrier island that
leads back to the mainland.
Waiting to board the ferry
On board
Another (identical) ferry
20 minutes later, we reached Bolivar Peninsula - the two
dudes in the red pick-up came into
the Magna Peregrinus for a tour while we were on
the ferry!
Our turn to exit
While on the ferry, a lady asked us where we
were headed. I said... "east". She owned a RV park up the
road... but they were full. She said we wouldn't be able to
find a campsite for 100 miles - every site was being used by
FEMA employees and hurricane workers. She also said the
damage in Galveston was nothing compared to what we were
about to see in Bolivar.
She wasn't kidding.
It was like Galveston was just a little wind-blown during
Hurricane Ike compared to the barrier island. There is
barely a thing standing and what was left has been
bull-dozed into neat little piles, ready for removal. There
is enough litter, debris, smashed cars and muck left after
five months to only give a hint of the true destruction. We
were shocked.
I made a video while we were driving, because I couldn't
believe what I was seeing. Be prepared, it is appalling.
Hurricane Ike - 5 months later
And, we did have to continue on. DT drove
and I phoned campgrounds. No openings. Finally we were
getting close to the Louisiana border and all sorts of
casino billboards started showing up and every RVer knows
Casino = free parking. Sure enough, so here we are parked
between a 40-foot-container and lamp post, under a major
interstate freeway... and just for fun - next to the train
track at the
Isle of Capri Casino.
Nice
Know what? I've been to the Isle of Capri and it didn't look
anything like this.
Since we are parking (i.e. camping) free
overnight in their RV parking area, we thought it would only
fair to go inside and give them some of our money (or if we
were lucky, take some of their money)in the casino. We only
gambled for about 20 minutes - it was just too smoky for me,
so we decided to give them some of our money by dining in
one of their four restaurants... except only one of their
restaurants was open and it was a buffet.
Louisiana is pure torture to the kosher-only animal diner.
Louisianans know how to eat, and nearly all of their most
famous dishes - gumbo, etouffee, muffaletta, jambalaya - are
made with pork and/or shellfish. Torture. If you don't eat
pork and you don't eat shellfish in Louisiana... well, you
are gonna starve yourself at a all-you-can-eat $16.95
buffet!
I had chicken cutlets, a mozzarella stick and half of DT's
beef - and a salad. My Driver had beef, pasta, bread and the
largest chicken breasts we had ever seen. Just as we were
finishing our meal, they brought out a massive bowl of peel
& eat shrimp on ice. DT had several!
(Photo taken with my phone.)
Thank goodness they haven't figure out how to make a bacon
beignet yet!
We are in for the night. But it is like sleeping in a freeway median
strip... don't suppose we will get a lot of sleep tonight and DT is already
worried about a terrible hail storm predicted for tomorrow.
Until then, I remain, your River Boat Casino correspondent.
RV Park:
Isle of Capri Casino