M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I

Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi: Cruising right along, aren't we? Another day; another state. Since we were able to tour the rice mill, Tabasco and the Jungle Gardens yesterday (and enjoy a good meal at Clementine's), we decided to go ahead and leave New Iberia this morning. We had reservations to stay in a RV park outside of New Orleans... but after doing more research decided New Orleans would be a good place to avoid this weekend since it was Mardi Gras. Right place at the wrong time.

Yes, we may kick ourselves for not experiencing Mardi Gras, but probably not. (We have a King Cake, after all.) We would not be able to drive our car into town, due to parking restrictions. Crowds. Even the NOLA website advises "do not bring a purse, do not wear jewelry" and, for men to "really hide your wallet - putting your wallet in your front pocket will not avoid being pick-pocketed". (Seriously, their tourism manager needs to be fired.) I was really looking forward to a beignet at Cafe du Monde and grilled pompano at Arnaud's... guess Dunkin Donuts and Long John Silver's will have to do?

Some last photos of Louisiana:

The Mardi Gras tree in the RV Park office in New Iberia


KOC Kampground in New Iberia, Louisiana


Office: KOC Kampground in New Iberia, Louisiana


This is the area for boudin and cracklin

Miles of I-10 in this part of America are built up on pilings, as the route passes over swamps, rivers, lakes, swamps, bogs, bayous, swamps and marshes. Of course, this makes for a great view into the watery mess below.

At Baton Rouge, I-10 crosses the Mississippi River.

The Mississippi - not too bad a photo considering it was taken through the window at 55mph

And a fuel stop. We hadn't stopped for fuel since South Padre Island, so thought we would top-off the tank. Diesel was $2.19, so we only bought $200 worth. That'll show 'em.

Welcome to my world

And so we found ourselves in Mississippi. The Mississippi Welcome Center is just over the state line and is one of the nicest we have ever seen. (Forget what I said about Texas Welcome Centers, okay?) Mississippi offers you a cup of coffee or a soda! (Take that, Texas!) The center has a huge RV/truck parking area, RV dump station, a dog walking loop, picnic tables, bathrooms, a small NASA museum, private pull-through picnic pavilions - and of course, a wealth of information about Mississippi tourism and friendly people to answer your questions. Well, dang, maybe it is like coming home.

Mississippi Welcome Center


Mississippi Welcome Center - would you like a cup of coffee?

 
The welcome center had a display of Mardi Gras Ball costumes


Especially fabutabulous


Close-up

 
More costumes

Everyone cross your fingers. The Ducks have two games this weekend - both at home. I am warming up the shaving cream.

Our home for the next several days will be the Hollywood RV Park (and Casino and Golf Club). We camped here 10 November 2002. The place was gorgeous and, as I stated in my blog (can you believe I was blogging before the word was even invented???), this was one of the finest campgrounds we had ever seen. It is still beautiful, but all the huge live oak, dripping in moss, are gone. Hurricane Katrina stole them all. So very sad.

"We" drove over 250 miles today, so will recharge tonight and explore tomorrow. Until my next update, I remain, your beignet-deprived correspondent.

PS: Ducks lost. Again. (George Washington won again though!)

RV Park: Hollywood RV Park - we have a full service site with 50 amp. Back-in. $26.