Excited for our next stop, we made an early departure from Prattville, and joined the highway for an easy drive south.
The smell of Caramel Pecans wafted across the road when we stopped to fill up with gas…sufficient reason to cross the road and investigate.
We left Priester’s Market with a few tasty treats and continued south. We crossed the Mississippi State line, and drove many kilometres on raised bridges over swamp lands. The cypress standing tall, and Spanish Moss hanging like grey beards on old wise men.
We made our way down to Biloxi and drove besides blinding white beach sand along the coast. The breeze off the ocean driving sand across the road like blowing snow.
Imagine our surprise when we found ourselves in the middle of an annual car show of epic proportions. Every make and model of old restored cars and trucks, cruising up and down the beach road for at least 10 kilometres…and us cruising along with our 47ft dusty rig amongst them. We felt like trailer trash that showed up at the ball, and everyone wearing their finest attire.
We crossed into Louisiana and drove to our campground where we would set up for a multi day stay.
Our site was well positioned that we didn’t feel crowded. We saw our first parakeets, cute to look at but raucous around the feeder and in flight.
The campground provided a regular scheduled shuttle bus ride into the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Our first thing to do was get our bearings using the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus around New Orleans, while listening to the tour guide explain the buildings, people, and fascinating history.
From the upper deck of the bus, we could see an accumulation of colourful Mardi Gras Beads hanging from trees, overhead cables, and cast iron balconies.
Our narrator was a survivor of Hurricane Catrina. Her house was under 18 feet or water when the flooding occurred. She proceeded to describe the aftermath, and the chaotic government response. After all was said and done, it took her seven years to get back into her home.
We toured the Hurricane Katrina Museum, and were stunned at the extent of the flooding. Especially after walking around some of the streets, and seeing the levies next to our campground.
Often called the Crown Jewel of New Orleans, the French Quarter is one of NOLA’s most historic neighbourhoods. You’ll find plenty of new mixed in with the old, abundant cast iron bannisters and lush patio hanging gardens.
There’s a reimagined French Market, modern boutiques mix with beloved antique stores and old restaurants. The smells emanating from eateries enticing one to sample the local cuisine.
For an afternoon snack, we tried some beignets, synonymous with the English fritter. Beignet is a French term for a pastry made from deep-fried choux pastry, then covered with icing sugar. Enough to refuel us for more walking.
Typical of a southern coastal swampland, the high heat and humidity sapped our energy. We made multiple stops during our walks to replenish liquids, and often selected slushy fruit alcohol drinks to help cool us down.
The French Quarter is a timeless portrait – especially come dusk when swallows glide above the fortunetellers on Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral’s butter-crème-colored walls reflect the fiery sunset. Neon signs stutter to life on Bourbon Street. Night falls. The clopping of horse hooves fade, music throbs and gaslights flicker in a place full of long-told legends.
We enjoyed a jazz lunch cruise with traditional cuisine on the last authentic paddle steamboat on the Mississippi River. Who knew that catfish could taste so nice.
The engine room with two 100-year-old steam engines was fascinating – watching the 15” and 30” bore pistons and a 7ft stroke driving the large paddle wheel.
Over the course of a few days, we rode the shuttle bus and enjoyed exploring New Orleans and the French Quarter. On our last day, we stayed in camp and caught up on our laundry before continuing our adventure west.