New Orleans/ Bayou

Wednesday, April 15 – West along the coast and then back up to the highway, we stopped at the Diamondback Country Club to find our "Mississippi" cache. The country club is a planned community and golf course with a Hawaiian theme. It didn't really catch on, but they still have a giant volcano in the front. We walked down the side trail along a ditch and found our cache no problem. Nothing too special about this place.

Instead of heading right into New Orleans, we stayed north so we could drive across the Causeway on Lake Natotoby (how do you spell it?) The bridge is 22 miles long, the longest in the world. From the center of it, you can barely see land in any direction. The skyline of New Orleans glinted in the distance ahead.

The first thing that got me about New Orleans was the size. I was expecting something a lot smaller. Once over the bridge, neighborhoods spread in all directions. I headed downtown. We passed the Super Dome and we finally made our way into the French Quarter. I followed a sign for parking and soon trapped myself in an $8 to park lot. We paid it and hit the streets.

The French Quarter is a crazy time every time. At any time, you will meet some of the most interesting people you ever have seen. Stopping into cool shapes to window-shop, Daze had a ball trying to catch pigions. We found out that its legal to carry open beer on the streets, so we picked up a couple Coors and watched a live band play and dance in the street.

Walking some more, we met this insane guy who kept knocking on his head, asking if we heard the metal plate. He was carrying a 200 pound back pack on his back and a 70 pound one on the front. He told us to find an abandoned house and stay there; there was lots of them since the storm. We also passed and talked to two kids that had been riding the rails all over the country. I was somewhat jealous of them and wanted to get in on the adventure, but I have it good with my dog and van and Tyne. Headed back to the car before time ran up, we stopped and ate a free Cajun crayfish from a sample tray outside a restaurant. Yum! Cajun cookin'.

We grabbed our car and drove to the other side of the quarter. Walking around looking for people to talk to, Tyne starts talking to these two guys and asks to use their bathroom. Whoever they asked inside said no, so they told Tyne to follow them and she could use the bathroom at the club they worked at. As we walked they started holding hands. Next thing you know, Tyne is going into the club and I'm waiting on the street corner with a cross-dressing prostitute standing kiddy corner to me.

It seemed like a long time before she came back. The prostitute was hilarious, taking pictures with tourist and waving at her/his friends passing by. But it was a little too weird so I was happy to walk to another spot on Bourbon street.

Wanting to get out of town before it got too late, we stopped at one more park. Armstrong park is a memorial park for Louis Armstrong and it was a good way to say goodbye to a crazy and fun city. I hope I come back here again some day soon. We headed south, got stuck in a little traffic, but made it down to Houmas and then continued south onto the Delta of the Mississippi.

There was swamp and water on both sides of the road and a channel with shrimping boats flowing next to the road. There was really no where to park but we trudged on. Finally we came to a little side route and just a couple miles down found a really torn up road leading to a good fishing spot.

The spot was nice but the bugs were terrible. We made stuffing with green beans and chicken spread mixed in, but had to walk to avoid getting eaten by the bugs. Tyne drank the "bean juice" from the can and I thought it was gross. Dazey rolled in something dead and we had to push her into the water to try to get her washed off.

Tyne and I drank a small bottle of whiskey and played some Uno. It was a great day, and I was very happy to be with Tyne. Good times. =)

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