New Orleans and a notable hot spot (Sept 17-20, 2016)

I forgot to mention, that we have our Can-Am motorcycle with us as secondary transportation as once you are hooked up at campgrounds, it is more convenient to have other transportation.

Our next stop, The Big Easy and the French Quarter RV Resort.  The almost 4 hour drive was blessedly uneventful.  The use of "resort" at this campground is a bit of a stretch, but it was within walking distance (daylight hours only) to the French Quarter.  It is basically a post Katrina parking lot turned into a gated-walled RV compound with a pool and pretty nice concrete pads and good wi-fi. Opportunistic capitalism at its best.

It has been many years since we visited New Orleans (pre-Katrina).  We had a couple of nostalgic locales on our list to revisit and to also explore what's new in NOLA. Mother's is old restaurant (established 1938)  that we longed to return to after our last visit. Just the best down home southern cookin' you can get.  Their specialty is the Ferdi Special, ham and roast beef sandwich with "debris" gravy.  You know your mouth is waterin'. It should be.  I don't know who Ferdi is, but their sandwich is awesome. I hope this place never goes away, it will be a sad day.

Ferdi Special with debris gravy

New Orleans is really a mysterious place to me. The legendary foods and flavors, architectural beauty, the nostalgia of time past, the ugliness tourists who seem content to relieve themselves of all inhibitions, even the ones they most certainly shouldn't, the haves and the have nots mixed together with music and a spirituality that is sensed in the heavy moist air at all times. It is awesome and a little melancholy at the same time. I just love it.

Not sure if this is a musician waiting for his gig to start, a waiter on his way to his shift
or a millionaire. He could be any of them or none of them. That is The Big Easy!

Blue cheese and fig appetizer

Yes, fried green tomatoes!

We took Uber around the Quarter at night and walked during the day.  It was hot, but we enjoyed walking the streets, eating the eats and a free walking tour and trolley ride through the Garden District on a rainy day. We had a terrific meal at Eat NOLA, pics don't do it justice.  Put it on your list to visit, you won't be sorry. 

The famous Commander's Palace, the closest I got was to take this pic. 

Our next stop, a short 3 hour drive from New Orleans is the Cajun RVera (cute play on words) motor home park.  It is located in the middle of nowhere Louisiana and has a huge pool and lazy river water park.  As the weather Louisiana is still in the 80 degree range, we will enjoy the pool.

But first, a visit Avery Island, home of the Tabasco Factory and the Mcllhenny family.  This family has been perfecting pepper sauce since 1868.  We took the Can-Am about 30 minutes from the Cajun RVera (go lost) in 90 degree heat, but finally made our way to the factor.  The history was fascinating and the tour, visitor center and gift shop was a good way to spend a day.

We got back to the camp site and quickly jumped into our swim suits, we have been talking about a refreshing dip in the large pool and float down the lazy river all the way back. We barely make it through the bath house when we were told the pool was closing two hours early. Lovely. :-( We negotiated a quick cool off dip, but then had to get out.  I guess going places out of season has its disadvantages.

Our next stop, Austin, Texas.