Katrina's Devastation

Trip Start May 19, 2008
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Trip End Sep 24, 2008


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Flag of United States  , Louisiana,
Monday, June 30, 2008

Saturday was a busy day of shopping at the Outlet Mall and minor maintenance on the RV. By 4:00pm we were at Lucy Buffets at Home Port in Gulf Shores Alabama. Lucy is Jimmy Buffets (Margaritaville fame) sister Brent used his charm and accent to get a waterside table while Jo ordered the margaritas. The food was deep-fried and deep-fried, your choice. We decided upon the mountain of Okura starter and some gumbo, followed by shrimp Quesadilla . So essentially we had three appetizers, which was more than enough for us.
It was a little like dinner at a disneyland of restaurants. Brent has the T shirt to prove it.
Again the size of the meals was over whelming.

Jo has since declared that she is sick of fried food!!!
LuLu's at Home Port Alabama
LuLu's at Home Port Alabama
Today we left Gulf Shores and headed to Biloxi, and New Orleans. We were expecting to see some devastation following Hurricane Katrina three years ago but weren't ready for the collapsed bridges, the broken and deserted buildings and the empty lots where houses once stood, and all that exists now are the front steps.

The first buildings to arrive after the devastation are the fast food restaurants and hotels. The rest of the land is up for sale, with signs on the majority of lots.

Onward to New Orleans, the road was badly damaged and very undulating, we literally bounced along the highway. We knew New Orleans was close when we saw huge empty shopping centers, grass growing in the car parks, then the first houses, some boarded up, others were clearly vacant.

A long day and we have seen 3 states. Alabama, Mississippi and Louisianna. And really have had a bit of an eye opener regarding how bad it was in Aug 2005.
As we unhitched our RV the thunder was in the distance and the skies opened giving us a down pour. Somewhat poetic regarding our location.
Tonight finds us at a nice RV park 5 miles from downtown with a homemade gumbo dinner and the usual choice of wines.
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