Still heading North
Trip Start
Jan 01, 2006
1
26
29
Trip End
Apr 30, 2006
Lake Bruin,
Louisiana,
United States
Friday, April 7, 2006
Leaving my sister and cousin Brian in Kemah Monday morning heading for New Orleans. My sister boards a flight to Saudi Arabia Tuesday where she will hang out with Al for a few years. Hope all goes well. Have a great time sis.
We make our way to New Orleans across the great state of Texas into Louisiana and the Hurricane damage becomes evident. As we near New Orleans we find ourselves with a sick Hunter dog and decide it best to camp for the night instead of going into town and looking for a room as planned. We head for the nearest to New Orleans State Park and upon arrival we are told it's closed, taken over by FEMA and there's no camping. Bummer as it's late and what to do now. We drive down the road to a motel and ask to camp out in their parking
House of Blues, New Orleans, Willie Nelson show 1
. Woman agrees and there we are until morning. We head out ot get into the French Quarter passing hurricane damage left right and centre. Once down town we go to the place we stayed at last year only to find out it's not open. Driving around for a hour or so we find that any accommodations open do not want our doggy or are asking exorbitant rates to have him. One place wanted an extra $200 for the dog for each night ! Joke or what ? Finally we give up driving around and take to the cell phone. Same story ! We try some nearby by campgrounds. Most are closed or taken over by FEMA. Finally we find the Jude Trailer Park in the east end. They have a spot for $25. We do a bit of touring around in the French Quarter, have Beignets and coffee then head for the camp. Once we get situated we take the bus back downtown which proved to be a project in itself. Buses are few and far between but finally after and hour or so waiting we get one to town. There's no fare, buses are being run for free. We pass much damage along the way and there is nothing open. No groceries, no gas, not much of anything except right down town and the French Quarter which is still in the process of cleaning up. Looks to me like it will take forever. Piles of rubbish and dead cars abound. FEMA trailers set up everywhere to hose returnees and workers. We eventually get dropped off on the far end of Canal Street and take the trolley into downtown at the end of Bourbon Street
House of Blues, New Orleans, Willie Nelson show 2
. We walk around with the intention to find diner at some place with good music. Heading down Decateur Street, in New Orleans towards the House of Blues to see if there was any music for the night. We did not expect much as it was a Tuesday night. As we approach the venue we see a lot of commotion, Security guards and police have the street blocked off, three huge tour buses on the street then someone tells us it's Willie Nelson playing at The House of Blues tonight. Well, what a surprise. As we approach the bus nearest the door the bus door opens and Willie is getting off right before our eyes. No time to get the camera, damn. But I do get it out and get a pic of his sister getting off. We then go looking for tickets and are told it's sold out. We walk around for awhile talking to people and next thing you know somebody offers us two tickets, $65 each, not bad we figure and take them and we find ourselves in the line to get in. That's when I called you. Well, I did not mange to get any of the innumerable items being pitched off the stage. But I did mange to get some photos, despite there being a no cameras item on the tickets. Once the show started there we're lots of folks taking pics with cameras and cell phone so I figure might as well be me too. I shut the flash off so they are not the best but better than nothing. There is a pic of Willie singing a tune with a large gentleman. That is the New Orleans police Chief that Willie made a deal with to send two truck loads of bottled water to after the hurricane
House of Blues, New Orleans, Willie Nelson show 3
. He was giving Willie a commemorative plaque. Willie was also congratulated by New Orleans for taking on the honour of the first outsider to be the Grand Marshall of the Mardi Gras this year. Then they declared April 04 as Willie Nelson Day in New Orleans ! What a hoot ! I can't believe our luck running into this show !Wednesday morning we pack up and head North again. Following Hwy. 61 to St; Francisville where we spend the night at The Green Acres RV Park after taking a tour of Historical St. Francisville. Green Acres is next door to the Oakley Plantation, an Audobon Historical site. In the morning we visit Oakley Plantation then after some Internet chores are on our way up Hwy. 61 again to Natches, Mississippi where we cross the Mighty Mississippi back into Louisiana and follow Hwy. 65 to the Shilo RV Park on the shore of Lake Bruin where we are now.
Friday morning we will be off again after posting this message courtesy of the free WiFi at this campground.
Comments
Still heading North
Frank & Rita, Don't head north too quickly - it's still pretty chilly up here!!
Gerry & Sharon, Dunrobin
willie nelson
Hi Frank and Rita; Hey Willie is going to be in Peterborough in a couple of weeks...sounds like it was a good show. Richard