Another little project while at Davidson RV was to add some custom-fit carpeting in the cockpit area:
Much better. That helps catch dirt coming into the coach, and is more comfortable, instead of walking on cold tile on cold mornings; the heated tile doesn’t extend into the cockpit area.
We did a brunch cruise on the Natchez, the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River.
Live steam calliope playing:
A video:
Lunch boarding info:
Dining room:
Our table:
Gumbo and salad:
Buffet:
Brunch:
Dessert:
Bow:
Gift shop:
Paddle wheel:
A video:
Life vests in the ceiling:
Boiler room:
Engine room:
Three short video clips:
Bar:
Near the waterline:
New Orleans:
Sister ship City of New Orleans:
Ferry:
Creole Queen:
Cruise ship:
Throwing a leader line:
Pulling the line:
On the winch:
Disembarking:
Posed photo (I really need to learn how to smile in a way that’s visible behind my mustache in such photos):
Natchez info:
A fun brunch cruise.
We did a guided tour of the historic tombs in St Louis Cemetery Number 1 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
An interactive map:
We checked in for the tour at the visitor info building across the road:
It has train exhibits:
A map with the area of the city that was flooded highlighted in red:
Then on to our guided tour of St Louis Cemetery Number 1:
Fascinating stuff.
White in New Orleans, we visited a couple of units of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve.
The first unit was the French Quarter visitor center in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana.
Another unit was Chalmette Battlefield, site of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815:
Our coach came with fabric valances above the windows, which we didn’t like… and Paladin liked scratching. So while in Red Bay, another project we got Davidson RV to do was to replace the fabric portions with wood.
Here’s an example of the old valance, in the bedroom:
They removed the whole window surround:
Then they replaced the fabric portion with wood, stained to a similar color:
The improved version re-installed:
Another example, the window above the TV lift:
Much nicer.
We visited Oak Alley Plantation, a historic sugar plantation west of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Map:
One reason we chose to tour this plantation was that they acknowledged the history of slavery as part of the establishment:
They had exhibits on the slave quarters, work, and other conditions:
Some nice gardens:
The big house:
Sugarcane theater, with a video on sugarcane harvesting:
We had a guided tour of inside the big house. Unfortunately they don’t allow photos inside:
A view of the oak trees from the second floor balcony:
The wrap-around balcony:
After the tour inside, we walked around the gardens some more:
Then went to the cafe for lunch, followed by the gift store:
Fascinating history.
A timelapse from my 360 camera of an airboat swamp tour near New Orleans.
We took a swamp tour on an airboat, via LaBiche Swamp Tours. Though more of a bayou tour, with a brief trip through a swamp.
We saw a bunch of birds, and some alligators, on a small six-passenger airboat.
A map of the area:
We booked via Mona Lisa Lounge, a nearby dive bar, who provided a bonus pre-tour beverage, some beads, and conversation with the very drunk wife of the owner:
We then proceeded to the tour dock:
The waiting area:
Our airboat:
A larger airboat:
Heading out through the bayou:
The alligators were starting brumation, so were less common, but we did see a few. Here’s our first alligator sighting:
A video of a swimming gator:
A video of airboat travel:
Another video of a swimming gator:
Our airboat:
Another airboat:
A rescued gator back at the dock:
A fun experience.
We did a bit of exploring of New Orleans, Louisiana, including walking around the French Quarter, a quick drive through the Garden District, and elsewhere. This post has an assortment of pictures from the city.
An interactive map:
Lots of pictures from the distinctive French Quarter:
We had a jazz brunch at the Court of Two Sisters:
A beignet and coffee snack:
Even the cops have swag:
We stopped at another Cafe Beignet for coffee beans (that were kinda gross), and also picked up some tasty pralines:
A brief drive through the Garden District:
Hale Boggs Bridge:
Veterans Memorial Bridge:
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway holds the Guinness World Record for longest continuous span over water in the world, at 23.83 miles (38.35 km) long:
A couple more shots from the French Quarter to finish up:
The city certainly has a lot of character.
