New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Sunday Brunch Jazz Cruise

We did a brunch cruise on the Natchez, the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River.

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Live steam calliope playing:

Live calliope playing

A video:

Lunch boarding info:

Lunch boarding info

Dining room:

Dining room

Dining room

Our table:

Our table

Gumbo and salad:

Soup and salad

Buffet:

Buffet

Brunch:

Brunch

Dining room

Dessert:

Dessert

Bow:

Bow

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Gift shop:

Gift shop

Steamboat Natchez

Paddle wheel:

Paddlewheel

Paddlewheel

A video:

Selfie

Paddlewheel

Paddlewheel

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Life vests in the ceiling:

Life vests in the ceiling

Boiler room:

Boiler room

Boiler room

Boiler room

Boiler room

Engine room:

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Three short video clips:

Paddlewheel

Engine room louver

Info

Bar:

Bar

Ship

Near the waterline:

Near the waterline

Bow

New Orleans:

New Orleans

Bridge

Bridge

Church

City

Sister ship City of New Orleans:

City of New Orleans

City of New Orleans

Ferry:

Ferry

Creole Queen:

Creole Queen

Cruise ship:

Cruise ship

Bridge

Bridge

Lines

Throwing a leader line:

Throwing a line

Pulling the line:

Pulling line

On the winch:

Line

Disembarking:

Disembarking

Steamboat Natchez

Posed photo (I really need to learn how to smile in a way that’s visible behind my mustache in such photos):

Posed photo

Natchez info:

Natchez info

Steamboat Natchez

A fun brunch cruise.

New Orleans RV Resort & Marina

We stayed at New Orleans RV Resort & Marina in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Campground Reviews listing.)

A canal-front site close to the attractions of NOLA.

Dates:

  • Check in: 2023-11-19
  • Check out: 2023-12-03
  • 14 nights

Weather:

  • Partly cloudy, some rain
  • High temps ranging between 54-77°F, lows around 50-62°F
  • A little wind, gusts to 24 MPH

Noise:

  • Some road noise
  • Distant train noise
  • Plane noise from local airport
  • Occasional boat and jetski noise in the canal
  • Little neighbor noise

Site:

  • #7, front in, gravel
  • Needed to disconnect toad, parked behind coach
  • Fairly level; used hydraulic leveling
  • Gravel driveway about 50 feet long by about 20 feet wide
  • Bark between sites about 6 feet wide
  • Picnic table on grass
  • No fire pit
  • A bunch of small garbage and dog poop
  • Waterfront!

Utilities:

  • 50 amp power, very conveniently located
  • 35 PSI water, very conveniently located
  • Very loose sewer connection (the screw part wasn’t connected to the pipe), conveniently located (1 10-foot pipe needed)

Internet (in usage priority order):

  • T-Mobile: 55 Mbps down, 32 Mbps up, 54 ms ping
  • AT&T: 7 Mbps down, 20 Mbps up, 52 ms ping
  • Verizon: 9-13 Mbps down, 7 Mbps up, 135 ms ping
  • Starlink: not used
  • Campground Wi-Fi: not used

Amenities:

  • Garbage pickup from site
  • Package delivery to office
  • Onsite restaurant
  • Waterfront (canal)

Our review on Campground Reviews:

Industrial shipyards and pelicans

Don’t let the sketchy-looking area fool you as you drive in. This is a very nice resort close to everything you’d want to do in NOLA. We had a waterfront site and loved watching the birds skimming over the water and the parade of fishing boats going between the lake and the river. Our site was pretty short, just long enough for our 40′ motorhome, with barely enough space to park our tow vehicle alongside, but being able to face over the water was very nice.

The resort has a nice restaurant and bar onsite for when you don’t feel like going into the city itself. All the touristy stuff you’d want to do is conveniently close and parking in the French Quarter was not as scary as I thought it would be. We camped at New Orleans RV Resort & Marina in a Motorhome.

Campground map:

Map

An interactive map:

Our canal-front site:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Views from our site:

View

View

View

View

View

A rail drawbridge, sticking up in the open state:

View

And closed:

View

A barge waiting for the drawbridge to open:

View

View

View

Lots of pelicans:

View

View

View

View

View

Moon

The City of New Orleans arriving for servicing:

View

View

View

View

View

View

View

View

Some rainy days:

Rain

Rain

And thunderstorms:

Thunderstorms

The sewer connection was super loose:

Loose sewer

The site wasn’t very clean; this is the trash I picked up on arrival:

Trash

We could fill a gap in our states map (but yes, by the time you read this, Florida will also be there):

States map

We were sandwiched between two “Presidential” sites, with covered kitchens and hot tubs. We wouldn’t have preferred such a site, though, as the roof would have impeded our view:

Other sites

The neighboring hot tub kept blowing open in the wind:

Hot tub

Other sites:

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Cabins:

Cabin

Cabin

The office:

Office

Office

Office

They allowed package delivery for guests, with a large pile in the front of the office (not very secure; people just come grab their packages; I prefer it when they have a mail room to keep packages more secure, though of course that is more staff burden):

Packages

There is a shuttle to downtown, though we didn’t use it, preferring to drive and park; plenty of paid parking available:

Shuttle info

Pool:

Pool

Pool

Pool

Dog park:

Dog park

There are two marinas; this is the smaller one behind the office:

Marina

The larger one opposite a boat repair yard:

Marina

Marina

Marina

Marina

Marina

Marina

A nice thing about this resort is an onsite restaurant, The LightHouse Bar:

The LightHouse Bar

Menu:

Menu

Menu

Specials

The LightHouse Bar

The LightHouse Bar

We went there several evenings; here are a sampling of our food and beverages:

Drinks

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

A nice resort; we’d be happy to stay here again.

Garvan Woodland Gardens

We visited Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Map:

Map

An interactive map:

An impressive architectural feature is Anthony Chapel, which we had to quickly visit as it was about to be closed for a wedding:

Anthony Chapel

Anthony Chapel

Anthony Chapel

Anthony Chapel

Anthony Chapel

Anthony Chapel

Anthony Chapel

Anthony Chapel

Anthony Chapel

Anthony Chapel

A waterfall:

Waterfall

Waterfall

Model trains:

Model trains

Model trains

This was in early November, so they were in the process of adding holiday decorations:

Holiday decorations

Holiday decorations

Gardens

Holiday decorations

Holiday decorations

Gardens

Gardens

Gardens

Gardens

Gardens

Gardens

An impressive treehouse:

Treehouse

Treehouse

Treehouse

Gardens

Treehouse

Treehouse

Treehouse

Tiny

Tiny

Holiday decorations

Holiday decorations

Holiday decorations

Holiday decorations

Waterfall

Waterfall

Holiday decorations

Holiday decorations

Holiday decorations

Holiday decorations

Holiday decorations

Holiday decorations

Japanese garden

Japanese garden

Japanese garden

A very nice garden, highly recommended.

Hot Springs National Park

We visited Hot Springs National Park, an urban park in the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Map:

Map

Sign

Hot Springs

Convenient free parking:

Free parking

The main feature of this national park is “Bathhouse Row”, a series of historic bathhouses that used the natural hot water of the area; some of which still operate today.

Buckstaff Baths is one that still offers bathing; Jenn did a traditional bath and massage package here:

Buckstaff Baths

Ozark:

Ozark

Quapaw Baths is another that still operates; Jenn did a more modern spa package here:

Quapaw Baths

Lamar:

Lamar

This bathhouse contains a gift store:

Gift store

The Maurice:

The Maurice

The Hale:

The Hale

The Fordyce contains the park visitor center:

The Fordyce and visitor center

Floor plan:

Floor plan

Stained glass windows:

Stained glass windows

Historic bathhouse exhibits:

Bathhouse

Bathhouse

Bathhouse

Bathhouse

Bathhouse

Bathhouse

 

Bathhouse

Bathhouse

Bathhouse

Machinery in the basement:

Machinery

Tanks

Spring in the basement:

Spring in the basement

Locker room:

Locker room

Ladies lounge:

Ladies lounge

Exhibits:

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Gym:

Gym

Info exhibits:

Exhibits

Exhibits

A handy reference model of Bathhouse Row:

Exhibits

Outside

Superior Baths contains a restaurant and brewery — the only brewery on national park land:

Superior Baths

Superior restaurant

Menu:

Menu

Menu

Menu

Food

Food

Dessert

Trolley:

Trolley

Hot fountain:

Hot fountain

Hot spring:

Hot spring

The Grand Promenade:

The Grand Promenade

Hot spring:

Hot spring

Arlington Hotel:

Arlington Hotel

We also visited the nearby Hot Springs Mountain Tower, with a view of downtown.

Approaching the tower:

Approaching the tower

A switchback road to the tower:

Switchback road

Tower

Info sign:

Info sign

Token to go up the elevator:

Token to go up the elevator

There are two viewing levels; the lower one is enclosed:

Enclosed viewing level

Enclosed viewing level

Enclosed viewing level

Upstairs is an outdoor viewing level:

Outdoor viewing level

Outdoor viewing level

Parking area:

Parking area

View of downtown:

View

View

View

View

A bit different than the usual national park.

Catherine’s Landing

We stayed at Catherine’s Landing in Hot Springs, Arkansas. (Campground Reviews listing.)

A pleasant resort near Hot Springs National Park and Garvan Woodland Gardens.

Dates:

  • Check in: 2023-10-29
  • Check out: 2023-11-05
  • 7 nights

Weather:

  • Rain on first couple of days, then sunny
  • High temps ranging between 52-66°F, lows around 30-51°F
  • Negligible wind

Noise:

  • No road noise
  • No train noise
  • A little neighbor noise

Site:

  • #123, back in, concrete
  • Needed to disconnect toad, parked in front
  • Very level; used hydraulic jacks
  • Asphalt driveway 30 feet long, concrete RV pad 40 feet long by about 16 feet wide
  • Diagonal offset sites, with grass about 14 feet wide
  • Concrete patio extension of RV pad, with picnic table and charcoal grill
  • Fire pit
  • Lots of cigarette butts in fire pit

Utilities:

  • 50 amp power, conveniently located
  • 45 PSI water, conveniently located
  • Unthreaded sewer connection, very conveniently located (2 2-foot pipes needed)

Internet (in usage priority order):

  • Starlink: 15-73 Mbps down, 6-12 Mbps up, 56-99 ms ping
  • Campground Wi-Fi: 8 Mbps down, 7 Mbps up, 36 ms ping
  • T-Mobile: 2 Mbps down, 2 Mbps up, 110 ms ping
  • Verizon: 5-10 Mbps down, 2 Mbps up, 140 ms ping
  • AT&T: 105 Mbps down, 15 Mbps up, 70 ms ping

Amenities:

  • Trash pickup from site
  • Package delivery to office
  • Closed pool
  • Lake/river

Our review on Campground Reviews:

Lovely down by the water

This is a large, well-maintained campground near everything Hot Springs has to offer. We went for one of the Executive back-in sites by the water and loved watching the peaceful scenery. Since it was the off-season, most of the amenities were closed, so $110/night seems a bit much, but the view and serenity were worth it. Our site was perfectly level, which you expect with a concrete pad. We’d definitely stay here again. We camped at Catherine’s Landing in a Motorhome.

Tip for Other Campers: Bubba’s Catfish was really good and just up the road.

Campground map:

Map

An interactive map:

Our site:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Utilities (before hooking up the sewer, but you can see the sewer cap immediately opposite the wet bay):

Utilities

The Power Watchdog had the red light that indicated that the power neutral was missing, which is apparently not a fatal problem (since the dog face wasn’t red), but not ideal:

Power Watchdog

The site was perfectly level:

Level

After visiting Hot Springs National Park, we added its sticker; the last National Park of 2023:

National Park stickers

Ouachita River / Lake Catherine:

Ouachita River / Lake Catherine

Ouachita River / Lake Catherine

Office:

Office

Office

The pool was closed:

Pool

Ouachita River / Lake Catherine

Rental boat docks; they removed the pontoon boats for the winter during our stay:

Boat docks

Boat docks

Boat docks

A guest’s pontoon boat:

Boat

Ouachita River / Lake Catherine:

Ouachita River / Lake Catherine

Morning mist:

Morning mist

Morning mist

Morning mist

Morning mist

Morning mist

The motorhome that was next to us when we arrived made an annoying compressor noise every few minutes; we were glad when they left about halfway through our stay:

Motorhome next to us

Other sites:

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

A nice resort; we’d be happy to stay here again.


Bonus: some food samples from our stay in Hot Springs.

We enjoyed some Chinese delivery on our first night:

Chinese delivery

And some takeout from Bubba’s Catfish and Seafood on another night:

Bubba's Catfish and Seafood

Bubba's Catfish and Seafood

Bubba's Catfish and Seafood

And David’s Burgers:

David's Burgers

David's Burgers

David's Burgers

David's Burgers

A nice touch: they bring around bowls of tasty fresh fries while waiting for the ordered food:

David's Burgers

A decent burger:

David's Burgers

Another nice bonus, free ice cream delivered to the table:

David's Burgers

Merry Christmas; New Orleans Celebration in the Oaks

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, or Happy Holidays!

To mark the occasion, here’s a post out of sequence. We stayed in New Orleans around Thanksgiving this year, and while there attended the New Orleans City Park’s Celebration in the Oaks holiday lights. The blog posts about New Orleans aren’t scheduled to be published until February (yes, I’m rather behind; we do things faster than I can post about them!). But I figured I could bring this one forward to a more appropriate time.

This holiday celebration has driving and walking options; we did both. Here’s a map of the routes:

Map

We started with the driving portion, where one drives along roads in the park that have holiday light decorations:

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

A timelapse video from my 360 camera of the drive:

We then parked at the mini golf in the park, and played a round (Jenn won):

Mini golf

Mini golf

Mini golf

Mini golf

Mini golf

Then proceeded to the walking part, wandering around the New Orleans Botanical Garden and environs, with lots of holiday lights:

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Greenhouse

Greenhouse

Greenhouse

Greenhouse

Greenhouse

Greenhouse

Greenhouse

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Jenn reaching for a star:

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

A cute narrated Cajun Night Before Christmas story, with synchronized lights: 

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

An amusing New Orleans variation of 12 Days of Christmas:

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Model trains:

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Amusement park rides were also included, but we didn’t participate in any (considered the train, but it was full, and the carousel, but didn’t want to wait):

Holiday lights

It is a nice historical carousel, though:

Carousel

Carousel

Carousel

Attractions

Holiday lights

A fun festive evening. Always interesting to see local variations of holiday lights.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

West Truck Services Center

We unexpectedly stayed at West Truck Services Center in Moriarty, New Mexico, after getting towed there due to a brake getting stuck on the way from the Balloon Fiesta.

Dates:

  • Check in: 2023-10-16
  • Check out: 2023-10-18
  • 2 nights

Weather:

  • Sunny
  • High temps ranging between 76-79°F, lows around 38-42°F
  • Negligible wind

Noise:

  • Some Route 66 highway and freeway noise
  • No train noise

Site:

  • Parking lot, gravel
  • Toad was disconnected as the coach was towed
  • Fairly level; used air leveling
  • Some trash

Utilities:

  • 15 amp power from the shop
  • Water provided from the shop
  • No sewer

Internet (in usage priority order):

  • T-Mobile: 1-73 Mbps down, 2-17 Mbps up, 65-146 ms ping
  • Verizon: 24 Mbps down, 24 Mbps up, 64 ms ping
  • AT&T: 20 Mbps down, 20-27 Mbps up, 64 ms ping
  • Starlink: not used
  • Campground Wi-Fi: none

Amenities:

  • Garbage dumpster
  • Truck repair
  • Diner across the road

An interactive map:

We arrived after they closed, but one of the techs was still there, and provided a power cord and water hose for us, parked out front of the shop:

Our coach

We walked across Route 66 to a truck center:

Truck center across the road

Truck center across the road

We had dinner at Lisa’s Grill, a diner in the truck center:

Lisa's Diner

Menu

Menu

Dinner

Back to our coach:

Our coach

Sunrise the next day:

Sunrise

A tech unstuck our brake, and we moved the coach into the shop for more diagnosis:

Our coach

We went back to the diner for brunch. On the wall, a history of Moriarty:

History of Moriarty

Breakfast

Our tow truck with another customer:

Tow truck

Another tow truck delivered another truck early in the morning:

Tow truck

Our coach getting worked on:

Our coach

See the Braking: Bad blog post for a summary of the breakdown, tow, and repair.

Our stay here was as pleasant as one could expect from a repair situation. It was nice to be able to put out our slides, have power, and a diner across the road. Plus, of course, getting our coach back on the road!

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta flight

Last year we had a reservation for a ride in a balloon, but it was cancelled due to rain. A big reason for coming to the fiesta again this year was to have another chance for a balloon flight.

This time, the weather was perfect, and we got to experience the ride. And it was indeed a very special experience.

We signed up for the VIP Ryders Club package, which included a shorter line, a breakfast, and some swag:

VIP Ryders Club Check In

VIP Ryders Club tent

VIP Ryders Club breakfast

A boarding pass:

Boarding pass

Heading to the balloon:

Heading to the balloon

Our balloon:

Our balloon

Jenn helped hold up the balloon envelope while they used fans to start inflating it:

Using fans to start inflating the envelope

Using fans to start inflating the envelope

Using fans to start inflating the envelope

Using fans to start inflating the envelope

Inspecting the balloon

Basket

Hot air inflation:

Hot air inflation

Hot air inflation

Raising the balloon:

Raising the balloon

Getting into the basket:

Getting into the basket

Burners:

Burners

Burners

Burner

Selfie in the basket. I wore my 360 camera on my head; stay tuned for a timelapse video of our flight:

Selfie

Liftoff:

Liftoff

Aerial views:

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

The north RV lot; you can see our coach next to the power pole near the center of the picture:

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Another angle of the north RV lot and our coach:

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Aerial view

Coming in for a landing:

Aerial view

Deflating the envelope:

Deflating the envelope

Deflating the envelope

Exiting the basket:

Exiting the basket

Deflating the envelope

Packing up

Packing up

Bubbly celebration:

Bubbly celebration

Packing up

Packing up

Packing up

Packing up

We landed very near the field; the van could have taken us back, but we opted to walk; the blue dot on this map screenshot is where we landed, and our coach was just above the middle of the word “Presbyterian”:

Map

This ride was a magical, once-in-a-lifetime experience. We’re super glad that it worked out to do it this year.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta evening sessions

Not every day during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has an evening session, basically around the weekends. The balloons don’t fly in evenings, but they still inflate for an evening glow.

The crowd on the concourse by the food and swag stalls:

Concourse crowd

Concourse crowd

We went to Macology for dinner:

Macology

They produce interesting variations on mac & cheese:

Macology

One of the vendors was Lectric Ebikes; we had Lectric bikes, but Jenn didn’t find hers comfortable, so we sold it. She is interested in getting a Lectric trike instead, so was pleased to be able to see and try one:

Lectric ebikes

Jenn on the Lectric trike:

Lectric ebikes

Lectric ebikes

Back to balloons:

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Fireworks:

Fireworks

Sand sculpture of balloons, in progress:

Sand sculpture of balloons

Long line for dinner:

Long line for dinner

I had a meat pie, Jenn had a zydeco bowl:

Meat pie etc

And some Dole soft serve for dessert:

Dole soft serve

Dole soft serve

Alpenglow:

Alpenglow

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Jenn with a collector card:

Collector card

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Balloons

Even without flying, seeing the balloons inflated and glowing is still a magical experience.