Sunday, October 23, 2011

Day 31 - Farewell


By:  Ken and Carole Adams - Wagonmasters
       Spence and Madi Schaaf - Tailgunners

Ken and Carole
Spence and Madi

This morning, although hard to believe, was the end of our caravan.  We all gathered for a quick breakfast and said our goodbyes.  From Bemidji, Minnesota to Venice, Louisiana, we have traveled and explored along the Great River Road of the Mississippi River.  Just as the river grew in size and strength, so did the friendships we developed along the way. 

Our last gathering this morning for breakfast
























As we move on, we will always remember the friends we have acquired as we traveled down the Great River Road, and all the fun we had along the way.

Safe travels to you all, and we look forward to seeing you down the road."





Saturday, October 22, 2011

Day 30 - Float Plane Trip over Mississippi Delta


Final Day
By:  Carol Gosline and Bob Storrs


Only 30 days and yet so many experiences.  The beginning was only a small stream that we could step across with no problem.  Today we saw a mighty river spewing its water out into the Gulf of Mexico.  What a change 2500 miles and many gallons of water have made to the river. We have to think about the things that affect us and change our lives on a daily basis.  Certainly the friendships that have developed on this trip are part of those forces that have changed each of us.

Morning did come early this day as we gathered for the bus for our ride down the Mississippi delta.  While the trip took a while, the reward was more than worth it.  As each of our small groups boarded small float planes many wondered about the safety of the flight much less just getting in and out of the plane.  We were instructed where the life jackets could be found but reminded that the delta is only four feet deep in this area so if we were to use the jackets we would be standing with the jacket completely out of the water.

Yellow Cotton Marina, starting point for our flight
Once that plane lifted off all changed – peace if not quiet.  We cut through the Rosa (sp?) cane which is one of the primary plants that keeps the delta from washing away in floods and hurricanes.  As we gained in altitude we were able to see the Mississippi river moving though the marshes of the delta eventually cutting three channels to dump its load into the gulf.

View of the Delta
Venice, Louisiana 
John, our pilot, pointed out the remains of Fort Jackson and Fort Phillip that once guarded New Orleans from attack from the sea – unfortunately not successfully.  Then we saw the shallow water drilling rig that the oil companies are able to use in this area as well as the ground based facilities that provide supplies and men to the deep water rigs many miles out to sea.  The oil in this area is encased in the Venice Salt Dome and is extracted by dripping into the sandy fields inside the dome.

Pilot, John


Oil Facilities in the Delta
Of course oil is not the only activity going on in the delta.  John pointed out a duck hunting cabin that he uses and the many shrimp boats out that day.   There are two types of shrimpers that operate out of the area. 

Of course we were interested in how Katrina and the oil spill had affected the area.  Hurricanes are a natural part of the delta and it would have responded much better if man hadn’t made so many changes to suit them.  The oil spill was only about 50 miles away but the pressure of the Mississippi river prevented much of the oil from entering this area.  However whenever a big storm goes through the area, oil balls are formed and deposited on the beaches which then have to be cleaned up.

Remains from Hurricane Katrina
All too soon our flight was over and we had to return to land.  Our entire trip has reminded us of how important and mighty the Mississippi really is but today’s flight painted a final picture.

Crawling to land
Returning to land
With the excitement of the flight and the time we spent travelling we were certainly ready for lunch and what a lunch we were treated to.  Woodland Plantation was both a great eating experience as well a step back into the past.  The picture of the plantation has for many years appeared on the bottle of Southern Comfort (it was removed only last year).  The plantation house has been marvelously restored and is now a Country Inn.  When we finished lunch Foster Creppel, the owner, began our tour in the Spirit Hall which had once been a local church that was moved onto the property and completely restored.  From the hall Foster introduced us to several of his pets on the plantation – alligators.  When one, at least 12 feet long, came running out to get the fish, we all moved back rather quickly.  We completed the tour at the main house, a vision of what the old South must have been truly like.

Spirit House
Lunch Served Buffet Style
The group enjoying lunch 
Buddy the Alligator
Southern Comfort Plantation
 Upon return to our campground we were treated to a dessert party that exceeded anything we expected.  It was a great time as we all had a chance to share our individual memories of special occasions along the trip.  Not surprising the list is way too long to include here but I think is etched in the memories of all who were with us.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Day 29 - New Orleans City Tour

By:  Dick and Marsha Marshall - Adventure 12
  
We started out on a nice, bright, sunny day by bus.  Roland was our tour guide and Glen was our bus driver. Roland told us the population of the New Orleans area was 1,200,000 and New Orleans proper was 320,000.  The population of the outskirts is increasing faster that New Orleans itself.  New Orleans is a melting pot.  They have an “R” less accent like Boston.  Lake Ponchetrain wanders around New Orleans and the Mississippi is on the other side and the two make New Orleans look like a crescent, thus the nickname the Crescent City. The port is the second largest in the U.S.

We went first to Mardi Gras World.  A pleasant lady who gave us information and showed us a movie about the workings of Mardi Gras World met us. She also gave us each a piece of king cake, a N.O. tradition.  One piece will have something in it.  The male who gets that piece is the king.  Another piece with something in it will go to a female and she will be the queen.  Carol Adams was our queen.   There was also a chance to try on costumes.  The first float parade was in 1857.  The figures for the floats are made of fiberglass and styrofoam and covered with papier maché before being painted.  Orpheus Crewe has the largest float.  Harry Connick, Jr. is a member of Orpheus.  They save and repaint and redecorate a lot of the floats. The Company was started in 1947 by Brian Kern and is now run by his son.  They make floats for many companies including Disney Parks around the world.

Entrance to Mardi Gras World
Antique Carriage

Tin Man with Friends by Trolley
King Rex

3-Headed Dragon Float
Roland and one of his compatriots split us into two groups and then led us on a walking tour of the French Quarter.  We saw Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Po Boy Shop (the Po Boy is a sandwich on long bread with many different fillings and is called that because the poor boys of long ago could only afford the long bread to eat), St. Louis Street with its beautiful wrought iron balconies, the New Orleans School of Cooking, and one of Emeril’s restaurants. We saw the word NOLA in many places and found it stood for New Orleans Louisiana.  Royal Street is a promenade where there is no traffic allowed during the day.  Antoiins and Brennans are on this street.  Unusual was the fact that the Supreme Court of LA is in New Orleans instead of in the State Capital.  As we were walking we stopped to listen to a street band and watch a couple dancing to the music. The Court of Two Sisters was also along this walk.  We saw Oak Leaf designs on the ironwork and that stands for hospitality.  Pat O’Brien’s is famous for inventing the Hurricane, the most famous beverage in the City.  

Bourbon Street is named for the Bourbon kings of France and not the drink.  It is closed to traffic at night.  St. Anthony Cathedral is beautiful.  The ground on the outside of the church was used as dueling grounds.  The Priest came out one day to find more people watching the dueling than attending services so he banned dueling from the grounds.  We also saw Jackson Square where there were many artists working and showing their work on the fence.  St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest active Catholic Church in North America.  At noon we heard wonderful church bells ringing from the Church.  We saw the statue of Andrew Jackson which weighs 20,000 lbs. 

Roland, our Guide
Trolley downtown
'Beautiful Balcony in French Quarter
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Sign
Mule Drawn Carriage









St. Louis Cathedral
Stonewall Jackson
Dixieland Street Band




 We all dispersed for lunch and then met our second bus and bus driver and off to St. Louis #2 cemetery.  Roland’s commentary was wonderful and kept us all interested in what he was saying.  We went on a city tour after the cemetery.  If I wrote down all the facts and interesting stories Roland told us this blog would go on forever. We were dropped off at the New Orleans Cooking School for a cooking lesson and dinner of what we saw being cooked.  Harriet, the cook, was fantastic and very, very funny.  She even made some special dishes for those who were unable to eat some of the delicious looking foods she made. We all had a wonderful time and it was a great way to end the day.  


St. Louis Cemetery #3

Cemetery Vaults in Disrepair


Wrought Iron Widow's Chairs in Cemetery




Vault of the Sisters of Mt. Carmel
























Harriet - our Chef
Making "Roux"
Andouille Sausage



Harriet making us Pralines!
We got on our third bus for the day to go back to the campground but had Glen back as a driver.  Roland and Glen were the best!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Day 28 - A Free Day in New Orleans, LA




By:  Fred & Lola Osmun - Adventure 15

Day 28, our first full day in 
New Orleans and a free day to do whatever we wish before the final two very full days of activities. Laundry, repairs, sightseeing on our own, resting, etc. were the order of the day.

Besides the regular daily blogs and pictures of our Adventure Caravan, I like to remember a few other things over the previous 27 days of our adventure. Our first state was Minnesota, North Star State, Land of 10,000 lakes (on their license plates).

Being able to see the headwaters of the mighty 
Mississippi River where it started out of Lake Itasca was a real treat.

St. Paul Minnesota is the home of the Mall of America. If you go you need comfortable shoes, and maybe a GPS unit. A person could get lost real easy in a place that big.

Wisconsin, America's Dairyland (currently used on license plates); Iowa, Hawkeye State; Missouri, Show Me State; Tennessee, Volunteer State; Mississippi, Magnolia State and Louisiana, Pelican State. All are listed as current state nicknames.

As we traveled down the river, the Upper Mississippi has 27 locks, designed to maintain an average nine foot depth for barge traffic. Barges are limited to three wide and five long, plus the push boat, in order to fit through those locks. Below St. Louis, Missouri there are no locks and we saw barge traffic of seven wide and seven or so long being pushed along the river.

Also as we drove along the mighty river, we saw thousands of acres of corn, soybeans, cotton and even sugar-cane. And since it is early fall, a lot of harvesting was going on with some very big machines.

It was also great to sample the various cooking styles of different areas of the country. YUM! Dick & Marsha Marshall, Lola and I enjoyed an evening meal at one of Don's Seafood Restaurant and Oyster Bar.

After the official end of our adventure, several of us are staying over a couple extra days and visiting the World War II museum.



This evening we were entertained by our fellow traveler, Ira Miller, on bass guitar.  He dedicated one of his songs to Spence, our Tailgunner, knowing that "On The Road Again" is Spence's favorite song.  Gunter was taking advantage of the music to do a little dancing with some of the ladies.  An enjoyable end to a great day.

We all gather to listen to Ira Miller play guitar for us
Ira's magic fingers entertaining us
Gunter Oeser and Marsha Marshall enjoying a dance

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Day 27 - Travel Day from Vidalia, LA to New Orleans, LA


By:  Gunter and Sandy Oeser - Adventure 14






It is a bright, sunny day with a beautiful blue sky.  We pass fields of cotton already picked, no fall colors, except an occasional tree with yellowing leaves.

There are many above ground cemeteries showing signs of neglect and disarray. We follow LA1, the Great River Road.  Sugar cane and industry. We pass sugar cane plants, nitgrogen making plants, and phosphate producing plants.  How do you make nitrogen and phosphate?













We pass Oak Alley Plantation (built 1837-1839) with it's lane of 28 Live Oak Trees decorated with Spanish Moss.

Oak Alley Plantation











The road at the Historic St. Joseph Plantation (circa 1830) is at 40 feet elevation.  A tugboat on the Mississippi River on the other side of the levee proudly shows its mast above our heads.

The Staff, Ken and Carole and Madi and Spence, hosted a wonderful Nacho and Margarita party in the early evening.  It was windy and cold, but we stood fast and enjoyed our social time.