January 28-31, 2022 Travel and Stay at Rainbow Plantation, Alabama

Before I start, I want to thank my friend Jan who let us know that those flooded fields were crawfish farms.  After we saw the nets, we thought it was some type of fish or ??.  Thank you Jan.

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On January 28, we packed up to head east. We wanted to dump our tanks after being parked for four nights but there was a “gentleman” who parked his truck and boat trailer in front of the dump station where there were big “No Parking “ signs.  Oh well, some people just……

Anyway, we headed east and decided to stay on I-10 until our stop.  There were many bridges, swamps, bays, rivers, and lakes:

This is the famous Atchafalaya Basin Bridge that goes for 18 miles over swamps, rivers and lakes.

If you look in the center of the picture you will see the water and the highway is on both sides:

To me, this bridge is fascinating and I cannot imagine what it was like building with the swamps all around (and the mosquitos and other creatures that hang out in the swamps – Yikees).

Anyway, here is a little information from the internet:

“The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, also known as the Louisiana Airborne Memorial Bridge, is a pair of parallel bridges in the U.S. state of Louisiana between Baton Rouge and Lafayette which carries Interstate 10 over the Atchafalaya Basin. With a total length of 96,095 feet (29,290 m; 18 mi; 29 km), it is the 3rd longest bridge in the US, the 2nd longest on the interstate system, and fourteenth-longest in the world by total length.

The bridge was opened to the public in 1973, construction was said to have begun in 1971. At the time of its completion, it was the second longest bridge in the United States, behind the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge. The bridge includes two exits: one for Whiskey Bay (Louisiana Highway 975) and another for Butte La Rose (LA 3177). While the bridges run parallel for most of their length, they merge when crossing the Whiskey Bay Pilot Channel and the Atchafalaya River. The average daily traffic count is (as of 2015) 30,420 vehicles.

Accidents occur frequently near the two river crossings as both are very narrow and lack shoulders. Accidents along the bridge can be problematic as the Atchafalaya Basin is sparsely inhabited. In 1999, Governor Mike Foster lowered the speed limit on the bridge from 70 to 60 mph (115 to 95 km/h). In 2003, the Louisiana Legislature enacted new traffic regulations for the bridge. The speed limit for 18-wheelers was lowered to 55 mph and they must remain in the right lane while crossing the bridge.”

Our journey took us across the Mississippi River (so we are now officially back in the east):

We are staying at the Slidell Elks Lodge in Slidell, Louisiana.  What a beautiful park with water and electricity and a dump station on site.  We met with the caretaker and then went to the lodge to have a few drinks and dinner.  I will definitely keep this on our list for a sightseeing spot in the future.

Their picnic area:

Firepits, wood, and a pond behind the RV sites:

I just love the moss hanging from the tree as well as the size of these trees:

On January 29, we continued our journey east into Mississippi:

Beautiful roads:

More bridges and bays:

Check out these homes:

We decided to do more of the scenic route (US90) along the coast.  Beautiful white sands:

That is an American flag in the center of the photo:

We stopped at a pullout and had lunch.  Here was our view:

We continued on to Alabama:

Thru Mobile:

Under Mobile:

And out to a bridge over the bay:

We landed at Rainbow Plantation in Summerdale.  It is an Escapees Park with beautiful trees:

It has been a while since we were here.  Sunday night was their ice cream social so, of course, we went.  It is so nice to see the parks back to doing events.  They did their social a little different.  Instead of scooping from containers, they had a variety of individual bars.  Nice!

So we stayed here for two full days and three nights. One day was laundry day – oh my, we had so much since we had not done it in a while.  Everyone loves the Escapee Parks for their laundry and price.  But if you have a lot, it is better to go to town and get it done.  (BTW, The Foley Laundromat is pretty good and they have an attendant. Plus their big washers are not too bad in price.)  While I was getting that done, Andy took the car to get an oil change.  Back home we had to rearrange again. (Stuff keeps falling while we travel!!  We will get it yet!)

And the second day was trying to find places to stay until February 6th when we will be on our lot in Wauchula, Florida. For those who know me, I just HATE making reservations. I want the ability to stay if I want to or go if I want to but sheesh, in the past few years that has changed.  So now I do a week or so at a time and so far so good.  Thank God for Elks and Moose Lodges.

Our last night here, we ate the the famous Lamberts, Home of the Throwed Roll.  Their rolls are wonderful! (https://throwedrolls.com/lamberts-cafe-iii/)

These are our travel stats for January 28-29, 2022.

January 28th:

Louisiana: Lorrain Road; SR101; I10; I12; Northshore Blvd; US190; SR433; Elks Road

Miles Traveled: 208 Miles

Louisiana: Elks Road; SR433; US190; I-10

Mississippi: I-10; US90; I10;

Alabama: I-10; SR59;  US90; CR55; CR32; Long Road; CR28; Rainbow Plantation

Miles Traveled: 172 Miles

Tomorrow we continue to Florida so stay tuned and enjoy today.

February 26–27, 2015 Biloxi, Mississippi

February 26th, we packed up, dumped our tanks and away we went eastward.

Across the Mississippi – does that mean we are officially in the east?

Much of I-10 in this area is built above the swamplands:

So much water, oh my:

After being in the west for well over a year, it is amazing to see all this water. 

We made our way into Mississippi:

We decided to stay in D’lberville (near Biloxi) at their Moose Lodge for a few days.  Full hook-ups for $12.00 – not bad.  After setting up, we went to the Lodge for happy hour and supper – What a great time talking to the local folks. 

Stats for today:

Miles Traveled: 298 Miles

Routes Traveled:

Louisiana: Intracoastal Road; SR-27; I-10

Mississippi: I-10; SR-16; Promenade Parkway; Gay Road

On Friday, February 27th, we woke to a beautiful sunshiny day so off we went to the Gulf of Mexico.  US-90 goes thru Biloxi and hugs the Gulf Shoreline.  In 2005, many of the homes and business were destroyed by the winds and storm surge of Hurricane Katrina.  Many of those older southern homes have not rebuilt so there are many areas where we saw driveways leading to grassy lots.  So sad.  Many of the business have come back.  All of the casinos were pretty much destroyed.  They have rebuilt and helped the town recover.

The new bridge over the bay:

Part of the old bridge was destroyed.  They fixed what was left and it is now a nice place to walk, fish, and you can even drive on part of it (notice the new bridge in the background):

One of the casinos:

The beautiful white beaches:

This looked so inviting – we just had to walk to the end:

The coastline:

One of the pier posts:

What a beautiful area!

The local Elks Lodge is located along US-90 with a beautiful view of the Gulf.  We stopped in to have a late lunch and had a great time chatting with the local folks who told us about places to see and about the hurricanes.  Very interesting.

I just love these HUGE southern trees – this was in the Elks Lodge parking lot:

Back home, we started to look at our plans for the next few weeks.  As most of you know, Andy and I don’t do reservations – we really just wing it!  BUT coming up is Florida where reservations are required for almost everything.  We will be visiting friends and also the Escape Parks and then probably heading north into Georgia to stay for a while.  So that is our soft plans – weather dependent of course.  (To my friends and family at home – we will be there when the flowers start blooming.  Hang in there – spring is coming.)

With that said, tomorrow we continue our journey east so stay tuned and enjoy today.

March 14, 2011 – The Creole Nature Trail

Follow along with us on the Creole Nature Trail main loop – LA-27.

First stop was the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge – the wetlands:

The bayous (water, water, everywhere):

And the birds – this is a birder’s paradise!:

And the houses on stilts:

Next stop was the Gulf of Mexico at Holly Beach – oh my!

 

 

Up and down the beach – yes, we were able to drive it and you can even camp there – :-))).

And the shells – another oh my!   I just had to take this picture – there were thousands of them!

So I picked up a few:

 

Aren’t nature’s colors and designs awesome – :-))):

    

And one of the houses – they are all on stilts:

We continued on our way along the coast – even crossed a waterway on a free ferry (sorry, no pictures – I could not get out of our car and the car was between two trucks.

And on to Rutherford Beach where we could also drive or camp on the beach.  Notice the oil rigs in the Gulf.   There were many rigs in all directions:

 

We had lunch in a small cafe in Creole – catfish sandwich that was yummy – :-)).  Then continued on our way.

Now one thing I have not talked about was the hurricane damage.  We saw a lot of rebuilding which is good.  We also saw many areas where there was a driveway that led to a concrete slab (where there had been a house).  We saw many areas where people are living in RV’s on their property.   We did not see a lot of debris in this area – an occasional car, or truck or building in the middle of a swampy area but that is all – which says a lot for these communities.   There is no pictures because I just can’t take them.   We see too much suffering on the daily news.  (With that said, please keep all those who are suffering in Japan.)

But there was one picture that says it all:

The sign says “Buffet Pizza”.

Our final stop was at the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge where we did the Pintail Loop.

This was another birder’s paradise – oh my!

 

But this loop had an added treat – gators, gators, everywhere:

 

 

 

This one was hiding:

This guy looks like he ate a lot of the ducks over the hill behind him:

 

This is what nightmares are made of:

Yikees!!!  

This is the first time we saw alligators in the wild – Amazing!!!

What a wonderful day!