Monday 21st October 2019

AKA the Big Goodbye to the Big Easy.

Yes, as quick as that, it was time to leave and begin the last phase of our trip. Much to do, but also to pack, see how much clean clothes we had, did we need to go to the laundrette, or should be just buy some cheap t shirts?

All this and more to sort out after breakfast. And it being a weekday, the Palace was open at half eight, so a minute after opening we were waiting to go in so we could get a good unhealthy start to the day. Bacon, links and alligator sausages along with lots and lots of coffee made us soon wake up.

Back in the hotel there was a bronchitis convention, of doctors, not the disease, and got me thinking; when all these quacks go to a convention, who is looking after the sick back home?

I have no idea.

We go to pack, and with one last check we leave.

Out on the street, we get the creole speaking cab driver to understand we wanted the Avis lot at the airport. But we also told him and his mates we loved to hear them speak in creole. It is the most amazing language.

Through what counts as rush hour traffic, gets us to the airport, and a short walk to the lot where a very helpful lady, loves my Alien-themed t shirt, and upgrades us twice as my preferred card could not be added. We have a huge Lincoln Fugly town car. Or something. There was more than enough room for us and our cases and my camera gear, leaving enough room for a medium sized fridge on the back seat, if we wanted.

I had been studying a map, as to where to go, and saw a road leading out to sea to two small islands.

We shall go there.

We program the sat nav with Grand Isle, and off we go, out of the airport, down the interstate, heading west for half an hour before we turn south.

Beside a network of canals large enough for medium sized- oil rig supply vessels to have got up so far from the sea. Along the road and as far as the eye could see, sugarcane waved in the wind, slowly ripening.

We went further south.

There are only two toll roads in the state we were told. We found one of them.

The Gateway to the Gulf Freeway cost $3.75, and took the road on a ten mile long bridge/raised roadway, over a network of slatmarshes and slow-moving channels of water. On the horizon, oil rigs and jack up barges could be seen.

It was other-worldly.

And then we reached the first of the two islands.

I say islands. Sheppy back in Kent is formed from sandbanks. But it does rise to over a hundred feet, if not higher, above level of the river. Grand Isle is also made from a sand bank, but rose little above the level of the sea. I mean, if it was two inches above the sea, it might be too much! Water lapped at the edge of the road, houses, built on stilts has their footings under water.

People live here?!

Not only do they live here, but they are trying to sell their houses.

This is in an area of high risk of hurricanes and storm surges, and I have seen shark's fins higher above the water.

The town, is a collection of houses on stilts, ship docks and occasional bars.

It is out of season, and most places are closed. Further on, the road to another fuel terminal is under water. Two or three inches. It looks bad.

We turn round and are confronted with the sight of the town backed with storm clouds as black as my first two wive's hearts.

There was rain coming.

We decide to leave and head back to the mainland, but before we reach the bridge back, the heavens open, turning day into night and falling so hard it was like fog.

We press on, it was like the end of the world. Have I said that already?

We reach the main land and retrace our steps back to the interstate. It had taken three hours.

On we went in heavy rain, thick spray, but traffic was quite light, so not too bad. Until decide we had had enough, and we should try to find somewhere to stay.

We find a Holiday In in a small town called Morgan City.

They had a room and the noisiest air conditioning unit in Christendom.

Due to rain and that there was no sidewalk, we drove to the next hotel two blocks down for dinner, at a place called Mogan's. Morgan's in Morgan City. Sadly, our server was not called Morgan.

But we have a fine dinner, though both courses arrived at the same time, meaning we had a full table.

I have cajun-spiced rib eye, which came with fries and salad, and coming after bbq shrimp to start. I could not finish it all, but made a good stab.

And that was it.

We returned to the hotel, lightning flashed around now that darkness had fallen. We listen to more radio, then go to bed once The Patriots had thrashed the Eagles.