Most of the slots were taken up by 5th wheel trailers. Apparently, there is a large construction project in Port Arthur a few miles to the South, and the construction workers, and a few snowbirds, use the park as a semi-permanent home. Some of the folks have been there for more than 2 years. Good for the park owners, but not so good for the general park ambiance.
We found a convenient Chilli's in the late afternoon for happy hour, then it was back to the coach for the night. In the morning, we headed back across I10 around 8:30 on our way to New Orleans. Two things struck us during the trip: first, the highway was full of trucks - I'd say 30 to 40 percent of the vehicles; second, the road is in bad shape in many areas - due to the heavy truck traffic I suppose.
As we approached New Orleans, we crossed many miles of swampy territory, most of which required a many miles long bridge to traverse. Quite an engineering feat. Closer to New Orleans, a similar bridging was required to circumvent Lake Pontchartrain. We arrived in New Orleans around 2:30 and checked into the French Quarter RV Resort.
It is located about 200 yards South of an elevated portion of I10, and less than a quarter of a mile from the French Quarter - an ideal location for touring the French Quarter, but not so ideal for sleeping with all the truck traffic on I10!The RV park is small, with only 50 or so sites, and surrounded by a high wall with a version of razor wire on top for security (the park is not situated in the best part of town with a large housing project next door - and a police station also). It is a relatively expensive RV park, but the location so close to the French Quarter is ideal for touring.
Suz and I decided to take a cab to a remote part of the French Quarter to a restaurant that served local food and jazz. When we got there, it was closed for renovation - just our luck - so the cab dropped us off on Bourbon Street, what a place! We found a local bar, the Tropical Isle, that offered great music and enjoyed the evening.
Given that it was still light as we headed home, walking. No incidents to report, but I'm glad it wasn't dark.Thursday, I did some work around the coach - wash the front, clean the motorcycle - then we headed back into the French Quarter for lunch at the Chartres House Restaurant
on, what else, Chartres and Toulouse streets. I had Jambalaya; Suz had, what else, a roast beef Po-Boy- can't get her to try anything!From the Chartres House, we toured Decatur Street where there are lots of shops. We found a wonderful Christmas shop with myriad decorations. We have decided to get one small tree decoration in each memorable spot we visit from now on (so far we have two - one from Four Corners, and one from New Orleans), now we just have to find a small Christmas tree for the coach!
We walked around the French Quarter for a few hours, learning about New Orleans
and visiting various interesting sites. One was the site on the Mississippi River where the Natchez stern wheeler docks (the tide is obviously out). 
We also visited the St. Louis Cathedral 
just off Jackson Square. It is a beautiful church. We also had a peek into Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Bar,
viewed the statue of Joan of Arc presented to New Orleans by France,
and passed by Preservation Hall, where they have nightly jazz sessions. They start at 8:00 pm - so much for that.One thing you can count on in the French Quarter is a lot of buskers and bands. We passed several buskers doing the statue routine, on Toulouse Street one in particular was worth a photo.
He stood like this, motionless for as long as he was in our view. While we were having lunch, he came into the same cafe and visited the bar with the proceeds from his work. Jazz and other bands also are common. One in particular caught out eye just off St. Peter street.
One thing we noticed during our walks in the French Quarter was the vast amount of renovation that is going on. It seems like there is a reno project on every block and the results are very attractive.
Thursday evening, Suz and I headed back into the French Quarter for happy hour and to enjoy a meal at the Gumbo Shop (not to be confused with the more commercial "Gumbo Pot"). The Gumbo Shop on St. Peter is a small, excellent restaurant that specializes in Cajun cuisine. It has a casual atmosphere, and the food is good and inexpensive.
After a great meal of Jambalaya, shrimp Creole and crayfish (John only with a few tastes by Suz), we headed back to the coach to get home before dark. On the way, we saw a rather unusual apartment with a definite voodoo flair.
Back at the coach, Suz took the Wonderdog for a walk and we settled in to watch some college football.Friday morning we took a van tour of New Orleans to see what we hadn't seen on foot and also to see the area devastated by hurricane Katrina. The threee hour tour was quite comprehensive, visiting the French Quarter, Ward 9 (the area hardest hit by the hurricane), the Garden District (where the wealthy live), the largest cemetery in New Orleans (where the wealthiest are buried), the business district, and various other places. After the tour, we returned to the coach and did a few chores in preparation for our departure tomorrow, then headed back into the French Quarter for happy hour and dinner.
Our happy hour stop was Bourbon Street Cowboy, where they have a mechanical bull that attracted a number of ladies who had been alcoholically "lubricated" shall I say.
From there, Suz and I headed for the Oceana Grill for another great New Orleans meal. 
Then it was back to the coach to walk the dog and get ready for our departure.Tomorrow, we will head across I10 to Tallahassee for two nights, then down to The Villages to visit with Don and Dianne Rioux for a couple of nights, then home to Palm City. It doesn't seem like we have been gone for four months, ans Suz would prefer that we were still on the road. Oh, well, there is always next summer!
We will make one more posting as the completion of our odyssey. Until then, Cheers!
John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog
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