Month: November 2018

DAY #23

The weather had cleared and gone was the rain & humidity.  In its place though came plummeting temperatures (high in the low 50s) and a brisk wind out of the north (Brrr…).  I had turned on the furnace the night before to take the chill out of the trailer.  When I fell asleep everything was cool, waking up a few hours later and man, why is it so hot in here?  I get up and looked at the thermostat and it’s reading 88 degrees and then I notice, the furnace is still on, it’s been on all night. My first thought was (you guessed it), doom and gloom followed by whoa is me. This is just great, where am I going to get this fixed and how long will it take, yada, yada, yada.  I checked the batteries and they seemed to have died, at  least that’s what I was hoping for.  I changed the batteries, pushed the unit back onto the wall and took the furnace for a test drive.  Sweet Jesus, it’s now working as it’s supposed to and I am happy.  I am a little curious that the batteries died after only a couple of months. Checked my LP level on my app and wow, the furnace running through the night consumed about 40% of the tank.

After that rocky start, my plan for the day was to drive to Gulfport and go on a dolphin watching cruise, but first I wanted to see if I could do anything about my lousy “Hot Spot” connection.

I was bummed because the campsite has no WiFi (geez, not spoiled am I), and my cell service is bad, really bad, dial-up speed bad.  I do get TV but none of the channels offer much to watch, and forget about watching Netflix or Prime through my phone/tablets “Hot Spot”.  I decided to see if I could do something about it.  I went online and found a Verizon store near by.  In checking, I found the plan I had does allow my phone and/or tablet to be used as a “Hot Spot” but its output is capped at 600kps (.06 mps) which is like nothing.   I found a Verizon store in the area and went to see them. I was able to modify my plan to one that has no restrictions on Hot Spot speed up to 15GB per month, then it drops down to 600kps (ouch).  It’s going to cost $7.00 more per month but after the experience here, might just be worth it.  Of course you still need decent mps and that’s not going to happen here, I’ll check on it next stop?

After getting that taken care it was off to Gulfport.  You can take the freeway but I think the best way is to take U.S. 90 (Beach Blvd).  You drive with the Gulf right out your window.

Despite the stop at lights (and there’s a lot of them), traffic moves well and you get to your destination without delays (or so I thought).  I had left early so that my drive could be a leisurely one and it’s a good thing I did.  A couple of blocks from the harbor in Gulfport, traffic came to a stop.  Up ahead I could see fire trucks and police, and on my way there a paramedic unit had passed so I thought they must be there too. I was curious about what was going on (accident, fuel spill in the bay, fire,etc) and getting anxious about getting to my destination, and on time.  Cars were turning off and so I followed, I thought maybe I could get to the harbor another way.  After driving around and around, I found myself back where I started.  Great, I thought, now I’m going to miss the boat. That was quickly followed by a moment of;  poor-poor me, it’s not fair, blah-blah-blah.

Then I began to notice a lot of people, mainly young walking in the area wearing military uniforms.  seeing this, I remembered a story that had been on one of the local TV channels about a ceremony in Gulfport on Saturday.  I didn’t remember where it was going to be, and I guess I didn’t need to, I found it!  About this time the ceremony began breaking up (thank you, thank you, thank you) and when I asked a  police officer when the road was going to reopen he responded by saying, I’ll move my car and you can turn.  Sweet…life was good again I thought.

I made it to the harbor and still had twenty-five minutes before the tour began.  While waiting I checked my e-mail and lo and behold, there was an email from the excursion operator.  It read; due to high winds, today’s excursion has been cancelled.  After all the anxiety of getting here and now this, I could only shrug my shoulders and laugh.  In all fairness to the tour operator, the email had been sent early enough, I just didn’t check my email.  I was able to talk to one of the employees who told me they were going to do the trip tomorrow and I could get on the list for that, I said OK and resolved to do it again the next day.  I left thinking that it wasn’t high winds that caused the cancellation, it wasn’t that bad out, I think it was a lack of people, given this is the tail end of the season.  Overall, I’ve not been that wowed by my photos.  They need to be crisper and cleaner.  I’m always impressed by my cousin Barb’s photos.  They’re always so clear.  Thinking about her photos is inspiring me to do better.

Finished the day by checking out WHATABURGER. You can’t find these in Minnesota so, yea, kind of cool.

I had been to one last year in Florida and at the time…meh. I decided to try it again and this time I liked it much better.  The burgers and buns are bigger in size than the competition, and the fries were pretty good as while.  I don’t go gaga over the place but yea, I’ll stop again.

DAY #22

Started the day by walking one of the trails at the campsite.  The weather still warm, rainy (off & on), and the humidity slight less intense than it has been, I’d say its been downgraded to muggy.

The trail ran for 1/2 mile and provided some good exercise for this fat boy.  I felt good after walking it, one, I was still alive and two, I finally did what I need to do and heck, should want to do.

The park is located in the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a small vestige of nature remaining in the area.

Other areas of the park (off the trail) show it’s salt marsh structure

The trail wasn’t very well marked and there were a lot of side paths created by others over time.  I ended up going down a few different paths (kind of like life) and was getting a tad nervous until I found the road, I guess sometimes civilization is good.

He/she didn’t seem to concerned about me, too busy storing up for winter.

I think you can rent these. I like how they’ve kept the architecture of the houses true to the region.

You can see the moss in the trees.

After my little walk I was ready to hit the road and check out the back country of South Mississippi.  It turned out to be a six hour day in which I drove a lot of back roads and in doing so, came to see South Mississippi.

Trees, lots of pine trees.  I believe they’re southern yellow pine which if I remember correctly from watching a “This Old House” episode, it’s a sought after wood.  Kind of a hard softwood (if that makes any sense).

As I said, It had been very warm and humid went I left.  Driving down one of the many roads I took today, it began to rain heavy with a strong wind coming out of the north, and just like that, the weather changed.  The temperature dropped from 72 degrees to 54 degrees with a stiff northerly wind. It continued to rain the rest of the day and hence, no other photos.

I stopped at a small restaurant in Wiggins, MS.  So much more character in these local owned diners when compared to the likes of Applebees, Chili’s, etc.  The food was served fast, tasted good, and all came at a good price.  It was an experience the likes I’m looking to have on this journey.

It was a pretty full day.

 

DAY #21

Today I headed out and crossed the bridge to check out Biloxi and the Gulf Coast as far as Gulfport.  First thing you notice is the bridge, it’s a simple yet still impressive bridge that was built after Katrina.  You can walk across the bridge, it’s about a mile.  Needless to say, I didn’t walk it.

From the Ocean Springs side looking toward Biloxi.From the Biloxi side looking toward Ocean Springs.

As soon as you cross the bridge the road curves to the right and boom…the Golden Nugget and Harrah’s casino appear.  There’s a couple other casinos in the area a bit further down most notably, the Hard Rock. You’ll also see the Palace Casino, and there’s a couple more in the “Back Bay” area of Biloxi.  They’re big and glitzy and impressive looking, but make no mistake, it ain’t Vegas.  I can see though what might draw someone here.  You’ve got some big league casinos in a really interesting area.  There’s still a flavor of the culture down here along with the opportunity to go out on the gulf if you’re into fishing, etc. 

Wandered around town and overall, I was a little disappointed with Biloxi. Whereas Ocean Springs felt vibrant and prosperous, Biloxi felt somewhat the opposite (outside of the casinos).  I really like the name (always have).  To me it conjures up a an area rich in culture and stories and that’s what I hoped I’d see.  Sadly, in real life it’s just another town and not that interesting one at that (just my opinion). There wasn’t much of a downtown that I could see and therefore, not much of a footprint from the past left.  The neighborhoods while still having the distinct architecture of the area, did so with a less upscale feel than Ocean Springs.

While expressing my disappointment, I certainly don’t dislike Biloxi, just thought some of the other areas around offered more to see and maybe I expected too much. 

Biloxi suffered a lot of damage from Hurricane Katrina and the scars remain today, evidenced by empty lot after empty lot throughout the city, and especially along U.S. 90, which is the main road that runs along the gulf.  It looks like a lot of homes and buildings were destroyed by Katrina on that stretch and the losses were significant to the history of the area, something I guess I should to take into account.

Not all is doom and gloom, there has been rebuilding, and looking like it’s staying true to tradition.

I did really like the beaches. The sand is the color you expect to see and makes it feel subtropical (e.g. warm), and with winter coming on, I need that.

Just think how inviting this beach would be if there was some sun.

Let’s add a little sun.

The day was done for my time in Biloxi and like I said, even though it wasn’t what I thought, It was still worth checking out.  I like the beaches and the style of the houses and just being able to poke around. I don’t really like the creeping development that (in rebuilding from Katrina) is slowly (but persistently) bringing a new culture to the area, a corporate culture creating its version of what they think we want . (Oh man, not that again, give us a break).

Before crossing the bridge and heading back to the campground, I was able to drive out on a fishing pier near the Palace Casino and took some photos.  It sucks no sun, the color on the photos really gets washed out.

You can see the moisture in the air.

I guess I really like boats.

I’ll end with these photos. I saw this and thought…how cool.

Loading up on carbs for the trip to Mexico.

DAY #20

First full day on the ‘Gulf Coast’ and decided to do a bit of meandering around Ocean Springs.  Nothing serious, just thought I’d get the “lay of the land”, so to speak.  Davis Bayou campground is located within the Gulf Islands National Seashore which itself is tucked into a corner of Ocean Springs. The city is located on the eastern shore of Biloxi Bay.

I dressed light since the weather continued to be warm (upper 70s) and humid, and rain was still in the forecast. The humidity has been one of the biggest changes for me.  It’s been 70 degree dew points and man oh man, that can really make a warm day hot.  Last night I had to put the A/C on in the trailer because the humidity was so high.

In perusing around this little city, I found it to be a charming area with a very upscale and laid back feel to it.  Lots of small, independently & locally owned shops set up along narrow, tree-lined streets.  Man, some of the streets were so narrow that two cars passing each other had to be done ever so cautiously.

The architecture of the houses are so different from what I’m familiar with up north (uff da), and I do find them charming and very livable.

No, it’s not the house that’s slanted, It’s the photographer who’s tilting a bit to the left.

Getting away from the city center and towards the bay saw the size and stature of the home increase.

Hurricane Katrina hit this area in 2005 and Ocean Springs wasn’t spared.  A lot of “high end” homes near the bay suffered heavy damage and destruction along with the yacht club and fishing/walking piers on the beach.  You can still see remnants of Katrina by the empty lots that dot the bay area. the level of devastation in other areas of the city isn’t as apparent, it looks to have healed quite well.

Another good day in the life…

DAY #19

DID YOU VOTE?  

If you didn’t bother to get involved regarding affairs that directly affect your life (like, oh I don’t know, maybe VOTING), then I can only say, you don’t have a voice, you choose not to have one.

Today didn’t start out with the typical blue sky’s and warm temperatures I’ve been enjoying so often.  Woke up at 7:00 a.m. with the plan of getting the site broke down and trailer hooked up and heading out, then stopping at a plantation west of New Orleans (didn’t take me much off route) on the way to the next stop in Ocean Springs, MS. I knew it was supposed to be a rainy day but I thought maybe I’d be lucky.  Well, It didn’t work out that way, it was pouring out and it just kept pouring out,  no way was I going to go out in that pouring rain to hook up the trailer, put the stabilizers up, and get everything ready to leave.  So I resigned myself and dozed back off for a couple of hours before getting up and getting the trailer hooked up and ready to roll, doing it between rounds of rain.

I Left Grand Isle (in the rain)  at 9:30 a.m.  and I left disappointed,  I wanted to see the Louisiana plantation (sugar) even though there was a 60% chance of rain, and much of the tour would be outdoors. Here was my opportunity, and what did I do?  I just  accepted the ‘sounds like a good excuse to me’ it would have rained anyway song and dance and so I didn’t go.  I wondered to myself as I was driving away from Grand Isle.  what’s this trip about if it’s not going to include stuff like that?  I don’t want this journey to just be an extension of the sedentary,  do nothing lifestyle I’ve slumped into for the last couple years. I want it to be about seeing and doing things, not just racking up mileage.  Note to self: GET IT TOGETHER!!!

It was another day of an interstate and side roads mixture.  Side roads north from Grand Isle for an hour and half and then freeway (I-10) through New Orleans and into Ocean Springs, MS.  Going through New Orleans was interesting.  I went over the Hale Boggs bridge and it was impressive, both the bridge itself (in its height and girth), and the view of the Mississippi river and the area as a whole as you go across.  At the top of the bridge you can see the ocean vessels coming up the river and look out for miles across the flat , tree filled land to the north of the city, and it’s just provided such a panoramic view.  It was another example of the best places to get photos is when you’re driving down the road and can’t stop or stop in time.  I was able to get a glimpse of Downtown New Orleans through the clouds and humidity (dew point in the 70s and temperature in the low 80s).  New Orleans is a big city with a big city feel (translation; a slowly eroding identity, which result in all cities to start to look and feel the same).  Another point to lament (at least for me) is seeing these big city’s just continue to grow and grow, slowing absorbing small towns in their path, and dissolving their identity as well in the process.  I-10 goes across Lake Pontchartrain and wow, it’s a big body of water.  There wasn’t a lot of wind so the surface of the lake was smooth and seemed to go on forever.  Took awhile to get out of urban New Orleans (big and busy freeways) and back into rural gulf coast (I really prefer the rural). Once out of the city, the interstate was nice (if busy), tree lined on both sides and didn’t feel cold and lifeless (just the opposite).

 Lots of semi’s on the road and man, I find them more often than not ‘pains in the ass’.  They’re heavy and create dips in the roadway that causes the truck to undulate down the road.  I hate it especially with the trailer, it feels like the trailers going to come loose from the hitch.  Another thing is invariably, when I get behind a slow truck (with the cruise control on) and try to go around without having to brake and shut the control down, there’s always a damn truck in the passing lane so I have to wait for them to go around me.  On this stretch of road from New Orleans to Ocean Springs (approx. 60 miles) they were on the road thick and as pesty as ever.

Let’s see if I understand myself, I’m on a trip with a really easy schedule, comfortable budget, driving a nice vehicle and staying in a homey little trailer and I’m bitching away about this and that (today it’s trucks).  Too often I get lost in this mind set that is so focused on getting to the next point in life (regardless what that is), that I forget to take the time to slow down(maybe even stop for awhile) and enjoy the trip along the way.  Add to that an attitude of if things don’t go exactly as I want, then life sucks.  It adds up to one “messed up little dude”.  Part of this journey for me is to face these shortcomings in my life and try to find the path away from them.  I’m finding it’s easier to figure out what’s wrong than it is to fix it.

Made it to Ocean Springs (Davis Bayou Campground) around 1:30 p.m. which made the drive around four hours.  I’m finding that four hours is a good time frame per day, going beyond that can start to be a drag.

The first thing I noticed after getting off the interstate was how busy it was, there were lots and lots of cars everywhere.  The final leg to the park went through an area that was suburban in look and feel, right up until I turned off the road.POW…. instant out in the sticks, I had made it to the park.   the campsite was another two miles down a narrow, winding tree lined road (seems like I’ve been down this road before).  Got there, checked in and parked the trailer in the designated site.  I had made it to Mississippi.

Followed the road and it took me right to the campsite (OK, I had to make one turn).

The view from the rear trailer window.

A lot more campers at this site than the others .  It’s a small campground (total size) but doesn’t feel cramped, it feels cozy.  Interesting mix of campers.  it runs the gamut from Class A RV’s to tents, with everything in between.This is home for the next twelve days.

 

DAY #18

Spent the last day on Grand Isle, LA just driving around and taking a last look.  One really cool thing that did see today were two dolphins swimming in the salt marsh.  I tried to get a photo but had the wrong lens and by the time I changed, poof, they were gone.  This guy was there and can vouch for me seeing the dolphins,

Another cool siting were the pink flamingos.  Picture quality is poor but if you look hard, you can see a tinge of pink on these guys.A couple of the residents that call the area home.

Some more fishing boats.  While in decline, they still symbolize the area and it’s culture.

Another feature that has come to symbolize the area are the oil platforms.

One last photo on the island.

The time spent on Grand Isle was an enjoyable one.  The weather, which was warm (mid to upper 70s) and very humid (at least there was a breeze) didn’t really play a factor, even the storm that we had occurred at night.  I was able to get out and about and explore the island and areas around.  Would I come back here again?  Yes I’d come back.

Now it’s time to get ready for the next destination, lets go!Oops, forgot the trailer.

DAY #17

Photos of the gulf viewed from the park.

 

DAY #16

Decided to go back across the bridge and meander around the area to the west and north of Grand Isle.  It was another nice day (love these nice days), so I set up my route on google and away I went.  There aren’t many roads in the area, I think it’s  easier to get around by boat than car.  All together though, I must have put 150 miles on the truck driving around.

Driving north you get away from the salt marsh and into an area of trees and fields (mainly sugar cane), although the water is never far away.  The land remains flat and you also see a small amount of cattle being raised in the area.  There are waterways throughout the area that connect the area with the gulf.  There where shrimp boats are tied up along the canal in front of the owners homes.

I also noticed places selling fresh shrimp and crab.  It’s also in this area that I saw a lot of buildings that looked to be wholesale business’s for seafood that were no longer in business and looking pretty decrepit.  It’s sad to see this decline because it mirrors the decline in the distinct culture of the area.  This is bayou country and it’s slowly being homogenized like the rest of our different cultures that made up America.  Another example of all of us being marched to living the same, talking the same, having the same culture, etc.  boring, boring, boring.

Spent a full day on the road and gosh darn it, I didn’t take any photos (why no photos?).  Sometimes you see great shots but by the time you can stop, and get out, the moments gone.  Or you see a cool shot and can’t stop because you’re driving down the road with cars behind you.  I did get a glimpse of life in the bayou, I’m sorry I didn’t do a better job showing it to you.

I did take a photo of a draw bridge that you see along the main canal in the area.

 

DAY #15

New day on the island and it started out well, the sky’s had cleared and while still humid, the temperature had dropped into the mid 60s, much more comfortable.  Life on the island had gotten back to normal after the storm.  This is the bridge you go across to get from the mainland to Grand Isle.  I’m not sure what they did before this bridge went up.

Grand Isle from the mainland side.

While the oil industry has taken over as the biggest economic driver in the area. Fishing and shrimping, for more than a century, the areas major source of income, still is a very  important part of the economy.

Port Fourchon where the oil industry is based in the area.

Fishing boats off Grand Isle.

Typical of what the area looks like going to (and coming from) Grand Isle from the mainland.

The bridge in this photo is the toll bridge that you have to take to get to Port Fourchon and Grand Isle.  If you’re going by vehicle, this is the one and only route you can take.

Didn’t wander to far from base today, but did get to see more of the area, and I liked what I saw.

 

DAY #14

Luck with the weather ran out around 2:00 in the morning.  I had fallen asleep with the A/C on because it was still hot in the trailer and the temperature was only supposed to drop to the low 70s plus it was really humid out.  I woke up and realized the A/C had stopped working, My first thought was something blew out in the A/C, freaking junk, yada, yada, yada. (always look for the worst first…argh!)  Then I realized the clock on the microwave was off and something clicked in my head that said, the powers off (oh yea, sharp as a tack).  I opened the trailer door and looked at the power boxes along the other sites. One thing I had noticed was at night there is a light on the box that would come on, none of the lights were on so the power outage was not me, but the park.  OK I thought, I’m sure they’ll get to it and I can wait it out.  The batteries were charged and I still had propane so the fridge could keep running.

I laid back down and soon thereafter the wind began howling and the rain came down in a drenching downpour.   And the rocking, let me tell you, the trailer, she was a rocking.   I’m laying there with these alternating nightmare scenarios of water leaking into the trailer from the rain, and/or the trailer being blown down the road. and not having a very happy experience.  I got back up and went online (yea, it still was working) and checked what was going on weather wise.  Saw that the worst of it had gone through and just rain and wind for the next six hours, man I was relieved.  I laid back down again and thought about the situation.  I thought about the worst that could have happened (I didn’t count injury, not sure why not) and realized that no matter what I would survive and get through it and I felt OK.  Now lets see if I’ve learned anything from this like I hope I have.  I’m sure God will test me soon.

I finally dozed off around 9:00 in the morning.  Woke up around 1:00 in the afternoon and went outside to take care of business and check out the damage.

I talked with a guy who works at the park and he told me that five inches of rain had fallen and there was 50+ mph winds in the area.  The news reported that a little farther away from the park there was an old warehouse that collapsed and a travel trailer (unoccupied) overturned by the storm.  Counting my blessings, I thought it best to stay put and let things on the island get back to normal before venturing out again.