Week 4

Saturday 19th September

Now just about in week 4 and another 6 hour drive along straight highways to Louisiana and New Orleans. Really flat down here.

Interesting driving here—if someone can’t get past the person in front, they drive right up their exhaust pipe and try to intimidate them. It ends up with a whole series of cars in close proximity riding up exhaust pipes. No wonder there are many accidents here! Despite that, the drive was amazing—loads of motorways suspended in the air over swamps—truly incredible. If you find yourself in an accident, it’s crucial to consult a trusted car accident lawyer to navigate the legal complexities and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Hiring an expert car accident lawyer is the first step to take in order to protect your rights against a lawsuit. Contact a fatal car accident lawyer if your loved one was killed in a vehicular accident caused by a negligent or reckless driver. Injured in a car crash in Southfield, MI? An experienced personal injury attorney from Mike Morse Injury Law Firm can help. A lawyer for car accidents has the necessary expertise to ensure that your rights will be protected when filing a claim. You can also seek legal assistance from a Sacramento car accident lawyer for valuable insights that can help your situation.

Now in another cabin in Napoleonville, Louisiana. Its about an hour from New Orleans and in the midst of sugar plantations. The cabin is over 100 years old and decorated in the fashion of the times. Its lovely  – with aircon as well. We now have 3 days here to explore.

Sunday 2oth September

Today we visited the Laura Plantation – a sugar plantation over 100 years old right beside the Mississippi alongside the Levee. Very interesting and also disturbing especially regarding slaves. Even after the Union won the war and slavery was abolished it appeared that it still existed “unofficially” on sugar plantations like this.

Its really hot here – 95F and its really hard to go out of Aircon at all.

Monday 21st September

We get up early and drive into New Orleans. Much of the various freeways are suspended over swamps. Loads of vehicles on the road and either side just water and trees – strange feeling.

Finally we arrive in New Orleans and buy day tickets for the street car and bus transportation system. The princely sum of $3 each (£1.93) – amazing value for all day travel. The French Quarter, Frenchman’s street and Bourbon street are all interesting. Thankfully its not as hot a day as previous days.

 Tuesday 22nd September

Our last day in our cabin in Louisiana. Just a little drive about. We did stumble across anther massive plantation mansion but it was closed. Still impressive though. Picture on the right below is a Bayou. Just a river really.

Wednesday 23rd September

Today’s drive from Napoleonville  to Tallahassee takes almost 8 hours. We are now on a 3 day journey to the Florida Keys.

The following snack is available in most garages  – yukk!!!!

Thursday 24th September

A fairly straightforward 4.5 hour drive from Tallahassee to Sarasota, just south of Tampa. At least we don’t cross a time zone today! The freeways are a bit like dodgem cars at busy points – overtaking, undertaking, weaving in and out. Coming from the UK its quite scary.

Its raining tonight but temperatures are up – 90F.

Tomorrow an 8 hour drive to the Florida Keys and our hotel for the next 3 days.

Friday 25th September

At last we arrive in the Florida Keys after 1000 miles of driving and 2 good motels. The place we have booked is a kind of semi-detached cabin on the waterfront. It’s wonderful, a real chillout place and much appreciated after 3 days sat in a car. The temperature here is about 30C – no bugs and a lovely warm breeze coming off the sea. Looking forward to our next 2 days here before driving North again and finally to home.

Saturday 26th September

Our first (of 2) whole days in Little Torch Key, Parmers Resort. Just chilling now near the end of the holiday.

You can click each pic to enlarge and scroll through

Sunday 27th September

Loads of rain today so we spent our day chilling again but it is a lovely place. Eventually the sun did emerge and it was very warm again. Tomorrow we head off to Cape Canaveral for the final stage of our holiday avoiding all toll roads. It takes 7 and a half hours but most of the roads are really easy, dead straight and little traffic.

Monday 27th September

Up at 7am to a magnificent sunrise as we make our way to breakfast. Off at 8.20am for a 7 and a half hour drive to a hotel near Cape Canaveral.

The hotel I booked in advance is the Fairfield Inn and Suites, booked via Expedia with a 20% discount. Such brilliant value. £64 per night for a fantastic room with two queen beds, aircon, coffee, breakfast and of course free wifi.

At last there is a restaurant next door so we can walk to it. OK its a chain but it is a Southern chain, Cracker Barrel. $20 for two meals not bad and fairly good quality.

Off to the Kennedy Space Centre (Center) tomorrow – looking forward to it.

Tuesday 28th September

Pouring with rain all morning but the visit to the Kennedy Space Center is amazing. We had a brilliant time. First a bus ride to the launch pads and the Saturn 5 Centre which is huge. Loads of info, films and an actual Saturn 5 rocket and a moon lander module. Then back to the centre and loads of stuff about the Shuttle programme including the actual Atlantis Shuttle. We did ride the Shuttle simulator which was a bit scary though we survived it.

Well that’s our last day, tomorrow we fly home. Its been a brilliant trip easily matching California last year.