Catching up:
Big Lagoon State Park and PensacoIa Beach:
The supermoon was out in all her glory at Big Lagoon. A couple of nights, we watched her rise brilliantly above the lagoon. Magical. There were egrets perched in the trees holding watch. Every now and then they would take off and fly around, and then return to their perch. One night I was too tired to go. Kimberly and Debbie saw an alligator in the lagoon.
Pensacola Beach is touristy, but beautiful. We had lunch at a cafe right on the beach, walked out onto a long fishing pier. We went for a cruise on a unique trimaran called a Condor. Captain Kirk (his real last name, I loved him!) was an captain. Absolutely gorgeous, relaxing fun. Lots of dolphins!
Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville LA:
Lovely state park (beautiful trees, beware of alligators, magical, humid, nice walks). We checked out the town of Mandeville, visited local shops and ate the best meal I’ve had on this trip at a restaurant called Rips On The Lake. The lake the name refers to is Lake Pontchartrain. New Orleans is on the other side of it.
A story about Rips on the Lake: We went there because well, it’s on the lake. It has a beautiful view, and great reviews about the food. Kimberly, Debbie and I were wearing our usual camping attire. Kimberly and I had our hair pulled back in baseball caps, and we were all dressed very casually, t-shirts, etc. We were pretty shocked to walked in and see the many patrons dressed to the nines; men in suits, women dressed beautifully. They led us to a table that seemed to be located in a place that sat people who didn’t know how to dress. I pulled my hair out of my hat to make myself look fancier. I don’t think that helped much.
When we left, we were enjoying the view outside when an older woman who had been sitting at a table beside us with a group of very sophisticated-looking women came out. I’ll admit it: during lunch we were doing a lot of speculation about who they were, making up a bunch of stories. I approached the woman, Jeanette, as it turns out. She was friendly warm, maybe a bit tipsy, and told us her story. She is originally from Equador, moved to New Orleans 60 years ago, where she still lives. They come over occasionally on a beautiful day like this to enjoy the food and view at Rip’s. This is where the rich people would come in the old days, she told us. She LOVES New Orleans, wouldn’t live anywhere else.
One of the things I love most about traveling is the people I meet. I find people, ordinary-extraordinary people fascinating. My heart gets warm and full when I hear a story like Jeanette’s. I asked if I could take her picture and she seemed honored.
We stopped at hardware store on the way back to the campground. I bought a punch pin. We had one, an old one that I’m sure Bob had for many years. Somehow, I lost it. You use it to push the pin out that holds the sway bar (a thing that keeps the camper from swaying while you are driving.) I almost cried when I realized I lost it. So crazy, the things that make me miss him. I have lost a couple of things of his since he died. It feels heartbreaking to me, like I am losing a piece of him.
I didn’t know what a punch pin was called until I researched it. I asked the clerk at the hardware store where the punch pins where. He led me to them and we discussed which was the best one for my purposes. I could feel Bob standing next me, happy and encouraging saying “There you go!”
I told my friends that this was the first tool I ever purchased. They were amazed. I imagine they have been buying tools their whole adult lives. I didn’t have to cause I had Bob.
New Orleans:
We took the 24-mile (!) Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge across to NOLA yesterday. Spectacular bridge! I have a thing for bridges. We spent one day in New Orleans in the French Quarter. We did a walking tour and of course ate beignets at Cafe Du Monde. One day didn’t scratch the surface. I want to go back.
At this moment I am sitting in bed in Vidalia LS at River View RV Park and Resort. We will be here for the week. More to come…
