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<\/a><\/p>\nHad to make a pit stop along the way . . .<\/p>\n
so what better place to stop than Gatorville . . .<\/p>\n where Ms. Gator welcomed us all . . .<\/p>\n . . . and what a deal on the same wood we have seen, for hundreds of miles, laying on the side of the roads and in ditches. Looks like their inventory is not moving too fast . . .<\/p>\n We arrived at Creole Gardens where Gina, Brian, Barb and Tom are staying. Nice place, except for the outside showers and bath.<\/p>\n Great use of color!!!<\/p>\n Their place even has it\u2019s own DJ and disco area . . . but only operating on Friday night . . .<\/p>\n Oh . . . and they do have certain \u2018house rules\u2019 . . .<\/p>\n Neither Hurricane Katrina nor the New Orleans street department can keep this oak from hanging on to dear life!!!!!!<\/p>\n Margie, Linda, Dan and I are staying down the street in another Inn. Margie and Linda get the lower level and Dan and I are in the loft. Nice place . . . quiet, too.<\/p>\n Might be tricky getting down the staircase to the bathroom during the night. Depending on the degree of urgency, one could just slide down the pole!!!<\/p>\n It was 2:00pm by the time we all got settled in to our digs. Linda and I had a quick salad for lunch and headed to the WWII museum. The others walked down to Canal St and the French Quarter. Here is what happens when you cut everything off a \u2018shotgun\u2019 house but leave the end!!!! Funny!!!<\/p>\n The WWII museum is a must see in NO. REALLY well done! Rated the #4 most popular museum in the US, and #11, worldwide. It’s housed in three buildings, has two theaters, one 3D and one 4D (whatever that is).<\/p>\n The Higgin\u2019s boat\u2019s, played a HUGE part in the D-Day invasion and in the Pacific theater of action, were manufacturer right in NO by a small boat building company. Several General\u2019s have been quoted as saying that with out it, MANY additional lives would have been lost during amphibious landings. It is one of many things that helped change the course of the war . . .<\/p>\n Full size example of the many versions manufactured . . .<\/p>\n . . . including he famous PT patrol boat. At the start of WWII, the US had the 18th largest military in the world. In 1940, our military budget was 1.8 billion dollars. By 1945, it was 81.5 billion!!!!!\u00a0 Coming out of the worldwide depression, the US had virtually no unemployment during the war because of all the military material manufacturing. The start off the military\/industrial complex!!!<\/p>\n One of the famous Enigma Code machines\u00a0 . . .<\/p>\n . . . and a Norden bombsite that greatly improved the accuracy of Allied bombing runs.<\/p>\n Building two and three house the theaters and more exhibits. Overwhelming . . . information overload. Amazing how many fronts we operated on during the war and the coordination, logistics and politics that steered the course of the war.<\/p>\n Lots of great dioramas as you tour through the buildings. IT IS REALLY A MUST SEE WHEN IN NEW ORLEANS!!!! If you are short on time, skip Bourbon St.<\/p>\n LOTS of examples of war artifacts, of all varieties. Being interested in food and cooking, I made note of the Allies \u2018mess\u2019 operations. Big and functional . . . I presume, lots of one dish ‘hotdishes’meals . . .<\/p>\n . . . as compared to the Italian Officer,s private mess kit. Lots of equipment \u00a0. . .even came with it’s own folding table!!!! The Allies won the war but it t appears, at least the Italian’s, may have eaten better!!!!<\/p>\n Tonight, some of us chose to eat at Antoine’s, one of the grand old restaurants in NO. We took the trolley down to the French quarter and walked down Bourbon St to get to the restaurant. Not much has changed since I was last here 20 years ago, on a motorcycle trip. Still seedy, loud and vulgar.<\/p>\n .\u00a0. .\u00a0madhouse . . . many were already higher than a kite, carrying their drinks from one bar to another. We saw our first fight being broken up at about 6:30pm!!!! Lots of police around . . . they must REALLY get tired of this.<\/p>\n . . . of course I had to check in on my establishment to see how the days receipts were coming in . . .<\/p>\n Let the eating begin!!!<\/p>\n Soon Greg and Cindy joined us for dinner too . . .<\/p>\n The atmosphere, drinks, and food was DELICIOUS!!!! First white table cloth experience we’ve enjoyed on our journey!<\/p>\n My martini, Roquefort Salad Wedge, Sauvignon Blanc, Poulet aux Champignon, Pomme de Terre, Au Gratin . . . all made for one yummy culinary experience. (bad photos . . . camera was locked in the van and I had to use cell phone camera tonight).<\/p>\n . . of course I couldn’t leave without poking my head into one of the kitchens . . .<\/p>\n We retired to to Annie\u2019s Annex, the bar associated with Antoine\u2019s, to watch the Badger game. Three of us ordered mint julep’s to ease our minds regarding who was going to win . . .<\/p>\n . . . some were more worried than other’s and had needed more relieving!!!!! Go Badgers . . .<\/p>\n I was so jittery about the game, I had to order a \u2018tummy calming\u2019 piece of bread pudding to go with my mint julep!!!<\/p>\n . . . and so did the girls. Too Bad about the Badgers. It was an exciting game . . . but as in life, not everything turns out the way you would like it. The sun will still rise in the east and tomorrow will be another day. I did get a free Badger Bayou t-shirt from the Blind Pelican bar!!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today starts our mini vacation, from our Southern Tier ride, as we \u00a0jumped in Brian and Gina\u2019s van and headed to New Orleans. Lots of bayou along the way and the water looked HIGH. Can you say mosquito heaven!!!! Had to make a pit stop along the way . . . so what better place … Continue reading Day 37<\/span> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n