New Orleans

Causeway over Lake Ponchatrain


Tree decorated with Mardi Gras beads in the Garden District

Unc, Daisy, and I have had a good couple of days in New Orleans. Daisy has coped with city life quite well, being patient to walk a couple of blocks before doing her duty, etc.

We spent most of yesterday morning at the World War II Museum, originally started as the D-Day Museum by Stephen Ambrose. There are some great exhibits, and all veterans are warmly welcomed by a staff of volunteers. Unc met a couple of men who also served in Naval Aviation in the mid-1960s.

We spent the afternoon driving south on La23 to the delta. Lots of water everywhere!

In the evening Unc and I went to Bourbon Street for a quick drink and look around before it got too crazy!

Yesterday we finally made it to Cafe du Monde--love those beignets and cafe au lait! We also hit Jimmy Buffett's Margaraitaville store and restaurant--bought some Christmas presents. We spent the afternoon driving around the garden District then north along Lake Pontchatrain to its north side then driving the 24-mile causeway back to the city. It's anazingly large, and in the middle of the causeway, you feel as if you could be in the middle of nowhere.

A quiet night last night--needed to rest! Today we are off to Pensacola, FL, via the beaches in Mississippi and Alabama--Daisy's gong swimming!

Travels with Daisy and Unc

It all started at 3:45 a.m. (CDT). Yep. Unc banged on my door and said "we gotta hit it..storm's a'coming and we need to get ahead of it." So our 6 am departured became a 4:12 a.m. departure. Thank goodness we had packed 90% of the trunk and car the evening before.
Unc drove the first 2.5 hours (in the dark, of course) and then I took over while it was still dark, about 45 miles west of Houston. Boy were the next 2 hours fun! Rush-hour traffic, tremedous downpurs, lightning flashes, and Daisy trying to get in the front and sit on our laps. But we made it, and soon left the rain and storms behind us.
Shortly after we got into Louisiana, we left the Interstate and drove through a lot of southern Louisiana. Really interesting area--lots of sugar cane fields. Very little traffic. We got into New Orleans about 4:15--so a 12-hour day but most of it nice. It'll be early to bed tonight!

On the road again...

Today (Sunday) is our last day in Austin. We're going to be gone a while, heading a couple hours northwest to meet some family from Abilene for lunch (we're meeting them halfway) since the outbreak of flu there kept me from visiting last weekend. Then Unc and I (and of course Daisy)head to New Orleans tomorrow. The world's most spoiled dog has had a marvelous time here playing with Molly. She got a much-needed bath yesterday and is sitting in the car right now, pretending to go for a car ride. More tales from the road to come....

We're back!

Daisy and Molly B


Sunrise south of Lubbock



Cadillac ranch on Route 66 outside Amarillo

I haven't blogged for almost a week. Sorry! Daisy and I thoroughly enjoyed New Mexico, and I just posted some more pics on FB. One of the most interesting stops we made was at Pecos National Historical Site, which among other things is the site of a Civil War battle, known as the Gettysburg of the West. Until I took this trip, I had no idea there was so much Civil War activity in the western states.

On Friday we took a long route to Amarillo, where we planned to stay overnight before heading to Abilene to see family. Unfortunately, the flu arrived in Abilene before I did and my aunt called just as I pulled into Amarillo to suggest I not come there. So we ducked into the nearest La Quinta, which was not the one at which we had a reservation, and a very helpful desk clerk canceled my reservation in Amarillo and made one for me in Lubbock, 2 hours south.

So we headed into 5 pm traffic in Amarillo and went to Lubbock to spend the night. Then we got up very early and drove hell-for-leather to south Austin, successfully arriving before the end of the first half of the TX-OU football game (this is a VERY BIG DEAL in these parts). The rest of Saturday and Sunday were spent hanging out with family and friends--and introducing Daisy to MollyB, my uncle's 8-month-old golden retriever. They are getting aong so well! And are very tired puppies every night, which is good stuff.

Yesterday and today have bene spent on mundane things like getting the windshield repaired and tires replaced on Daisy's car. I also had it thoroughly cleaned. Later today we are heading south to San Antonio to see the Alamo and have dinner with a friend. On Monday, Unc and I leave--with Daisy of course--for adventures in New Orleans and other points east of here.

Pictures from the past week

A look at the Grand Canyon from the south rim


Dinsosaur tracks



Sunrise over Lake Powell

Daisy looking over the cliff at Hovenweep

One of the ancient structures at Hovenweep

A kiva in Canyons of the Ancients

The square tower bulidings in Mesa Verde

Daisy and I got to Albuquerque yesterday. We didn't go to some of the places I had hoped due to snow at higher elevations--and I was tired after the thunderstorms the night before (Daisy woke me up at 2 am). So for today I thought I would post some pics from previous days when I couldn't post any pics.

Monument valley

Monument valley

Four Corners

Four Corners

Ancient Puebleans--aka, Anasazi

Much of the past 2 days we've driven all around the Four Corners area of the US and seen lot sof interesting terrain, ancient homes, etc. And I've changed time zones and crossed state and reservation lines so often I am dizzy! Unfortunately, the WiFi connection here is bad, so I hope I can post even this short post. I'll get into more detail when I have a better connection. Heading to NM tomorrow--Albuquerque!

Northeastern AZ

We got up early (thanks, Daisy) and went for a walk near Lake Powell at dawn. Later we drove through the Painted Desert and stopped at several spots on the Navaho Reservation. A very interesting one was the Dinosaur Tracks 5 miles east of Tuba City. This website tells you more (I found the website after seeing the tracks): http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11499.

A knowledgable Navaho man who lives nearby showed me around, asking politely and non-aggressively for a donation/tip for his time. Daisy enjoyed traipsing around this mesa area of stone and real dinosaur tracks and so did I. I also succumbed to buying some jewelry at a nearby stand--they line the roadways on the reservation.

Next we headed south then west to Desert View--the farthest west part of the South Rim of the GC. I thought about going further into GC NP, but there were too many people! Still, the view was spectacular, and I know I must come back to spend some serious time at GC. Having seen a tiny bit of South Rim, I think the people are right who say North Rim is even better. (Harder to get too also, so fewer people--always a plus for me. Am I turning into a curmudgeon? If so, I get it naturally from dear old dad.)

We were back to Page by about 3 pm and now are watching the Texas-Colorado game. The Iowa-Michigan game starts soon; I hope they carry it here as a lot of family and friends are there in the cold and snow. Go Hawkeyes and Hook 'Em Horns! Oh, and the Tar Heels won today!

Once again I cannot post pics--sorry; see FB