Oct 2 2016 – Sunday.  On the road

Left Brandon FL (Tampa) for Slidell LA.  Slidell is just 30 miles from New Orleans.  The trip was a 10 hr ride – included 1 stop for gas and lunch.  Pulled into the Elks Lodge at 6pm.  We were the only RV on site.

Oct 3 2016 – Monday.  Day in New Orleans

We drove into New Orleans about 10am.  Found a parking garage and were surprised that it cost only $6.00 for 12 hrs parking!  Bought a bus pass to ride around the city.  Had a delicious lunch at Pere Antoine’s.  After lunch we walked through the French Market Place.  Went to Harrah’s Casino.  Didn’t play any of the games, but had fun watching people play – some won, most lost money!  

The real reason for visiting New Orleans was to stop and have dinner at Acme Oyster.  OMG – what a delicious meal of grilled oysters and soft-shell crabs!! There were 2 crabs on the plate.  The other one jumped to my plate!

  

Oct 4 2016 – Tuesday.

Did some sightseeing and hiking around Slidell, Mandeville and Lacombe.

Oct 5 2016 – Wednesday

Drove to Livingston TX.  This was a 7 hr ride because we stopped for gas, lunch and a visit to the Texas visitors’ information center.  The lady who worked there went to Fresno State and also lived a short time in Groton – what a small world!

     We arrived at the Escapees National Headquarters & RV Park (Rainbow’s End) at 4pm.  This is where our mail is delivered.  There is a weekly schedule of activities such as:  ice cream socials, Bingo, line dancing, movie night, quilting, dominoes, woodcarving, breakfast on Fridays and all- you-can-eat pancake breakfast on Saturdays.  There’s a public golf course nearby!

     We will be staying in Livingston for 3 wks or so ^ztakin’ care of business^z - to register the RV & car, get our TX driver’s license and register to vote – all to become Texas residents.

Oct 6 2016 – Thursday

Went to the morning line dance lessons.  The instructor was the same one at the RV rally in Vermont!  Carol was as surprised as me when we saw each other!  While I was dancing Mike took a tour of Headquarters.  He learned the history of the Escapees and saw the huge mailroom where all the mail is sorted.  He, too, ran into a couple of guys that he met in Vermont – including the CEO of Escapees RV Club!

Spent the rest of the day going through 3 wks of our collected mail. 

Oct 7 2016 – Friday

Went to Breakfast gathering.  Afterwards I went to line dance lessons.  Then we drove into Livingston to look around.  Whoa!  Small Texas town, not much to offer. 

Oct 8 2016 – Saturday

Went for a walk through Rainbow’s End.  Went into town to scope out restaurants, locations of DMV, tax office and then to super-Walmart.