Greeting everyone!  Still hangin' in the south land . . .


Ferry boats in Texas?????  Who knew!  There are several in the gulf area, all FREE (my favorite word💰) to ride.  And they travel 24/7!  Noticed that this one had quite a following . . .

Bet you can guess where we were this day . . . enjoyed the Houston Space Center, and was amazed that the Mission Control Center looked exactly like it did in all the movies!

The trees all along the Gulf Coast have been really interesting to this NW gal used to seeing straight, tall evergreens!  They really tell a tale about the forces that formed their shapes.

This is our first visit to Louisiana, and the 'Cajun Country' in the southwest part of this state did not disappoint.  Kind of felt like I've was transformed to another world, though.

 
Had some camera fun on a cool, foggy morning . . .

Even the old, historic above-the-ground cemeteries have been a fascination . . .

The culture, history, food, music, language, plantations, swamps . . . and, oh, did I mention the food???? were all delightfully foreign to us, but all here to enjoy!  We have tried to get used to the unusual language down here, (a merging of French Canadian, Spanish, and Louisiana 'south talk'),but I must admit to a few embarrassing moments!  Like the time we were in a restaurant and the server asked if I wanted my entree 'bawled'?  Thought I should ask how that was prepared . . .  I caught a very slight eye roll on her part, then a little sigh, before explaining to me that you just put the meat in a pot, add water, and 'bawl' it!  Oooohhhh, now I got it!  We had quite a giggle over that one . . .

We've also tried to eat like the Cajun folks do . . . tried Craw fish Ettaufee, Boudin, a variety of Gumbos, 'bawled' craw fish and all sorts of shrimp, crab and catfish fixins'.  I didn't go for the turtle or frog, and really backed off when Alligator balls were on the menu!  Now, let me say that they probably just took the ground gator meat and made meatballs out of it, but just it case they meant something else, I decided to let that culinary pleasure pass me by😱  Not quite that courageous!!!  I am sure that if my big bro had been here, though, he would have enjoyed trying that dish.

We had the pleasure of having several conversations with a born-n'-raised Cajun fellow who runs a local coffee shop nearby, and he told me tales of how he and his buds free-dive into the bayous and place catfish traps on the bottom.  Then they dive back and retrieve them another day.  Now, after finding out about the poisonous water snakes, not to mention the gators, that hang out in those same bayous, I was a little amazed that he would do this!  Said his 'granny' taught him how!  He also showed me a photograph of a frog he caught - - probably over three feet long, all stretched out!  I'm sure each of those frog legs could have fed a family!

Speaking of bayous and swamps, we had a wonderful day touring with a young man who has lived here all his life, and had many interesting facts about the Cypress and Tupalo trees - - the only ones that can grow in standing water.  Really beautiful with the Spanish Moss hanging from their branches.

Also saw MANY Alligators - - this one really seemed to enjoy laughing at us when we were making his portrait, about six feet away from our boat!  Only saw one Cottonmouth (aka Water Moccasin) hanging on a branch  - - that was enough, thank you very much!

Under the heading of 'things I have learned' while on our RV adventure, this is a reminder to all our travelin' friends out there - - be sure when you are getting ready to turn on your shower that you face the shower head away from your entry area.  Showers in most rigs are very small, and if you don't make this a practice, you should at least make sure you store lots of 'mop up' towels in your rig!☔️  'Nuff said!!

Just about done with our 'Cajun' holiday - - tomorrow we'll be heading north to Mississippi and the Natchez Trace Parkway (scenic byway) that leads from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN.  Hope all is well with you and yours.  We can be pretty sure that spring has finally sprung, but, then, so have the tornados!!! Ugh!  We'll be dodging those at all cost when we're traveling . . .  more later from Jerry, Lynne, Kodi and Kermit!