When we last left you, the RB’s were having some magical, sunshiney, fishy fun in Florida with the Vances. In Miami we said our tearful goodbyes and left before the sun rose over the ocean. After 14 hours bee-lining through Alabama and Mississippi we found ourselves in New Orleans!
Just as you would imagine the city was aglow with the lights, crowds, and sounds of the nightlife!
Since we only had one evening to spend in this vibrant city we went straight to the heart of it all…
Bourbon street was flanked with street bands playing their jazz beats, tourists taking in the libations (Some had taken in a little too many libations, like the lady who could not control her motorized scooter), scandalous gentlemen’s clubs with too many windows, and some of the best restaurants in the Deep South!
We had plenty of time to take in the sights as we stood in line outside the Acme Oyster House. This place is so popular that the line of hungry patrons stretched an entire city block! Once inside, we found out what the wait was for. Our meal began with a New Orleans classic, gumbo, and continues with a mix of raw and fried oysters. Only one word can describe our dining experience…WOAH!
Now, you may not be aware of how big of party animals the RB’s are. Let me just put it this way: while staying in a city built around the night life, Bilbo and I were back at our hotel before 10pm! Crazy, I know! We still had a lot of road to cover, though, and the next morning we began the 13 hour drive through Louisiana to Arkansas and on to Texas. After leaving New Orleans, we drove through Louisiana’s swap lands but didn’t spot any gators or swamp critters on the side of the road.
From there we went a little out of the way to get a taste of some lovely Arkansas scenery.
A short sampling of the Natural State brought us to the enigmatic border town of Texarkana…
“Where am I? Texas? Arkansas? I just don’t know!”
Oh! There’s an oil field and a lot of nothing. We must be in Texas now!
We had a quick drive through Dallas where we spotted the new Cowboys’ Stadium.
We couldn’t get a good picture of the stadium from the interstate so enjoy this one from the internet!
A few hours outside of Dallas we came to Big Springs, TX, where the fields were covered in wind turbines. We experienced the appropriateness of the turbines’ placement that evening as a wind storm welcomed us to town! For the sake of our pre-ordered Pizza Hut pizza (my all time favorite), Bilbo steered our swaying Civic into town.
It was here that we bedded down for the night in the MOST ghetto Motel 6 ever seen. The pillows were flat, the water smelled like poop, the carpet was a patchwork of stains, and a breeze was coming in through the doorway. However, there were no bugs, we were tired and hungry, and we had reserved and paid online; so we stuck it out, kept our shoes on, and brought in the New Year with these guys.
Did I mention that the Ball dropped two hours early for us? Take that East Coast!
The New Year began with a trip to New Mexico’s National Park…
Carlsbad Caverns.
With this trip we were able to add not only another National Park to our list, but another World Heritage Site.
Before taking the elevator from ground level to 70+ stories below ground, Bilbo stopped to pose for a dignified picture and we both took our opportunity to rub the rock sample. This was our only chance to feel what the inside of the cavern was like because touching anything down there could be detrimental to the future of the cave and its ecosystem.
(Underground restroom—I wonder if it drains up?)
We took a ranger guided tour of the King’s Palace section of the cavern. Mr. Ranger led us through room after room of stalactites, stalagmites, ribbons, drapes, and other underground formations of delicate mineral deposits. The bats were in hibernation while we were there, so they didn’t make an appearance. I hear they put on a spectacular show every evening in the summer evening when they rush into the cave.
After the guided tour, Bilbo and I marched up the trail to the surface. As we went along we passed other formations and a lot of folks walking down the trail. I guess we got it backwards.
(This one looks like a whale’s mouth.)
I can see daylight again!
A great thing about this park is how it gives back to the community. They even use donations to educate bats so that they can have a brighter future!
In less than an hour we transition from underground to on top of the world at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, in Culberson, TX. That’s right folks, we just couldn’t get enough of TX! It had nothing to do with the fact that we had to drive through that northern sliver to continue on our way.
Soon enough we were welcomed back to NM where we sought our authentic Mexican food.
We found it at Cafe Delicias, along with a really strange sculpture.
Not only did they bring us chips and salsa while we deliberated over our menus, but some kind of veggie soup.
Bilbo had a fancy kind of taco and I had an enchilada sampler. Once again, all I can say is…WOAH. There’s nothing like the real thing.
The next day found us in the next-to-last state along the way, Arizona. Don’t be fooled, though, we stilled had a lot on the docket!
First off was a stop at Saguaro National Park, named for the massive saguaro cacti that grow there.
The saguaro are not the only type of cacti that grow there. We saw a quite a variety against a mountainous background as we drove the park loop.
These fuzzy guys were my favorite.
Driving through Phoenix and on towards CA, we noticed that AZ had impressive bridges.
Here’s a shout out to the family!
FINALLY, we began to see sings leading the herds towards CA destinations.
We also began to see interesting rig ups.
4 days, 7 states, 3 big cities, 3 National Parks, and 1 holiday later we could see California. But what’s that ahead? Does that say US Customs? Yes. It does.
I have to admit this isn’t the first US Customs Inspection Station that we’ve come to, so we weren’t worried. That wasn’t the story a few nights before when we came across our first Inspection Station in NM. The first thought that crossed my mind was, “OH CRAP! We accidentally crossed the boarder. We’re entering Mexico! Our car is full of stuff and they’re going to make us take it all out for inspection.” As it turns out, US states that boarder Mexico have these station to check for illegal immigrants and since the RB’s are pasty white with WV tags they didn’t give us a second look. Whew.
This is where we’ll leave the RB’s, on the cusp of CA and the unknown excitement that awaits them there.
No comments:
Post a Comment