Annual Trip . . . .

Our annual trip to New Orleans is over.  Well, it is not always annual, sometimes other things get in the way but not this year.  Harvey sounded like it was going to interrupt us but no, it pushed on through Louisiana with out much trouble to anyone.

As we left the Dallas area I say gasoline price posted as $2.99 a gallon.  By the time we reached Tyler, TX is was down to $2.52  a gallon.  We finally tanked up in Natchitoches at $2,34 per gallon.
Surprise, surprise, gas was $2.28 in New Roads.  It was down to $2.25 in Baton Rouge.

We spent the night at the camp.  It was all quite, all things were functional and a quite stay.  That was Labor Day night.  We got up and packed the car and departed for New Orleans.  We went via the Audubon  bridge as we filled up with gas at Walmart in New Roads.  Drove very leisurely down to New Orleans and the Monteleone Hotel.  The navigation system got screwed up since the streets it wanted us to travel were being blocked and worked on.  So we trolled around and the system picked up again and took us to the front of the hotel.

We were a bit early but checked in and they gave us a room on the 14th floor.  As usual it was small but very nicely appointed and spotlessly clean,  The bathrooms at the hotel are tremendous and well appointed.

We got cleaned up and took off for Galitoire's.   Bourbon Street was torn up, no car traffic at all.  The middle of the street was all dug up and we could see that they were putting down new and better pavement.  But no problem, we skirted around and got into Galitoire's.  Our waitress of choice, Amber was there and took care of us.

In spite of Judie's poor mobility we still got around, Café DuMonde for Beignets the next morning.  On down to the French Market and poked around a bit.  Then back to the hotel.  We had lunch on the way back and joint called the Chartres House.   Just a bar with food on the corner of Chartres behind the Royal Orleans Hotel.  But the oyster po-boy was outstanding.

That night we ate at a restaurant located just off from the hotel, in an alley.  The food was excellent though pricey.  I enjoyed duck and Judie dined on various appetizers.  Then a short walk back to the hotel and in for the night.

Next day we left, drove up to Opelousas and ate at Kelly's Diner.  I had gumbo and Judie had the plate lunch of beef and on a bed of rice.  I suppose it was roast beef but she said some pieces were tender and others were not.  Not quite what I would call hash but close. '

From there we drove up to Washington to see the antiques place located in the old school house.  It was, alas, closed.  But it was a recent high school, looked like it had been closed 10 or 15 years, complete with a gym.  Totally abandoned to become a building of antique vendors.  Heavily advertised but it too was in decline, and not open except on week ends.

We press on back to New Roads.  We late in the new restaurant that is ocated in the old Popeyes place.  We both had salads, I enjoyed mine a, a Ceasar with grilled shrimp on top.

And odd day, breakfast at Café DuMonde in New Orleans, lunch in Opelousas and dinner in New Roads.  A culinary trip.

We rose Friday and charged back to Weatherford.  It felt good to be home again.  We had a good time and enjoyed ourselves.