Escape from Texas

After 2 weeks in the Lone Star State today at 10am we

crossed the border into Louisiana.

We had intended on staying another two nights in Sandy Creek, and that

certainly would have been fine as it was a great campground, but I

had plans for Kate in New Orleans....   a big surprise...  but you'll have

to wait for tomorrows blog to see about that.

Yesterday was a down day at Sandy Creek.  Other than my work, we

pretty much just took it easy.   We took the Doodles for a long walk along all of the

campgrounds loops along the lake.

A view of the lake.

Sandy Creek is really a nice spot.  The sites are huge, well separated, and

like most ACOE campgrounds there is a playground and group facilities.

A big plus is that it is very remote...  translated into super quiet.

Towards the end of one of the loops.

This morning we packed up camp - was on the road by 0800 and made a stop

at McDonalds in Jasper, Tx for some breakfast yummies...

Only our second McDonalds Breakfast stop this trip.

But first I had to get a few parting shots behind our RV of the mist over the lake.

The Cypress reflects in the early morning light.

Leaving Texas behind, Our route eventually dropped us back down onto I-10 

and took us east across the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge

 which carries I-10 across the Atchafalaya Basin.

The Atchafalaya Basin is the largest swamp area in the US.

   Situated in southern Louisiana,

It measures about 20 miles wide by 150 miles north to south.

The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is an engineering marvel and is one of the longest

bridges in the world (#14) 18 miles in length.

The twin spans continued arrow straight for 18 miles

carrying us thru the ecologically diverse and amazing environment.

Forested swamp lead to Bayou, which turned to river, which turned to

open water and back again as we crossed.

Our destination for the next two nights was Fountaineblue State Park,

situated on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

Our new campsite.

We took a stroll with the Doodles down to the shore of the Lake.

In the distance on the horizon you might be able to make out the

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway crossing over to New Orleans.

Much of the parks infrastructure was damaged or destroyed during Katrina

so a lot of the buildings here are new.

We took a self portrait out on the pier.

Walking back to camp thru the Live Oak Trees adorned with Spanish Moss.

We are now situated in striking distance for a whirlwind tour of

New Orleans which must take place tomorrow, for Thursday

we are off again headed further east on I-10.

From here - a 1/2 trip across the 24-mile long Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

(the longest bridge in the world) and we are in New Orleans.

We have a 10am mystery appointment in the French Quarter.

An exciting surprise for Kate awaits us there.

But the details of that will have to wait for tomorrow nights blog.