On Our Way to Natchez, MS

I woke up this morning at 5:00.  Sam had to go pee and the arthritis in my elbows and hands isn't good right now.  But the good thing is, the dawn was just starting to lighten.  Sam and I went outside, it was slightly warm, about 47, and the lights of Memphis were in the distance.  As I looked to the right, there was a huge barge silently moving down the river with it's tug.  Where it covered the river, it was just black everywhere.  These barges are huge and so quiet.  The water in the river is moving so fast.  When we first checked into the campground, a man who works there instantly took to Sam and she to him.  He played with her a bit and told us to never let Sam get near the river, that it was too powerful and dangerous, even for a good swimming dog.  So naturally, the whole time we were there, I worried she would get loose and go down there, but she never did, thank goodness.  Hal estimates the river was 600-900 feet wide where we camped. 

All of our laundry is done and put away,  I cleaned drawers in the trail and I've finally finished getting just the right size containers for all the storage areas.  We're all stocked up with food, at least enough to get us to the amazing food of New Orleans.

New Orleans has always been one of our very favorite cities, and I've been wondering how it will be with so many people, many of whom will be drunk, I'm sure.  Patricia has never been to NO, and I want to show her this incredible city, but I fear it might be very different at this time of  year.  With the Super Bowl there, we understand a lot of people are staying for both.  Glad we aren't trying to get a hotel room!   After Natchez, we will head down to St. Martinville, LA for two days as we wait for some of the Super Bowl crowd to depart.  This is also one of my favorite places, right on the Bayou Tesh.  We're staying at a place called Catfish Haven RV Park.  Should be another adventure for sure!  I plan to fish for catfish and eat them too.

Every day when I fall asleep I remind myself how fortunate we are to be able to travel in this wonderful trailer with great friends to amazing places when some people don't even have a roof over their heads for the night.  I guess the only things I can do about that is to contribute appropriately, volunteer and be extremely mindful of all the blessings we have been given in this life - our immediate and extended family including Ryan and Jeff, our health, our friends, our dog Sam, our Airstream - the list is endless.