After being home for awhile, we headed up to Bar Harbor, Maine and Acadia National Park. We left on May 19th and planned on coming home a few days after after Memorial Day weekend. One of the perks of retirement. We don't have to get back to get to work. Neither one of us has spent much time in Maine. Left around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday heading up I-95N. Figured about a 7-1/2 hour drive. Maine definitely deserves its nickname "Pine Tree State".  Lots and lots of pine trees on way up.   We arrived at the KOA and had an oceanside view. We had electric and work hookups - no sewer due to closeness to the bay. Great views and lots of rocks, at low tide, to walk on

. The campground is approximately 9 miles from town of Bar Harbor and approximately 6 miles from Acadia National Park. 
  We drove into town and had dinner at McKay's, which is an old Victorian home. We sat upstairs. Nice place. Some of the restaurants will not be open until just before Memorial Day weekend.  Skip and I both had their clam chowder. I had shrimp risotto and Skip had their shepherd's pie. They were both delicious!! 
  Nights are definitely cool!!! Good sleeping weather!!
  In the morning, we drove over to Acadia National Park.

The park was first established as Sieur de Monts National Monument by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. In 1919 the park was renamed Lafayette National Park when it became the first national park east of the Mississippi River. In1929, it was officially renamed Acadia National Park (you can read more on Google). The Loop Drive is approximately 27 miles. There are various pull offs, and parking areas for visitors to stop and take in the breathtaking views.

  Many go to the top of Cadillac Mountain for sunrises and sunsets. (elevation is 1,500 feet per the park ranger).
  The next day we drove over to Schoodic Pennisula -National Scenic Byway - about 45 minutes from campground. This is a beautiful drive -  road literally hugs the coastline in parts. When you reach the end of pennisula, there are huge rocks facing the Atlantic Ocean. Many artists are along this drive with their easels painting their surroundings.

  Also a great place to bring a lunch and just hang out.
  We stopped at Tracy's restaurant for lunch. Lobster roll and onion rings were great. They are a family run business (over 20 years). 
   Later for dinner, we went to the Chart Room which was just up the road from campground. Very good, and more views. We both had the lobster dinners. Yummy but bland for us. After the spice of cajun food, took a little while to adjust to lobster and butter. 
  On Sunday, we took Thumper with us for a drive over to the southwest Harbor area. Lots of traffic; worked our way to Base Harbor Head Lighthouse. 
  Went to dinner at Lunt's Gateway Lobster restaurant just over the bridge in Trenton. Became one of our favorite places to eat. 

  Went back into Bar Harbor to browse around the shops and get tickets for the Lighthouse boat tour.  We had dinner at Jack Russell's Steakhouse. No joke - Thumper probably thought since she is a jack russell she would be welcomed. We brought back something for her.
  There is a winery - Bar Harbor Cellars. Stopped in since it was National Wine Day - they were closed.
  While driving, Skip keeps looking for moose. Still no sightings!!!!
  Up early for lighthouse boat cruise. You get to see Acadia National Park from the water. Our guide pointed out various homes (Martha Stewart, and the Rockefellers homes).

  Afterwards, we went to Sherman's for lunch. They had just opened for the season a half hour before we got there.

Great place.
  Rainy day, so Skip and I went to Jordan Pond area in Arcadia National Park. We had lunch at restaurant (huge popovers!!!!).Took a drive through some of the side roads until rain became a deluge and we returned to campsite.
  Had a few more dinners at Lunts before heading home. Had a good time. Great seafood and views!!!! 

sunset from our campsite

 

Has been awhile since I blogged so on this rainy day at home decided to get caught up. Back at the end of February we left Poche's Fish and RV Camp in Breaux Bridge and headed to New Orleans.

Depending on traffic, it is about a 2 hour drive for us to reach Ponchtrain Landing on the east side of New Orleans. This is where we have stayed for the past few years while in New Orleans. It is about a 10-15 drive into the city.
  It was a rainy morning when we left on I-10 heading east. Lots of fog over the Atchafalaya Basin and over the Mississippi River in Port Allen.

  Since last year, a lot of work has been done at the campground. New sites and cabins along the Marina side. They also moved the dog park farther out. (Prices have significantly increased - figured we were contributing to all the new upgrades). Since it continued raining, we stayed put for the night. Had dinner at the restaurant/bar on premises.
  Woke up to sunshine - headed into New Orleans to Toulouse Street (our favorite parking area). We can always find our way back to the car!!! We walked over to St. Ann's street (this is where I read is where some of NCIS-New Orleans is filed). Wasn't sure we found the area - but watched an episode one night - and there was the building!!!

Yeah for us!!!!
  We just continued walking around French Quarter area and up by the Mississippi River. Lots of musicians playing for tourists.

  Headed to Chartres House for lunch. We sat upstairs outside on patio. Skip had ed beans and rice.

I had blackened shrimp jumbalaya with chicken and andouille sausage. Both delicious!!!

Afterwards, just walked around to shops, etc. Great way to spend the day.
    On our way back to campground driving up Dacatur Street to Elysian Fields, we noticed a lot more homes being damaged by Katrina being rebuilt. A good sign for the city.
   Difficult to get into town a few days later due to 5-K race, so we headed over to the Hilton Casino area. Gambled a little, had lunch at WOW - very good.
  Next day we went to Farmer's Market in uptown area for some shopping, then went over to City Park to get tickets for their Chinese lights exhibit. At night, these exhibits are lit up throughout botanical garden area - one exhibit is a 120 ft dragon - all wire and fabric!!! Great exhibit!!! Awesome!!!!!

   Another day we drove into town to go to the New Orleans Food and Beverage Museum. Had read about this museum in a brochure or newspaper. Small but cute!! Have a great bar set up. You can walked around the different areas with your drink learning about food that is produced throughout the South, not just in New Orleans area.

  Friday night in New Orleans, we went to Mulatta's for dinner. This is a cajun dance hall. Great food (had my crawfish!!!), great music, lots of fun!!! 

Lots of tourists in town due to conventions!!!
  Saturday we headed to Kennar to go to the Ponchatrain RV show.  Nothing new that we could see.
  Sunday - into New Orleans for beignets. I was not the only one looking for beignets!! City was crowded - got beignets at New Orleans Beignets - right new Mississippi River.

Life is good with beignets!!!
  Monday morning packed up to start heading home!!!! Has been another great trip!!!!
  Stopped in Gadsden Alabama for night at Noccalula Falls Campground. It is a city-owned campground. Great place for the night!
  When we passed Knoxville, TN, had motor home problem. Losing power! We pulled into state police barracks and they sent p to the Freightliner truck repair - spend two days in their parking lot due to having to order a part. They have a great set up for truckers - showers, living area with TV, microwave, laundry if they need to stay for repairs.
  On leaving Freightliner, we pulled into KOA in Bristol, TN (realized we stayed here before); got a good nights sleep; up early and on the road - stopped at Western Village Campground in Carlisle, PA.
  Next morning - headed home - arrived around noon!!!!

Now that Mardi Gras is over and we have plenty of beads, we decided to just "chillin out" around the campground and letting our tummies take a rest. Well that lasted a day. Went over to LA-31 Brewery for some beer, music and food. Not only local

musicians, but we have a trio of ladies from Europe who had recorded in Alabama, and are touring around pull in and play.

I am not a big beer lover, but LA-31 beer is good. Skip picked up a few cases to bring home, had some barbecue, and we sat and enjoyed the music.

For anyone in the area of Arnaudville, usually every Saturday someone is playing at LA-31 Brewery.
    For Valentine's Day we went to Pat's on the Levee in Henderson. More good food. Before leaving the area, I went to see Leslie at Vision's Hair Salon. Great place - salon used to be a church. One of the hairdresser's had to leave because her daughter was in the running for "Queen of the Crawfish Festival" which is coming up in the spring. Hope she won.

Skip went over to The Fruit Stand to pick up alligator to bring home. We also stopped at Poche's Market to pick up boudins and etouffee to bring home.
   Had dinner at Pont Breaux one night. More good food and music. Following night ate at Crazy Bout Crawfish. I was going to get plenty of crawfish to eat before we left. When you pull in the parking lot, you notice that the Crawfish Queen has her own parking space.

  Afterwards, we stopped at Lisa's Daiquiri's on way back to campsite. Is a small whole in the wall place with video slot machines. Skip met Marty who wants to take Skip alligator hunting.

Marty kept telling Skip that he would catch the gator and Skip could shoot it. Skip told him next year when we come, he'll look Marty up!!! Skip just wants to see a gator close up, not shoot it. We'll see what happens when we return. Near campground is an airfield for those with remote control airplanes. Skip enjoyed going over to watch them fly. The turbo jet planes are about $25,000.00 each the owner told Skip. Guess we are not getting one.

  Day before we left, we were invited over to Laurie and John's for jumbalaya. They are both Cajuns. Robin and Glen from Minnesota were also there. Great jumbalaya!!! I made a coffee cake for dessert. Lots of wine!  Great time!! 

Skip and I always regret when we leave Breaux Bridge, LA. We love being here. We love staying at Poche's Fish & RV Park. We love the area, the people, the music, and of course the food!!!! Can't wait to come back!!!!! 

Drove down to New Iberia, LA which is about 45 minutes from Breaux Bridge. This is a small town which James Lee Burke, an author of mysteries spent a lot of his childhood visiting family members in New Iberia.

If you read his books, especially the Dave Robicheaux series, you get a feel of living in the Louisiana gulf coast towns among the bayous. In fact there is walking or self-driving tour of places written about in his various books.

James Lee Burke's grandfather's house

In fact, in April there is a James Lee Burke Literary Festival. Unfortunately, we will be home by then. Otherwise, I would have attended.
  Rain has returned for a while, so we took a ride over to Grand Coteau and Arnaudville. Great little shops and restaurants. Browsed through antique shops where I found my funky lamp,

great kitchen store, and had lunch at Creola Cafe (only about 5 tables inside).

On the way back, we stopped at the Art Gallery in Arnaudville.

They were having a quilting bee going on.  On Saturday, LA-31 Brewery has life music. You never know what type of music. Local musicians show up; there is food barbecuing and of course their beer. Just pull up a chair or bring your own chairs and sit back and enjoy.  Off to Crawfish Town for Dinner -

There is no lack of food and music around Breaux Bridge and surrounding towns