Feb 9 Mardi Gras parade pictures from various parades

This is a sampling of the floats and vehicles in the parades

This is a sample of the trinkets and beads that we collected at the parades. This is a one of each assortment , that probably represents about 10 -15% of the amount collected. We got rid of all of the duplicates.

Before the parades these busses travel around and throw a few things just to keep the crowd entertained. They usually travel around town from bar to bar so people can hop off and on and  enjoy the entertainment in various parts of the city.

For the parade in Houma we went a couple of hours ahead and parked the motor home in a parking lot of a store, ( 90% of businesses are closed that day). When we went to put out our lawn chairs we had to look for a space. By the time the parade started the route was lined up at least 10 or 12 deep.

these are just a sample of the floats

This family loaded their kids into the chicken . Dad pulling and mom pushing, with the kids throwing beads

This guy was dressed as Elvis

A few hours before a parade people come and set up their ladders so the kids can sit in the seat on top of the ladder . The adults then stand on the ladder to get a better view.

These guys were one of many musical floats

This was a group of guys all dressed as Elvis riding little bikes

This vehicle was a decorated hearse

Not a good picture but this is a group of shrines on motorcycles that that do a figure 8 as the parade progresses. 

There was a group that have these dune buggies and went into a couple of the parades we saw.

The horses were pulling a beautiful stage coach

This guy came prepared. He was using the net to catch the beads

Feb 6 Cemeteries in New Orleans

Because New Orleans is located below sea level bodies cannot be buried in the ground.

These cement tombs are constructed and may be for a family, and maybe more than one generation

Feb 5 Friday. Bourbon Street

Transportation in New Orleans doesn't work during Mardi Gras Shuttles from the KOA leave at 9 in the morning and return at 5:00pm. Buses don't operate when there are parades and there is at least one parade every day , some times two or three.  We camped in the Walmart Supercenter down town, about a 40 minute walk from Bourbon St. It was perfect. We spent the afternoon on Bourbon St. Came back for a while and then went to St Charles Street for the evening parade.  What an experience! This was just the craziest place you could be. Every one was walking around with a beer or a Mardi Gras drink of some sort. People were just acting foolish and having fun. You would have to be there to understand it.

Once you leave Bourbon St and start attending the parades it still has the same atmosphere but is more of a family event, Everyone turns up for these parades, many people told us that they had already been to half a dozen parades. As the floats pass every one tries to catch the beads and trinkets that are thrown in to the crowds. The goal is to try to get as many different items as possible. Every one goes to these parades, the whole family , even the kids in strollers.
This is an event that is part of the fabric of Louisiana much like the Glengarry Highland games or the Carp Fair.

This is an experience that you would have to be there to understand.

This was a banner that was leading a group women all dressed up in skimpy outfits

It says " Divine protectors of endangered pleasures"

The endangered pleasures

Every one in the parade hands out beads and trinkets

Lots of people dressed up as Elvis and other characters

just having fun

This couple were definitely in the party mood

I think there must have been a bankers convention ( check out the suits)

The people on the balcony might be staying in that building but the balconies are also rented out by the hour for people to party on.

Typical of a group that might be singing or playing music on a  corner

These ladies were all dressed for the occasion and just having fun

Even the Pope attended

Doesn't she have nice eyes?

The tin man in action

Part  of my collection caught from a balcony

The guys in suits are the sugar daddy's

What a place to people watch. 75% of the people are in costumes

Feb 4 Thursday Covington Louisiana

H.J. Smith General Store Covington LA

Louisiana has a program where they designate a business as historic and this store is one of them. They continue to operate them in a normal manner but are not allowed to update them in any way. They still take your cash and put it in a cash register that operates with a crank. ( they  do take visa and master card)  It has been in the same family since 1876 . When we were in the store there were 3 generations working there and a child that would have been the fourth.

They sell everything from bobcat and coyote skins, traps and hunting supplies, hardware and plumbing, military surplus, camping and housewares.

Beside and joined to the building is a museum that has a collection of stuff dating back to the 1800's . Among the collection was a cast iron coffin.

After visiting this place we travelled across a 24 mile causeway (bridge) to New Orleans

  Visit this website for more information   H J Smith General Merchants

Feb 3 Wednesday Abita Brewing Tour

Main entrance to the brewery is the red building. The green building is a store, building on the right is the pub.

The brewery is the beige building on the left .

This is where the mash is fermented, and processed

Founded in 1986, the Abita Brewing Company is nestled in the piney woods 30 miles north of New Orleans. In its first year, the brewery produced 1,500 barrels of beer.  By 1994, they  outgrew the original site (now their 100-seat brew pub) and moved up the road to a larger facility to keep up with demand.

They brew over 151,000 barrels of beer and 9,100 barrels of root beer in their  state-of-the-art brewing facility.

For a $5 ticket you got to sample 4 of their beers and then went on a tour of the facilities . Beer making is relatively simple once you get the right ingredients and recipe.
Making beer has come a lot further up on my bucket list.


Check out their website    Abita Brewing

Feb 2 Tuesday Tupelo Mississippi to Fontainbleu Nat Park in Mandeville Louisiana

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile drive through exceptional scenery and 10,000 years of North American history.  It runs from Nashville to Natchez Louisiana. You can enjoy not only a scenic drive but also hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping. There are turn off's every few miles if you want to stop an visit towns , or camp or hike along the way. We drove it from Tupelo Mississippi to Jackson . We were a little to early in the season as the trees were not in bloom. It was a beautiful relaxing drive. 50 miles per hour in cruise. Never touched the brakes once.

Monday Feb 1 2016
We went to visit the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg Tennessee. It was very informative and interesting. The distillery is in a dry county so the only place you can buy whiskey in that county is at their store. It is distilled from 80% corn, 12% barley and 8% rye. All Jack Daniels is made from this formula. The only difference is the aging , and the added flavours. Their barrels are only used once and then sold to other distillers around the world who use them to flavour their whiskey. All of the barrels are made there from maple.
We were not allowed to take any pictures inside of the distillery itself

They have 80 buildings to store whiskey , each holding one million gallons of Whiskey.

Main Entrance to the visitor center and store

Mr. JD himself, in life size , 5'2"

A demonstration model of the charcoal filtering

Inside of the visitor center

They have 80 of these buildings around the county. Each hold 1 million gallons.

The whiskey must be stored in one of these buildings for a minimum of 4 years

Burning 2x2x4' boards of local sugar maple to make charcoal. The fire is started with whiskey to

Preserve the flavour.

Visit the Jack Daniels website for more info

www.jackdaniels.com

Sat Jan 30 2016 Nashville

Saturday was the skills contest before the all star game, The down town was filled with people wearing their favorite hockey sweaters.

Tootsies Bar. Three floors of entertainment. Probably the most popular bar in Nashville.

Broadway Street is full of souvenir shops. This one specialized in Elvis

A complete city block of bars and shops, but mostly bars. All the bars have continuous music with no cover charge. 

Many artists have their own store, bar , or museum with all of their music and souvenirs

A mobile bar. You have to pedal to keep it moving

My dream toy