Everyone said to spend Independence Day in a big city.  I had reservations for July 3rd, so I had a to kill.  With all the wildlife preservers and managed areas, I thought the Bayou would be a good place to check out and find a place to camp for the night.  I should have booked a boat tour or a fishing charter.  Would have been time better spent.

Unfortunately, all in all, a bit of a failure of a day.  First mistake was taking the 90 – it pretty much runs the same route as the I-10, but closer to the railroad tracks on smaller roads.  Just as straight, but slower.  This may have been a good thing, since for whatever reason, I had the same issue as riding in LA.  I could not keep my eyes open – allergies/pollution?  I ended up pulling over a lot.

At least off the major highways, I got to go through a bunch of different neighbourhoods.  A good mix of really nice properties and houses.  TV show nice – manicured with people actively tending the lawns.  As well as lots overgrown with vegetation and signs for sale or lease.

With my eyes burning, I pulled over and had lunch was at Popeye’s – the other half of the Church’s Chicken supply chain.  I figured Louisiana would be a best place since it started here.   I’d say it was better than Church’s in San Antonio.

About the only ‘success’ of the day was putting on rain gear in time.  I saw wet cars with their wipers on coming the other way just before a drawbridge.  Pulled over to put on the gear just as it started to drizzle.   Crossing the bridge put me directly into the thundershower.   Crazy wet – but the gear worked, I stayed dry!  At least, for a while.   Eventually, I just sweat like crazy into the suit itself.   Similar levels of discomfort.  HIgher gross factor.

Riding around the Bayou really isn’t the way to see it either.  I get the feeling that the roads are on ‘stable’ ground, so fairly far from the ever shifting coastline.  Not a whole lot to see and not many bends.  There was a few fun bits just before 57 turns into 56, but generally not much to see.

As the afternoon wore on, I figured I should find a place to camp.  Google failed me again, although I’m starting to be able to see the pattern.  If Google doesn’t link to reviews from other sites, it’s probably not a good sign.  I did a few loops around the Mainstay Inn driving to various RV and Trailer parks before giving up and booking a room.

But since I was in a suite, I had a small kitchenette.  I managed to save a few bucks by eating my camp food.  Sardines, spam, instant noodles, beef jerky.