2022 Florida/Gulf Coast Adventure

Saturday, April 16 This was a relaxing day. I spend the day catching up on emails, FB posts, and setting up our new travel adventure.  Renie on the other hand, visit a Texas Maul called the Silos.     She was gone from 9-12 just shopping. I was invited, but I just did not have the time.   For dinner we had our first Texas BBQ of  smoked brisket and fix'ns.  We shared a plate of greens, corn, and smoke Mac n Cheese.  We will have left overs for breakfast.  We took the car thru a car wash that was deeply needed.  Even had a neighbor in camp that commented on it. I guess it was pretty cruddy.   Tomorrow we are off to Lubbock for an over night stay where we can watch the NASCAR race, then off to a Harvest Host in Albuquerque, then to Marble Canyon Ut then Home.  

 Friday, April 15 We left Port Arthur and arrived in Waco Tx about 2:30.  After setting up, we took off to see the Texas Ranger Museum.  Now that was fun.  Total history of the origin of the Rangers to now. Pretty colorful actually from just Range officers trying keep Indians from the settlers to hero's of the Alamo, to disgrace after the civil war where they were given carte blanc to enforce the law.  of course that was a little too much power for some.  Later they were heros again during WW1, and organize with better tactics, procedures, etc.  They are star to be recognition with today.  Lots of guns, rifles, and shotguns donated to the museum from past rangers.  Of course I loved that part.   Tomorrow Renie is going shopping at The Silos.  It is a VVVVery large shopping mall that she just has to visit.  I am glad my back hurts.  

 Thursday, April 14 We had an outstanding day.  Finally a fishing day. Limited out on Redfish, sea trout, and caught one catfish.  We are at Port Arthur, Tx.  Been here for a  week, waiting for the weather to clear so we can fish, or even hitting the road back towards home if weather clears.  I called this fish guide Captain several months ago to asked about fishing here on our way back from Florida towards Utah.  I really liked him on the phone.  I told him our plans and the return trip schedule was really fluid.  He suggested this week if it worked for us.  Then the weather turn tables while we were in Florida. But, this has been a bucket list thing for both of us so we stuck it out 6 more days than planned  Renie started the day, or I should the morning, catching the first and 15th fish.  Man, was she giving me the stink eye.  And the guide and helper were wondering if I ever had fished before.  Finally I...

 Tuesday, April 12 Beaumont:  It was a lazy town of agriculture, lumber, etc.  Then, in 1901, oil was found. Like most stories, it starts with a person with a vision, failure, another vision, then a couple of investors and a drill in an area that was promising oil.  As the drillers were changing drill bits, a plumb of oil shots hundreds of feet in the air, and a lake was formed with 50000 gallons of crude.  The rest is history as they say.  Texaco, Mobil oil, and more were founded.  We went to this museum as well.  

 Monday, April 11 Nothing to do today so we are driving around Port Arthur and found this museum.  I never knew the history behind this port.  It is pretty amazing.  Tomorrow we will visit Beaumont just north of here.  This port was created in 1901.  It's purpose was to transport rice, lumber, etc.  In 1901, there was a major oil find in Beaumont and it bust the area wide open for shipping, refineries, drilling, etc.  This was area where the beginning of the oil reclamation occurred.  In addition, my most favorite singer was born here.  Janis Joplin.  I knew this, but it was buried way back in memory files I have not accessed in while.  The museum was most visited by folks with similar likes.  The town reels Joplin.   Janis

 Sunday, April 10 This was a travel day.  Weather was not nice to us.  10-30 mph cross winds all day. I placed a call to my fishing guide and found out we will have to wait for good weather in Port Arthur.  That could be days.  We are committed to fish, up to a point. The camp we are at is nice, and not far from the port. But not scenic.  There are no camps or camp areas around here that are open for the days we need.  Mississippi River going over it.  Hmm, 4x4? Lots of refineries

 Saturday, April 9 We decided to stick around another day to visit the WWII museum.  Took us about 4 hours to go thru it.  Amazing. There is a movie at the beginning dictated by Tom Hanks.  Super informative with lots of info condensing 4 years to 40 minutes.  It was amazing.   By the time we had walked the halls, my back was toast so we headed out.  As it turns out, right across the street was one of the restaurants that was recommended by the first guide for the best Jambalaya in the city.  Hurrah.  It was great, cost less, and they had real authentic Hurricane.  Now that was good.  Now our bucket lists for this area are filled.  We are moving on tomorrow.  Unfortunately weather is following use again.  We are heading for Port Arthur, tx. There is a greater chance of not going fishing than going.  But, we are here, so we will chance it and it we cannot fish, then there will be another trip.  Stay tune...

 Friday, April 8 We had quite the adventure today.  This bus trip is another of Renie's bucket list ventures.  Of course mine to now that I know about it.  We were off at dark thirty to Oak Alley Plantation, located about 90 miles from New Orleans.  It was established/built by a pretty wealthy owner in the 1837. It took 2 years to build, measured over 11000 sq ft.    He had bought into over a 100 slaves, gave them a job to build this house.  He also gave them almost freedom by giving them bank accounts, credit, and bank money. But of course, they were not free.  He built this house on large acreage sugar cane property.  Not sure if it was called a farm or ranch. The house property covered 25 acres.  Full size oak trees numbering 28.   The trees are 200 years old.  Not sure I can fathom how these were transported and planted.  His net worth was about 37 million when he died.  He dies young of gout.  He y...

 Thursday, April 7 Just got back from doing a tourist city bus trip to the French Quarter of New Orleans.  Tons of history of the city, Katrina, streets, eateries, booze.  It took over 4 hours that included many stops, a bakery for Beignets, a rum distillery, etc.  The tasting of of the rum products included coffee which I had.  Renie order the Beignets and I actually ate one.  Good, but like most pastry's, I won't have again.  The guide took us down to the the heavily damaged area of the flood.  It is mostly cleaned up now, but could happen again. I got a look at the original engineering of the wall design and I am surprised it lasted as long as it did.  Basic civil engineering practices were compromised for cost.  Too bad.  They might get it right the second time. To a tune of several billion dollars.   We ate lunch at Napoleon House.  Waited in line for about 30 minutes. Their specialty are sandwiches, signature is...