Parks/Gardens

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Corpus Christi Detour and Harlingen

From Port Aransas, I drove about 45 minutes to the small city of Corpus Christi. I just wanted to have a look at it, so I didn’t plan to do much, especially since I still had a two-hour drive to make to get to my hotel in Harlingen.

I stopped in at the vistors’ centre and was told that the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History across the street could fill a few hours and give me a sense for the city. Perfect!

Admission to the museum is $12.50, unless you happen to be a lucky blogger and get there on FREE admission day! What a gift!

This museum MUST be experienced. It’s a treasure trove of varied exhibits, each beautiful planned and executed. From gem stones to the discovery of the new world passing by terrariums filled with turtles, alligators, and giant spiders, this museum is definitely worth a visit! I had a wonderful afternoon there.

Coming into the visitor’s centre, I noticed a class B rig in the parking lot that I had also seen parked next to me a few days before. It had Ontario plates. When I saw it at home, I thought that it had to be Marianne and Randy Edwards, but told myself that would be too much of a coincidence. When they saw my truck at the visitors’ centre, they put two and two together and waited for me to return to see if I was me that truck belonged to. We had a lovely chat and Randy gave me instructions for getting to the waterfront.

I took his advice and wound up at the Corpus Christi Marina. It was 4PM by this point, I was beat, and I had a long drive ahead of me, so I was done. I headed out towards Harlingen and stopped at the Kingsville Walmart where I ran into the Edwards again! There I FINALLY found a good pair of sandals (I love the Earth Spirit brand; very good quality, leather, inexpensive, only available at Walmart) so I have comfortable shoes this morning.

The drive to Harlingen was exciting. I had the radio on and wasn’t really paying attention to much besides the road so I failed to notice not only that my gas gauge needle was racing towards empty but also the ‘no fuel for 60 miles’ sign!!! When my gas gauge light came on, I was shocked to discover that the next gas station was 80KM ahead of me, so the only option was to turn back the way I came to go back to the last gas station I had passed. It was a very long 20KM, but I wasn’t completely empty when I got there. I really need an audio signal at the quarter tank mark!!!

That 40KM detour meant that I didn’t get into Harlingen until 7:30. I don’t like driving in the dark, but it’s easier in the truck, probably because I am higher up than car headlights and I don’t get blinded as much (even in pickup truck land). The hotel was right off of I-77 and very easy to find. It’s adequate for a one-star; shabby but clean with a lumpy bed.

There is a Chili’s restaurant literally next door. Chili’s is a huge treat for me. I’ve only been there four times before (I’m averaging once a year) and I only go if I stumble onto one (so I never ate at the one in Chesapeake). So I decided that fate was telling me I needed a good dinner! I always get their margarita grilled chicken, which comes on a bed of rice, black beans, and tortilla strips. Incredibly delicious. I ordered a beer, the server said okay, then he came back and said, “Sweetie, you are old enough to drink, aren’t you?”

I still can’t get over the fact that people think I am in my late teens to mid-20s. I look at myself in the mirror and I just see the deepening lines and fading scars that remind me that time is marching on…

It was almost 9:00 when I got in from dinner. I had hoped to update the blog, but my internet connection kept cutting out and was slooooooooooow. It was so frustrating that I shut down and went to bed around 11.

Breakfast is included, but I didn’t even bother to check it out. Instead, I went across the street to Starbucks for a bagel and coffee. Except for a coffee on the NY Thruway coming south, I have not had Starbucks since early May of 2012!

I’m getting mixed signals about how easy it will be to fill a few hours in Nuevo Progreso, so I’m in no hurry this morning. I’ll be heading out in a few minutes and should be there for 10:00, 10:30, giving me a couple of hours to find the dentist and have lunch.

Nuevo Progreso will be the furthest south I have ever wandered!

Entering Corpus Christi.

Entering Corpus Christi.

Entering Corpus Christi.

Entering Corpus Christi.

Entering Corpus Christi.

Entering Corpus Christi.

'Whataburger Field' made me laugh. Whataburger is a chain of Texas hamburger restaurants.

‘Whataburger Field’ made me laugh. Whataburger is a chain of Texas hamburger restaurants.

The visitors' centre on Chaparral street.

The visitors’ centre on Chaparral street.

Behind the museum of science and history there is this wonderful fountain garden.

Behind the museum of science and history there is this wonderful fountain garden.

Can any of my readers identify this tree?

Can any of my readers identify this tree?

It's like a cactus tree!

It’s like a cactus tree!

With pink flowers.

With pink flowers.

More cacti in the xeriscape garden out front.

More cacti in the xeriscape garden out front.

Xeriscaping is landscaping for arid conditions.

Xeriscaping is landscaping for arid conditions.

Bridge.

Bridge.

Corpus Christ Museum of Science and History. It heavily features Chrisopher Columbus and Spanish explorers, hence the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria on the sign.

Corpus Christ Museum of Science and History. It heavily features Chrisopher Columbus and Spanish explorers, hence the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria on the sign.

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entrance to the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and history

entrance to the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and history

Wonderful exhibit about gems and stones.

Wonderful exhibit about gems and stones.

Another sampling of this exhibit.

Another sampling of this exhibit.

There were TONS more gems and stones to look at!

There were TONS more gems and stones to look at!

I enjoyed the exhibit about snakes.

I enjoyed the exhibit about snakes.

This is a hog nosed snake. You can actually find these in Ontario.

This is a hog nosed snake. You can actually find these in Ontario.

Loved this bench!

Loved this bench!

Harmless milk snake on the left, dangerous coral snake on the right.

Harmless milk snake on the left, dangerous coral snake on the right.

Red on black, friend of Jack.

Red on black, friend of Jack.

Red on yellow, kill a fellow.

Red on yellow, kill a fellow.

Carvings of many of earth's mammals.

Carvings of many of earth’s mammals.

Tips for being a collector.

Tips for being a collector.

Harsh words on the difference between being a collector and being a hoarder.

Harsh words on the difference between being a collector and being a hoarder.

Where is a turtle's spine?

Where is a turtle’s spine?

Inside the shell.

Inside the shell.

Beautiful detail on the shipwreck exhibit.

Beautiful detail on the shipwreck exhibit.

Beautiful detail on the shipwreck exhibit.

Beautiful detail on the shipwreck exhibit.

Beautiful detail on the shipwreck exhibit.

Beautiful detail on the shipwreck exhibit.

Plaque glorifying Columbus's 'discovery' of the Americas.

Plaque glorifying Columbus’s ‘discovery’ of the Americas.

The Aztecs had a civilization that compared to that in Europe.

The Aztecs had a civilization that compared to that in Europe.

market day

market day

typical Texas ranch house made of limestone

typical Texas ranch house made of limestone

You would have seen these houses in 1776, when Texas was still part of Mexico.

You would have seen these houses in 1776, when Texas was still part of Mexico.

Potatoes and sweet potatoes are not related, but they are new world crops.

Potatoes and sweet potatoes are not related, but they are new world crops.

The Spanish say maiz, the English say corn, the French say maïs, the French-Canadian say blé d'inde (Indian wheat)

The Spanish say maiz, the English say corn, the French say maïs, the French-Canadian say blé d’inde (Indian wheat)

New world crops fed Europe and led to a population explosion.

New world crops fed Europe and led to a population explosion.

There is evidence that syphilis is a new world disease that was brought back by Columbus and his men.

There is evidence that syphilis is a new world disease that was brought back by Columbus and his men.

What would our world be without corn and potatoes?

What would our world be without corn and potatoes?

The Texas cowboy's lament.

The Texas cowboy’s lament.

Exquisite dress.

Exquisite dress.

Exquisite dress.

Exquisite dress.

A gal would wear this if she was 'queen' of bucaneer days.

A gal would wear this if she was ‘queen’ of bucaneer days.

"We are all explorers seeking the meaning of the present in the past."

“We are all explorers seeking the meaning of the present in the past.”

Entrance to a Montserrat-style general store.

Entrance to a Montserrat-style general store.

The general store would also be a social centre.

The general store would also be a social centre.

You can get all the necessities, from beer to toilet paper and KD.

You can get all the necessities, from beer to toilet paper and KD.

There were no words to describe how exquisite this exhibit was. It was like entering a palace, with beautiful tiles on the ground and one more gorgeous detail after another.

There were no words to describe how exquisite this exhibit was. It was like entering a palace, with beautiful tiles on the ground and one more gorgeous detail after another.

The domed ceiling must have taken a lot of work!

The domed ceiling must have taken a lot of work!

I liked this exhibit that showed how a typical daily menu would have been prepared.

I liked this exhibit that showed how a typical daily menu would have been prepared.

Pterodactyl

Pterodactyl

Buffalo hunt.

Buffalo hunt.

There's a whole section devoted to the history of Corpus Christi.

There’s a whole section devoted to the history of Corpus Christi.

The Corpus Christi bayfront was conceived and developed after the devastating 1919 hurricane.

The Corpus Christi bayfront was conceived and developed after the devastating 1919 hurricane.

Marina

Marina

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Corpus Christi from the Marina

Corpus Christi from the Marina

Corpus Christi from the Marina

Corpus Christi from the Marina

Columbus-style ship.

Columbus-style ship.

It's gas-powered.

It’s gas-powered.

Corpus Christi from the Marina

Corpus Christi from the Marina

impressive structure

impressive structure

it's named the Nina

it’s named the Nina

Columbus-style ship.

Columbus-style ship.

Delicious dinner at Chili's.

Delicious dinner at Chili’s.

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Thank You, Ms. Grumpy Pants!

This morning, I packed up the inside of the rig in preparation for moving, then went to check the post office in case I could leave town today.

The package still isn’t here, so it really would have been cheaper to pay the $60 for guaranteed two-day delivery on my package instead of renewing for another five nights at $90. I believe that Monday is a holiday here and that there won’t be mail, so I’m giving my package till Tuesday AM to arrive.

Anyway, the weather isn’t that great near Houston right now (we finally got sun, YAY), so it’s rather nice to be on hookups and this will probably be my only paid nights of the winter. $200 is about a fifth of what I would have been paying per month for RV park fees, electricity, and propane so, really, my budget can absorb this.

I went into the office on the way back and a rather grumpy-looking and quiet woman was at the desk. I said, “I’m in 84, I want to renew for five more nights, I know I have to move to a different site, and I just checked online so I know you have tons of availability.” She pushed some keys and stared at her screen for a long while and then started to write me up a new park entry pass for the truck. I asked what site I was going to and she said, “The same one”!

I have no idea what she did — if she moved the reservation to another site (which the other front desk person said was not possible) or if she determined that only half of the site was booked or if the other guys cancelled, but I consider this a miracle!

I didn’t mind putting away stuff inside as it’s really just tidying up after myself now, plus the minor aggravation of securing the filing cabinet. It’s really putting away the water hose and power cable, getting off the levelers and stowing them, backing into a new site, getting level again, and rehooking up that is such a pain.

I don’t expect to have much to blog about in the next few days as I have some business matters to attend to and will need to be in the office for most of the next few days, another reason I don’t mind staying put. So if the blog goes a little quiet, no need to be alarmed. 🙂

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Enjoying My Stay At Bayou Segnette State Park

Bayou Segnette State Park really is a jewel of a place to park your RV in the greater New Orleans area. I mean, you get to stay out in the boondocks for $18 a night (off season) and are just 10 minutes from all the services and 40 minutes (including a ferry ride) to touristy New Orleans! And if you don’t have a washing machine, the FREE laundry facilities really offset the cost of the nightly stay!

The state park entrance is located off of a busy express way. You then have a couple of miles to go to get to the RV park area. The area is swampy, so I imagine it gets quite buggy in the summertime!

There isn’t much to the RV park itself, a couple of loops to walk around, plus bathrooms, FREE laundry facilities, and a dump station. All sites are back in and have 20A/30A/50A connections and water. Some sites are ‘doubles’ whereby two rigs have to share a slightly wider pad.

The park is verdant and lovely.

There's a boardwalk leading from the bathrooms/laundry through the swamp to the other side of the loop.

There’s a boardwalk leading from the bathrooms/laundry through the swamp to the other side of the loop.

It was a humid and pleasant stroll!

It was a humid and pleasant stroll!

There is lots and lots and lots of stagnant water in the park.

There is lots and lots and lots of stagnant water in the park.

The boardwalk ends on the other side of the loop.

The boardwalk ends on the other side of the loop.

Coming back, Neelix was watching for me in the rear window.

Coming back, Neelix was watching for me in the rear window.

I am parked in a double. If my site is reserved for one rig, I can't figure out why the other folks can't park beside me.

I am parked in a double. If my site is reserved for one rig, I can’t figure out why the other folks can’t park beside me.

The park is very lush and verdant.

The park is very lush and verdant.

I would not walk off the roads and boardwalk here!

I would not walk off the roads and boardwalk here!

Two things have marred my stay. My first two mornings here, I was awoken before 8AM by lawn care services. Staff was utterly unapologetic, saying that lawn care has to be done and since it might have rained later in the day, it had to be done early. I really don’t see what makes leaf blowing so urgent that you need to wake your guests at oh-dark-thirty.

The second is that when I came in, I asked for five nights with the possibility to renew for more nights. I was told the park was full and that I would have to take a double site with no neighbour at the time. But the site was only renewable for one more night beyond the five and they could not promise there would be space for me for a sixth night.

Well, the park has been mostly empty. I checked online and there is tons of availability in the next few weeks. In fact, I don’t see any reason that I couldn’t have been given a site with open ended availability.

This is a good example of why people who don’t RV shouldn’t manage RV parks and set policies. The girl at the counter can’t understand why I am put upon to move a few sites down on Thursday. Packing and moving an RV represents a couple of hours of work! If I had other options in the area, I would move elsewhere. But since I don’t, I will move should my package not be here on Thursday and I need to stay on.

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City Tour of New Orleans

When I come to a big city, I like to take a city tour to get my bearings. I had pamphlets for a bunch of them here in New Orleans and picked the one that seemed to offer the best value, then I searched for online reviews to solidify my choice. I went with the Louisiana Tour Company, offering a three-hour tour for $44 (plus a $5 tip to the driver).

This tour is really a full three hours. They do not count the time it takes to pick up everyone at their hotels and drop them off again as being part of the tour. I was picked up in Gretna on the Westbank at about 1:20 for the 1:30 tour. By the time we’d picked up everybody and payment had been taken, it was well past 2:00. We finished the tour past 5:00 and I didn’t get back to my car in Gretna until 6:30.

The tour offers a general overview of the main areas of the city that are of interest to tourists, including the Central Business District; the French Quarter; and the Lower 9th Ward, the area most devastated by Hurricane Katrina. We also got out of the bus to explore a Catholic Cemetery and took a break for beignets in City Park.

Our tour guide, Eugene, is a New Orleans native whose love and knowledge of his city was obvious. I couldn’t even begin to get into all the information he gave us, from talking about famous landmarks to pointing out little architectural details I would never have otherwise noticed. He was very friendly, professional, and spun a good yarn without sounding like he was full of bull. I’ve been on city tours where the drivers liked to feed cockamamie stories to gullible tourists and this was not the case here.

The best part of the tour was definitely the visit to the Lower 9th Ward where Eugene gave us the scoop on what really happened down there by sharing the story of a man who chose to ride out the storm with his family. This man has returned to his neighborhood and lives in one of the Brad Pitt foundation homes.

The Lower 9th Ward, being the poorest area of the city, is the slowest to come back to life and is still full of blighted homes. But the community that is rising from the ruins appears to be full of promise. The tour companies are not allowed to actually go into the community, as per a federal decree, but apparently the residents liked having the tour groups go through as they made money selling lemonade, cookies, and pralines to the tourists.

We covered a lot of ground today, but I am now well prepared to explore the French Quarter (possibly tomorrow) having seen where the Algier Ferry docks (right in front of Harrah’s) and being armed with a list of good restaurants that won’t break the bank.

Eugene and I had a nice chat about my RVing life on the way back to Gretna and he pointed out a few restaurants I could try, but admitted that he drives into the city to eat as the Westbank options are uninspiring.

I’m really glad I did the city tour offered by the Louisiana Tour Company!

The following pictures are the best I was able to take on a moving bus through glass! I really wish I had been able to get a few good ones of the ginormous magnificent homes along St. Charles Avenue.

The architecture feels very French.

The architecture feels very French.

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I like the mix of old and new architecture.

I like the mix of old and new architecture.

This 50-story tall building used to be Shell Headquarters, which have now moved to Houston, Texas.

This 50-story tall building used to be Shell Headquarters, which have now moved to Houston, Texas.

These bleachers are for the Mardi Gras parades.

These bleachers are for the Mardi Gras parades.

Robert E Lee

Robert E Lee

One of Emeril Lagasse's restaurants.

One of Emeril Lagasse’s restaurants.

The streetcars are good value for getting to some parts of the city. I witnessed a ton of construction going on to prolong this line.

The streetcars are good value for getting to some parts of the city. I witnessed a ton of construction going on to prolong this line.

There were Mardi Gras beads hanging from the trees on St. Charles Avenue. I couldn't believe that nearly eight years ago, St. Charles Avenue was under 16 feet of water.

There were Mardi Gras beads hanging from the trees on St. Charles Avenue. I couldn’t believe that nearly eight years ago, St. Charles Avenue was under 16 feet of water.

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The owner of this house dresses up his stone pigs for every possible occasion.

The owner of this house dresses up his stone pigs for every possible occasion.

A lemon tree!!!

A lemon tree!!!

This house that looks like it was cut in half was built on a property line.

This house that looks like it was cut in half was built on a property line.

This building with a lighthouse sticking out of it is for sale.

This building with a lighthouse sticking out of it is for sale.

US. Marshal parking only!

US. Marshal parking only!

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The Harrah's casino. Gambling is illegal in the area, so there is no gambling in the casino, only gaming. :)

The Harrah’s casino. Gambling is illegal in the area, so there is no gambling in the casino, only gaming. 🙂

The Riverwalk shopping centre.

The Riverwalk shopping centre.

Driving down Decatur Street in the French Quarter.

Driving down Decatur Street in the French Quarter.

You can rent these hilarious little cars.

You can rent these hilarious little cars.

These are mules, which are hardier than horses.

These are mules, which are hardier than horses.

The Central Grocery, home of the Muffuleta sandwich.

The Central Grocery, home of the Muffuleta sandwich.

A statue of Joan of Arc.

A statue of Joan of Arc.

One of the many beautiful statues in a Catholic cemetery.

One of the many beautiful statues in a Catholic cemetery.

Everyone is buried above ground in New Orleans.

Everyone is buried above ground in New Orleans.

Perpetual care means that extra money was paid in the 18th century for the church diocese to maintain the tombs forever!

Perpetual care means that extra money was paid in the 18th century for the church diocese to maintain the tombs forever!

This new tomb is a monstrosity, methinks. Some people have more money than sense.

This new tomb is a monstrosity, methinks. Some people have more money than sense.

Masons sneaked into this cemetery and built a tomb, but only one person was ever allowed to be interred here.

Masons sneaked into this cemetery and built a tomb, but only one person was ever allowed to be interred here.

This tomb is getting a new door.

This tomb is getting a new door.

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City Park

City Park

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This little boy was catching small flat silver fishes.

This little boy was catching small flat silver fishes.

We stopped at the Morning Call café for refreshments, including beignets and café au lait. I was unable to get service and didn't really want to eat there anyway since the place did not feel clean.

We stopped at the Morning Call café for refreshments, including beignets and café au lait. I was unable to get service and didn’t really want to eat there anyway since the place did not feel clean.

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The New Orleans Museum of Art.

The New Orleans Museum of Art.

Statue of Beauregard, the guy who fired the first shot of the US Civil War.

Statue of Beauregard, the guy who fired the first shot of the US Civil War.

The rich parts of New Orleans look like nothing happened. But when you reach the 9th Ward, you see many houses that need repair or to simply be bulldozed.

The rich parts of New Orleans look like nothing happened. But when you reach the 9th Ward, you see many houses that need repair or to simply be bulldozed.

This is where the levee broke that flooded the Lower 9th Ward.

This is where the levee broke that flooded the Lower 9th Ward.

All those colourful houses were built by the Brad Pitt Foundation. He promised to build 150 homes and 90 have been built so far. To qualify for a home, you had to have a home in the Lower 9th Ward with a clear title. The homes cost $125,000 and up and the residents have a 10-year interest free loan on them, which is about $700 a month in payments. They all have solar panels to reduce the monthly power bills.

All those colourful houses were built by the Brad Pitt Foundation. He promised to build 150 homes and 90 have been built so far. To qualify for a home, you had to have a home in the Lower 9th Ward with a clear title. The homes cost $125,000 and up and the residents have a 10-year interest free loan on them, which is about $700 a month in payments. They all have solar panels to reduce the monthly power bills.

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The water levels in the Lower 9th Ward rose to over 25' feet, then settled at 16', which is the top of the tallest blue post.

The water levels in the Lower 9th Ward rose to over 25′ feet, then settled at 16′, which is the top of the tallest blue post.

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New Orleans!

I made it!!! And those exclamation point are because the bit on US-90 between I-10 and the park entrance were harrowing!!! OMG, the wind kept battering the rig and people were zipping in and out and slamming on their brakes and reducing my stopping distance to zero and tailgaters were honking at me like my smoking the brakes was my fault. It was just like Montreal! Why?! Because these drivers and I share the same ancestors! It must be in French Canadian blood to drive like a lunatic!

Um, now that I’ve got that out of my system, let’s go back to Mississippi. 🙂

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It was so good to see Biloxi open for business. That the region has managed to rebuild after the devastation wrought by Katrina is a testament to the notion of home as being a physical location. As the camphost here said, “What else could we do but rebuild because where else could we have gone?”

Louisiana welcomed me in French!

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I stopped at the welcome centre and got a ton of state tourist info IN FRENCH. I grabbed a pile of tourist brochures and the helpful lady at the front desk organized them by location so that I can plan an efficient itinerary. At the minimum I’d like to do the French Quarter one day, a bus tour of New Orleans another day, and then go out and do a swamp tour.

The lady thought it was cool that I’m from Alberta and I replied that I’m really French Canadian from Quebec and I wish my ancestors had been smart and gone south instead of staying in the frigid north. I’m not saying I would have wanted to be part of the Acadian Expulsion, but I come from a long line of explorers. Couldn’t they have looked south just a teeny bit? 🙂

You have to cross huge Lake Pontchartrain to get to the Big Easy:

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First glimpse of New Orleans:

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I am staying at Bayou Segnette State Park where $18 (off season rate!) a night gets you power (20, 30, or 50), water, and FREE laundry!

I continue to have the best timing in the world and have apparently landed at the start of Mardi Gras season (which I thought was at least a month later) so the campground is nearly full. I am stuck in a ‘double’ which means another rig could put in right next to me on the same pad. But I picked the best ‘double’ available so that I will never have a neighbour on my passenger side, and therefore a clear view from the office.

There is an extremely expensive RV park right in the French Quarter, but one night there is the same price as five nights here. I don’t plan to be out after dark, so this location is a good compromise. I can drive less than half an hour and catch a FREE pedestrian ferry right to the French Quarter!

There is concern that there will be no more availability past my checkout date of Wednesday, but I’ll cross that bridge when I have to. I have to stick around until my general delivery parcel arrives.

It’s pretty cool thanks to a nice breeze but quite muggy out. I thought it was going to storm, but now I’m not so sure. Anyway, I can run the AC no problem to bring the humidity down if I need to. Right now, I have all the windows, roof hatches, and front door open and it’s quite lovely and comfortable!