Traveling through Louisiana

Sunday November 22, 2015

This morning we got an early start at 7am.  I’m not used to getting up early, but I have to admit that driving down the road when the sun has just come up is sorta exhilarating!

We crossed the Mississippi and are officially in the West!

However, after that, it turned out to be the most white-knuckle driving we’ve ever experienced.  The day started out just fine and we crossed a few swamps on narrow bridges, but then we were on an elevated road/bridge that just went on forever.  

We took I12 to avoid dipping down to New Orleans but picked up I10 later on at Baton Rouge and that is where the fun started.  Turns out I10 is also the Atchafalaya Swamp Freeway, an 18 mile bridge over the Atchafalaya River and swamp.

Long narrow roads with no barriers.

And Cedars growing out of the lake. A sight I've never seen. 

Once we got through the swamp road, we looked for a place to rest after the stress and found Diesis, so we parked and took a break. Turns out they have great burgers so we got a couple burgers and onion rings and decided to stay. Sorry I didn't get back to order the Boudin Balls, but the burgers were handmade and definitely unique and onion rings were great.

I went to the building next door and it was a full casino –  bar, lots of neon and smoke, and a cashier. We went 190 miles, so that was enough.  We ended up sleeping a couple hours that afternoon – I guess we needed it from the delayed stress.

End of the day.