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| Texas Sunrise |
Later that morning we jumped in the car and hit to road to
Lafayette. The drive here saw us cross the Texas/Louisiana state line. We
noticed an immediate change in the quality of the road as we did so, and not
for the better! We continued to bump our way along the major highway for a few
miles before the road improved. Then, before too long, we needed to stop for
petrol. We took the exit to Lena, Louisiana and hit a little Shell. We jumped
out of the car and it was about 10 degrees outside. Freezing!!! Pete went in to
pre-pay for our fuel and we suddenly realised a few things. 1) We did not know
what type of fuel our car took. 2) We did not know the capacity of the fuel
tank. 3) We did not know what the conversion from litres to gallons was. So we
prepaid $30 and started to fill the tank. When it clicked at 9 gallons, about
$14, we really had no idea if this was actually full or not, but the fuel gauge
was telling us it was, so who are we to disagree. Pete insisted I go into the
service station but would not tell me why, but it soon became apparent. There
were many, many different wild animals taxidermied for our viewing pleasure.
Deer, ducks, fox (perhaps a coyote) and alike, all looking at us like some
freakish horror movie. Armed with our
new found knowledge of gasoline, gallons and freaky stuffed animals, we
continued our drive to Lafayette.
Lafayette. The drive here saw us cross the Texas/Louisiana state line. We
noticed an immediate change in the quality of the road as we did so, and not
for the better! We continued to bump our way along the major highway for a few
miles before the road improved. Then, before too long, we needed to stop for
petrol. We took the exit to Lena, Louisiana and hit a little Shell. We jumped
out of the car and it was about 10 degrees outside. Freezing!!! Pete went in to
pre-pay for our fuel and we suddenly realised a few things. 1) We did not know
what type of fuel our car took. 2) We did not know the capacity of the fuel
tank. 3) We did not know what the conversion from litres to gallons was. So we
prepaid $30 and started to fill the tank. When it clicked at 9 gallons, about
$14, we really had no idea if this was actually full or not, but the fuel gauge
was telling us it was, so who are we to disagree. Pete insisted I go into the
service station but would not tell me why, but it soon became apparent. There
were many, many different wild animals taxidermied for our viewing pleasure.
Deer, ducks, fox (perhaps a coyote) and alike, all looking at us like some
freakish horror movie. Armed with our
new found knowledge of gasoline, gallons and freaky stuffed animals, we
continued our drive to Lafayette.
When we arrived in Lafayette, we drove into the main street
and had a stretch of the legs. Not too dissimilar to Morpeth, it was filled
with arty little shops, boutique clothing stores and alike. Lafayette, tick!
and had a stretch of the legs. Not too dissimilar to Morpeth, it was filled
with arty little shops, boutique clothing stores and alike. Lafayette, tick!
We continued on to Baton Rouge. I wanted to stop here,
inspired by the Garth Brooks song of the same name. This was going to be our
opportunity to see the mighty Mississippi River.
inspired by the Garth Brooks song of the same name. This was going to be our
opportunity to see the mighty Mississippi River.
To get into town, we had to drive across a gigantic bridge.
When I say “we”, I mean “I”. I was driving, and swearing. Swearing and driving.
The bridge was huge and I felt dizzy with what my peripheral vision was picking
up.
When I say “we”, I mean “I”. I was driving, and swearing. Swearing and driving.
The bridge was huge and I felt dizzy with what my peripheral vision was picking
up.
We found our way into town and set off on foot to explore.
Beautiful town, not too unlike somewhere like Canberra. Baton Rouge is home to
the old and new capitol buildings and campus of Louisiana State University
(LSU). We were encouraged by the lovely lady at Baton Rouge tourism to go to
the top of the new capitol building. Really glad we did as it offered amazing
views of the city and the Mississippi River. Baton Rouge, tick!
Beautiful town, not too unlike somewhere like Canberra. Baton Rouge is home to
the old and new capitol buildings and campus of Louisiana State University
(LSU). We were encouraged by the lovely lady at Baton Rouge tourism to go to
the top of the new capitol building. Really glad we did as it offered amazing
views of the city and the Mississippi River. Baton Rouge, tick!
From here, we headed to the southern side of New Orleans,
but we travelled across the longest bridge in the world, over Lake
Pontchartrain to get there. This bridge takes about 30 mins to get across and
for the most part, you cannot see land at all. I don’t know how, but I also had
the honour (read terror) of driving over this bridge too!
but we travelled across the longest bridge in the world, over Lake
Pontchartrain to get there. This bridge takes about 30 mins to get across and
for the most part, you cannot see land at all. I don’t know how, but I also had
the honour (read terror) of driving over this bridge too!
Driving into New Orleans, my first impression is of how
similar it is to coming into Melbourne. That is the funny thing about all of
the places we are seeing, they are foreign but also quite familiar.
similar it is to coming into Melbourne. That is the funny thing about all of
the places we are seeing, they are foreign but also quite familiar.
Our digs for the night were the Days Inn Marrero. The Expedia
reviews of this place were mixed, but we were really surprised when we arrived.
Joanelle on the front counter is a credit to the establishment, and she is the
baker of THE best chocolate chip cookies in the world. We headed out to the
shops as we needed to pick up another suitcase to ensure all of our stuff made
it to our future destinations. Almost three hours and a few hundred dollars
later, we left Walmart.
reviews of this place were mixed, but we were really surprised when we arrived.
Joanelle on the front counter is a credit to the establishment, and she is the
baker of THE best chocolate chip cookies in the world. We headed out to the
shops as we needed to pick up another suitcase to ensure all of our stuff made
it to our future destinations. Almost three hours and a few hundred dollars
later, we left Walmart.
Plagued by the same 2am wake up, we again rang the kids. It
was so great to hear their voices. We are having a blast on our road trip, but
we are missing them like crazy. Thank you to Pete’s mum for all of the running
around associated with them all this week.
was so great to hear their voices. We are having a blast on our road trip, but
we are missing them like crazy. Thank you to Pete’s mum for all of the running
around associated with them all this week.
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