After losing our way for a time in New Orleans we finally came upon the side of a huge levy and following it for a time we came to the old Huey Long Memorial Bridge that spans the Mississippi River. Finally! I was much relieved for us to be able to cross this bridge and to find to my surprise and relief that we were back on highway 90 and continuing on our way along the beautiful gulf area of Louisiana. This is the afternoon of Friday the 13th - no wonder I had bad luck! But, then too, we finally had good luck to find our way across and back on our preferred roadway.

While trying to find our way to a bridge that would take us across the Mississippi at New Orleans we noticed this old street car, still in operation. We think we were in the western part of the city at this point, pretty much lost!

Because of my concern for the flood of water coming down the Mississippi, threatening New Orleans and other cities along the lower river, we did not pause at all in this very unique and interesting city. I wanted to get across the river. We did take a couple of pictures as we passed through the city. We lost our way, missing US 90, and we wandered through some of the French Quarter, looking for our highway.

Here is a typical place of entertainment we noted as we drove along. This is Friday, May 13.

When we crossed over the bridge on Friday morning, May 13 onto this narrow stretch of land that extends east from the City of New Orleans between Lake Ponchartrain and the Gulf, we found the homes are all built up on stilts, giving visual testimony to the threat of high water that can so easily overwhelm this beautiful but insecure bit of sand.

This Friday the 13th we could see the storm rolling off the Gulf inland as we left the area of Biloxi, Mississippi and made our entry into Louisiana, still on highway 90. Before crossing Lake Ponchartrain on this wonderful bridge we had to stop and take a picture. These are scenes that are very unusual for us, so much water! Oh, my!

Friday, May 13, we departed Ocean Springs and crossed a beautiful bridge that took us over Biloxi Bay and then drove west on US 90 for several miles along an extended beachfront that allowed to look out upon the Gulf of Mexico. There was little or no activity on this public beach, perhaps due to some repairs being in made in places along the highway. A storm was rolling in, across the Gulf and the sky and sea were spectacular for these two desert dwellers.

Thursday night, May 12, we stopped for the night in the city of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, just east across the bay from Biloxi. Acting on a recommendation from our hotel clerk we drove to a restaurant near the water and had a nice meal, and then drove about this seaside town, looking at the sights.

Here are some of the many small fishing boats that can be seen as we drove along the waterfront.

Thursday, May 12, we departed northern Florida, staying near the gulf coast on highway 90. As we passed through Mobile, Alabama we saw what we believed to be the battleship, USS Alabama, docked in the harbor at Mobile Bay.

Wednesday, May 11, we continued south from Brunswick, Georgia on US 17, into Jacksonville, Florida. We did not stop in Jacksonville, but turned west onto US 90, stopping for the night, west of Tallahassee,in the small community of Quincy, FL.

This photo was taken of one of the many lovely homes we drove past as we traveled through this part of the Florida panhandle.

Tuesday evening, May 10, having passed through Savannah, its bridges and harbor, we found lodging in the coastal city of Brunswick, Georgia. A beautiful bridge allowed us to drive out to an Island where we ate our dinner at one of the many seafood places near the water. Afterward, we walked out onto a public wharf where we could get a better view of Brunswick Bay and the Lighthouse that graces this beautiful Island community. Linda wouldn't allow me to take her picture but she was happy to take mine!

Tuesday, May 10, somewhere south of Charleston on US 17 we stopped at this old country store. We had seen one like it earlier and decided to stop and take a look. The young female proprietor was very pleasant to talk with. She said she had been very active in women's softball in the past, but was now tied to this store. We were her only customers while we were there, so it seemed like days could get long, waiting for passing motorists to stop in. We bought some Black Cherry cider. It was very good. She consented to let us take her picture in front of the store as we departed.

This is one of the many Magnolia trees on the grounds of the Magnolia Plantation outside Charleston, SC. After taking a number of photos on these beautiful grounds and gardens we returned to US 17 and continued on this Tuesday morning, May 10, on our journey on down the South Carolina coast towards Savannah, Georgia.

This is the entrance to one of the oldest plantations in South Carolina, the "Magnolia Plantation," located about 10 miles west of Charleston. We drove in and then out, not stopping. We did have our first close look at a Magnolia tree.

Tuesday, May 10, before leaving the area of Charleston, SC, after departing our hotel that morning we followed some road signs directing us to some historic, old plantations that are open to the public. We drove through the grounds of two of these lovely places, but decided not to stop and pay for a tour. It really was a brief look into the type of life experienced by pre-civil war Southern aristocracy. We wish we could have taken more time to see it.

Monday, May 9, after a short visit to the beach at Wilmington, NC we continued our journey, south, on US 17, crossing into South Carolina. We drove through the famous summer resort city of Myrtle Beach with its miles of ocean front hotels, restaurants and other attractions, but didn't stop until we were on the outskirts and found this seafood restaurant called "Saltwater Oak," with its great oak tree covered with our first sight of Spanish moss. A group of women were gathered in the establishment for lunch and board games (Cribbage? - we didn't know). We had a nice meal and then continued on down the beautiful coastline of South Carolina, finally stopping for the night in Charleston.