Alabama

We are currently in the eastern portion of Alabama.  Our goal is Charleston, SC where we hope to chill for a while.  Actually the terrain of this part of Alabama is very different from the Mississippi Delta which is very flat (perfect for growing cotton).  This part of Alabama has rolling hills dotted by forests of pine trees.  Spring has sprung here as the trees are budding.  It's good to see.

Just before we retired to our comfy bed, I took this pic of the full moon.  It looks a little spooky.

Memphis

Greetings from the mid-south.  Last evening, we enjoyed some of the famous Memphis sites.   The famous Memphis bridge, dinner at Rendezvous  followed by music on Beale Street. 
Since we lived here for 4 1/2 years, we also had the opportunity to visit some friends which was an added bonus.  Missy and Steve hosted a get together consisting of many TKE co-workers of hub.  It was a fabulous evening.  Katchen got to visit Robert, Maggie and Dwayne.  What a treat!

New Orleans...

...from a bridge.  We had a lovely time!  We are in the middle of a cross country trip we have looked forward to for many years.  We left our home in West Linn, OR on February 4, and have traveled about 5000 miles so far. 

Incredible architecture....

We were in New Orleans many years ago so have looked forward to visiting the big easy for quite a while.  It did not disappoint.  We ate some fabulous food, saw some beautiful homes, some residual Katrina ruins and of course....the French Quarter.

....in the Garden District.

Entertainment...

...in the French Quarter.  Below is just a few examples of the street entertainment. 

Breakfast

Beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe Du Monde.....

Awesome buildings...

The old buildings in the French Quarter were surprisingly in tact after hurricane Katrina!  As you can see, I just couldn't resist shooting endless photos.  It is still a magical city.

Signs, trolley,s and more

The French Quarter is unique to say the least....

Wierd signs, horns sitting in the street, a

horse drawn carriage, a very old, but fully

operational trolley and a sign promising

great gumbo (it delivered)!

Swamp tour

We spent a cloudy, rainy day cruising in a flat-bottomed boat on what is called a Swamp Tour of Honey Island in Slidell, LA.  We were promised views of several critters including alligators, but were told it was too cold for the alligators to show themselves.  We saw several water birds and a captive alligator when we returned to the office.

We also saw a bit of damage left over from hurricane Katrina.

Apache Junction

We enjoyed a Harley ride to Apache Junction where we first visited a ghost town, then traveled to the end of the road (Yes!  It was closed due to rain...in Arizona) where there was a lake.  It was a great ride.

The smell of the fresh cinnamon rolls was too good to pass up, so we enjoyed them with Superstition Mountain as a backdrop.

Arizona...

On the way to Phoenix.   I was surprised (not too sure why) to see such an active presence of the Border Patrol.  We were stopped on several occasions and asked if anyone was riding in our trailer. 
Arizona is rocky, desert-like and with an occasional cactus thrown in for good measure.  We also ran into some really nasty weather...rain, cold and yes...some snow.  Go figure.
Check out some of the nasty clouds in the pics below.   Sunny Arizona.....NOT!!!

Mellow Johnny's

YES!!!!!  Because of a rainy day in San Antonio, we were at a loss for indoor activities.   So, we decided to drive 75 miles to Austin, Texas, to visit Mellow Johnny's.  So you say....what the heck is Mellow Johnny's?  It is a bicycle store in Austin partially owned by LANCE ARMSTRONG!  I have to admit it was more my idea than hub's, but he kindly indulged me.  It was quite a thrill and I bought a T-shirt.  Hub even bought a hat.
I admit to being quite a fan on Lance Armstrong and fully support his ongoing Livestrong fight against cancer. 

The way to San Antonio....

......it pretty much looked  allthe same.  Mountains in the distance, trains carrying freight speeding by, windmills trying to generate electricity and dry, arid conditions.  We were always happy to find a bit of civilization.