April 9th - Lufkin, Texas to New Orleans, Louisiana

A drive of over 350 miles took us out of Texas and into Louisiana. We were sorry to leave Texas after six days travelling across from west to east. Wonderful wide open spaces and great scenery are how I will remember the state. We left Lufkin at 9am and drove on minor roads to the state border about 70 miles away. Once into Louisiana we headed more or less due east towards Baton Rouge and then New Orleans. We arrived at about 3.30pm.

We saw little damage remaining from the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, apart from large trees uprooted by the side of the Interstate 10, coming into New Orleans. The city is still not fully recovered from the storm and many areas are still uninhabitable.

Our hotel, the Omni Royal, is in the heart of the French Quarter. It is ideally located within a few minutes walk of both Bourbon Street, famous for its jazz and blues bars, and the banks of the Mississippi River. Large cargo ships were coming up the river from the Gulf as well as tourist paddle steamers docking at the River Walk quay.


In the evening we went to a local restaurant and then walked along Bourbon Street to see the live bands playing in the many bars.

The end of another very enjoyable day.