Moving South

After we left Tuscaloosa, we traveled to West KOA in New Orleans.  It is located in a residential area, nice park but not much scenery.  I would recommend this park if you like: cramped sites, low hanging wires (I hit some at 13'6" that shouldn't happen) and you want to see N'Orleen. 

Uneventful trip the next day?  Well it rained, but we did make it to Gulf Coast RV Park in Beaumont, Tx.  Now this is a nice park!  Cheap (at $17 per night) with nice plots, wide streets and free continental breakfast.  The high light of our stay was the Beaumont Fire Museum.  Outside is a three story fire hydrant.  Inside are fire trucks from the 1800' up to today.  There was a 1909 LaFrance and many other pumpers, a hook and ladder that was converted from horse drawn to being pulled by a Model T.  We even spoke to the Chief in charge of training, Joe Condina.  He told us about the original chassis of the pumper that was sold for scrap to a gentleman in New York.  This fellow was retiring and donated the chassis back to the museum and they were diligently working on restoring it to it's 1920's glory.  We hope they are successful in getting it ready soon, it will be a highlight of the museum!

After our time spent at Gulf Coast, we mad our way to Corpus Christi Naval Air Station.  Got in here on Thanksgiving day.  Almost nothing open but did manage to find dinner at the local Cracker Barrel.  Turkey, stuffing, corn, beans and pumpkin pie - what more could you ask for?  Went to Padre Island and then had lunch at Doc's Seafood on Friday.  Padre Island is a haven for the seven species of sea turtles that live in the Gulf.  There is a visitors center and in the summer I'm sure there is a lot of activity but on the day after Thanksgiving we almost had the place to ourselves.  I obtained a soda at the snack shop and as we were sitting a a picnic table a gentleman came over and asked if we belonged to GWRRA.  Well I had my Chapter B hat on so of course he said.  Seems he just joined Texas Chapter O in Austin.  They had just joined and were having fun riding their '08 Wing with their chapter.   Ride safe!

Our highlight here though was the visit to the USS Lexington, a WWII era aircraft carrier.  Lots and lots of climbing up and down the gang ways.  More on this in the next session - with lots of pictures!