12/7/14 Heading to Pass Christian

It was a very quiet night at the Hammond Camping World.  I wanted to get out of there before they opened as they're pretty iffy on the overnight parking thing so I didn't want to be seen as abusing it.  When I had asked the night before they said "No" initially.  I think the gal only relented because it was 15 minutes prior to closing, it was dark, and I probably looked exhausted.  So I thought lingering would be a bit rude. Thank god they open at 10 am on Sundays. :-)

Leaving the store I came upon this scene right before the entrance to I-10. Since I didn't feel like sitting waiting for this, and the detour took me by Cracker Barrel, I stopped for pancakes. :-)


12/7/2014 8:16:30 AM

I continued on I-10 to the MS State line.  They have a really nice welcome center, and the Infinity Science Center, an annex of NASAs Stennis Space Center, nearby. Unfortunately that was closed on Sunday so I guess I'll catch it next time. I got onto highway 90 and drove through Waveland and Bay St. Louis before ending up in Pass Christian MS.  I had read of a place you could park for 1 night right next to the beach.  Wow. Just wow.  These beaches are incredible.



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I found this little gal on the beach. She was still alive, but barely, claws waving feebly.


12/7/2014 12:20:44 PM

I flipped her over and then put her back in the water.  Unfortunately she didn't make it.


12/7/2014 12:21:27 PM

Big firepit on the beach. You need a permit to use it.



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12/7/2014 1:05:45 PM

This pier belonged to a multi million dollar mansion across the street from the beach.  There is apparently some $$ in this town.



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12/7/2014 1:16:19 PM

One of the mansions.



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The sunset was just incredible.



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Sunset in Pass Christian. Unedited. straight out of the camera. (Olympus)
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Sunset in Pass Christian. Unedited. straight out of the camera. (Olympus)
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12/6/14 Leaving LA

Well, I thought maybe I might leave Louisiana behind today but I didn't get as early of a start as I wanted. The times on these pics are all off by an hour, I keep forgetting to change the time on the camera. I didn't sleep as well as I might have, I kept waking up thinking I was sinking in the sand :-)  I didn't. And when I got up, visibility was like 100' in fog and rain. I didn't want to stay but I didn't want to drive in that either.  I made coffee and played solitaire for a bit, then decided it had lifted enough to drive.  I was bummed as some parts of the drive looked like they were probably gorgeous. I may never know.

At least it cleared up a bit when I got to the Cameron Ferry.  It's a real short ride, under 5 minutes.  But since I had just missed one it was almost half an hour.

 There was a big parking area that looked like it might be a good ONP spot.

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He looked bored too
12/6/2014 10:10:50 AM


Even tractor trailers ride on it.

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12/6/2014 10:18:33 AM

I continued along LA 82, I was headed for Abbeville & Shucks!, reputed to be a fabulous cajun seafood place.


I had crossed a few drawbridges along the way, but ended up having to wait for this one.
12/6/2014 12:04:13 PM


It was a swing bridge.
12/6/2014 12:04:25 PM

I arrived at Shucks and had a bit of difficulty finding a parking spot as I expected on a Sat afternoon, but I found one.  The food was really good. I got a fried seafood platter which had oysters, shrimp, catfish, stuffed crab & stuffed shrimp along with grilled red potatoes. I'm usually only good for about 2 oysters, but these were small & crisp and I ate them all.  The shrimp were the best though.

After eating, I started planning the night's stopping point. I dialed in the Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge.  Of course, when I got about 15 mi out, I wasn't ready to stop yet. I pressed on, and saw signs for Camping World in Hammond. I remembered reading that they allowed ONP so I got off there. I missed the turn for CW first, it's kind of hidden behind a gas station. I circled around and got there right before closing. I went in and asked the gal at the desk and at first she said no, they didn't. But then all of a sudden she said if there was a delivery spot open I could park there. I asked what that might be, and it turned out to be one of a few concrete pads with electric. I figured, what the hell, and asked if I could use the electric too. :-)  They said yes!!  Woo hoo! One of the guys even told me to make sure the breakers were on.  After my miserable time at CW in AZ, this may redeem them. I know it's sure nice to have a night where I could update the blog and surf without wondering how much power I was using.  And even if I have to get out of here at the crack of dawn, I'll survive.