Finally, a nice day!

Sun. Feb. 6: This was a really nice day. It was clear overnight and got down to 30°. But we stayed cozy. It warmed up quickly and by the time we enjoyed scrambled eggs with sausage pieces we were ready to get the bikes out again and finally check out the Tammany Trace Bike Trail. It was voted the best Bike Trail in Louisiana and runs right through the State Park. We rode east into the wind which made the 54° feel a bit cooler. We thought we’d ride for about half an hour and then come back. Part way down, and still within the State Park, we crossed Camp Road 3 and decided to take it and explore a little bit off trail. It led to a really pretty retreat center on a bayou that looked like it would usually have ‘gators in it, but not on a day this cool. There was a group in the center so we didn’t look inside but we went out on the dock on the bayou and enjoyed the sunshine. Back on the trace, we continued our ride until it seemed time to turn around. It was easier returning with the wind to our backs and we were each down to just one shirt and plenty warm in the sunshine. We stopped in the Visitor Center to talk to Grayhawk Perkins again and see if he knew Matt Hubbard. He thinks he met him while working with Willie Nelson, just as we thought might be the case. I also remembered to ask him what makes the loud “clicking” we hear from the swamp when the temperature rises into the fifties. He told us it is the “Bronze Frog”. We ate a quick wrap sandwich back at the camper and then jumped in the truck to drive to Slidell, where they were holding the first Mardi Gras parade of the year. Since Mardi Gras is so late this year (March 8) we were really lucky that the Krewe of Claude was getting a jump on the season! Without really knowing how we would accomplish it, we managed to drive straight in to one of the main corners along the route, parked at a shopping center, and took our place along the curb in our chairs. An hour later, after sitting in the 60° sun enough to feel it on our cheeks, and watching the street party atmosphere all around, the parade reached us. After most of the Slidell police force in cars or on horse or motorcycle came every limousine service, public school, and cheerleading/dance team in town made an appearance. There was a royal court and many representatives from the local Classic Car Club. There were at least 6 floats throwing loads of necklaces, bags of peanuts, Frisbees, stuffed animals, and other trinkets. The majority of the participants were African-American but the Choctaw and Houma Native background of this area was readily apparent in both the faces and the costumes. I got so many necklaces that they were uncomfortably heavy around my neck. All in all, it was a very satisfactory and charmingly small-town parade! On our way back to the campsite we stopped for McDonald’s ice cream and then went to see the eagles’ nest at the State Park. Didn’t see any eagles, but that’s okay. We wanted to stop by and see Ray and Chip at their campsite before the Super Bowl so we ran over there quickly. The camper is the most luxurious one we’ve see, with three big pullouts which make a 10 or 12 foot living area with a large screen TV! It’s the Taj Mahal to our little Trail Manor, I guess. It was nice to meet Chip’s wife, Pat, and Ray’s wife, Leah. After chatting for a few minutes we returned and decided not to go into town to watch the Big Game, and just watched in the camper. It was fun to keep track of people’s comments on Facebook about the game and its commercials as we watched the Packers pull out their 31-25 victory over the Steelers. It was a really good game and it was nice not to care too much who won the game. The night finished with a new Glee, and a few chores to get ready to leave Louisiana tomorrow. The worst thing about today was talking to Sarah throughout the day and finding that Analyn just can't seem to wean from the oxygen that they are giving her and keep her blood levels above 90 on her own. She does alright while awake and nursing, but once she's asleep the levels go down to 88 or so. So although everything else looks pretty good, they remain at the hospital until that improves. Aunt Jen is now in Indianapolis to help out with the boys, thank goodness! When will this long nightmare end for them?