keepingupwithkyla

[keepingupwithkyla]

Monday, 10/23/23

So, we were going to try to see if anyone at the Amtrak station in Jackson could help Marianne change her itinerary or at least allow her to board the train in Jackson with her bike instead of traveling back to NOLA. The website said it opened at 8:15. We got there at 8:45. Terrible part of town. The sign said it didn’t open until 10:45.

We knew that we couldn’t wait until then and still make it to NOLA for her departure. So we stopped and got some food, got some coffee and headed south. As we were nearing NOLA on I-55, (almost 3 hours later) it was real “foggy” or “smoky”. Then we were rerouted because it said there were closures on I-55.

Once we got on I-10, people were driving like crazy. I couldn’t wait to get off the expressway, but downtown NOLA is scary too.

Got Marianne dropped off and turns out the on ramp was RIGHT THERE. I didn’t have to backtrack. Woo hoo.

Marianne texted to tell me that the closure on I-55 was a 158 car pileup due to the morning fog. And 7 people were killed. We could have been in that. Wow.

I had an uneventful trip home on I-10.

[keepingupwithkyla]

Sunday, 10/22/23

We got up at our leisure. We were going to find the Chisha-Foca Multiuse Trail - the part of the Natchez Trace Trail that is not open to traffic.

We drove over to the reservoir overlook and parked. We headed out on the trail. It had Weee’s and Wup’s. It had curves and stop signs. It had ruts and benches. It did NOT have any POIs. We tried making some. No dice. The only thing that made it interesting was trying to avoid the ruts in the path. The Mississippi peeps could take a page out of the Tammany Trace peeps maintenance.

We road 10 miles then stopped for a snack. Little did we know that the trail ended at mile 10.7. Haha. We turned around.

We did find Brashear’s Stand - a little POI with a section of Sunken Trace right near the parking lot.

After we racked the bikes, we found a restaurant near to our location that was ON THE WATER. It was on the Barnett Reservoir. We sat outside because 1) it was a beautiful day and 2) there was live music and it was really loud.

After we ate, we rode our bikes around the reservoir, assuming to our mileage.

Got back to the hotel and grabbed a beer and headed outside to sit on the “patio” to enjoy the weather.

We didn’t need to go out to dinner, since we had our lunch leftovers. Had to go to the lobby to heat them.

Showered, chilled and watched SNF.

[keepingupwithkyla]

Saturday, 10/21/23

Well, the day didn’t start out very well. Dinner the night before included oysters for Marianne. They were cooked and yet she got violently ill from eating them. She had an over four hour, siege of illness. Both ends. There were times she was just laying on the floor in the bathroom. She was still a little green around the gills when the day started.

We packed up the car and we headed out of Slidell. Headed for Natchez. There was supposedly a balloon festival happening in Natchez. We got there right around noon. We found a parking spot relatively close to the event area and we made our way over to the entrance gate.

We paid the $35 entrance fee. There was a carnival, food vendors, a band and lots of people but no balloons. The balloons weren’t even taking off from this location. Some other place and flying over here. We found out it might be around 4pm.

It was a rather picturesque location on the bluffs of the Mississippi River. We toured the Rosalie Mansion, historic spot at the park.

We decided NOT to wait for the balloons and headed out.  we drove the Natchez trace trail. 100 miles from Natchez to Jackson. We stopped at all the historical markers. The road is a regular car road with no shoulder. 50 mph is the speed limit. No trucks allowed. Bikes can use the whole road. I’m glad we were driving and not biking. We only saw one pair of bicyclists and they were on the wrong side of the road. Ugh.

We made it to Ridgeland. Wrong hotel. We went to Madison. Better location, better hotel. We were able to walk to a restaurant for dinner. Then chilling at the hotel.

[keepingupwithkyla]

Palmetto’s on the Bayou

[keepingupwithkyla]

Friday, 10/20/23

This hotel only serve breakfast until nine. We didn’t wake up till 7:40 AM and lounge for about an hour. We realized we needed to be feet if we wanted to get a little breakfast.

We were able to ride our bikes to the Slidell trailhead and didn’t need the car.

Made it in the trail. Long and boring. Nothing but flat trail. We decided we would stop on bridges and see if there was wildlife. There was a drawbridge. Turns out the drawbridge goes up and stays up sun down to sun up and the path is non-navigable. Note to self: be back before 6 pm. We stopped in Lacombe to try and get food. No dice. Marianne got some smoked salmon dip, crackers and some shrimp jerky. I passed. Powerade only.

Back on the path we decided we would diverge at Fountainbleu State Park. It would be a pity stop and we would see the lake. It was magnificent.

Turned around and headed back.

Got the room and had a beer. Then showered. Then headed to Palmetto’s on the Bayou for dinner. A LOVELY place with good food. I had shrimp and grits. Marianne had chargrilled oysters. Beautiful setting (even though we had to sit inside).

Back to hotel by 7. Researching tomorrow.

[keepingupwithkyla]

Thursday, 10/19/23

We lounged around the hotel room because we didn’t need to get out early. One of our early stops was going to be at the Abita Springs brewery and they didn’t open till 11. So, we actually got on the road about 1030. We had to drive from our hotel to the trail head. we stopped at the visitor center and learned a little about Covington. Then we started on the trail and stopped at a historic hardware store. THEN, we really hit the trail. FLAT and even. Nice trail.

We got to Abita Springs and realized we went PAST the brewery. We turned around. We went in and shared a flight. Then we got back on the trail and stopped at the taproom in town and had lunch. Then we kept going on the trail, stopped in a few little towns. We made it to Mandeville Louisiana, where we stopped for iced coffee.

We turned around just beyond that.

Uneventful ride back. Total mileage was about 32 miles.

We racked the bikes and drove to Slidell and our new hotel for 2 nights. I absolutely had to shower. 

While I was in the shower, Marianne realized that she had left clothes at the hotel in Covington. So, she called them, and they, indeed had her clothes. So once we were showered and cleaned up, we drove back to Covington, my nemesis, and we retrieved her clothes. Then we stopped at a local oyster bar for dinner. Just had a couple appetizers.

Back to Slidell to relax and bed (it was almost 10 when we got back.).

[keepingupwithkyla]

Wednesday, 10/18/23

I was packing and planning to leave after lunch to head to NOLA to retrieve Marianne. She texted me to say they were arriving 2 hours early. Yikes

I jumped in my car and headed out. 4.5 hours later I arrived in the heart of NOLA. By the Superdlme where the Amtrak station was.

We loaded up and then headed to Covington. We crossed Lake Ponchartrain on the bridge. Wow. Long bridge.

Easy check in to hotel. Settled in and went in search of food.

[keepingupwithkyla]

Atlanta Brick Con

Went with Tom up to Atlanta to a LEGO convention where he is an exhibitor. Just documenting the beginning of the year of traveling with LEGO!!

[keepingupwithkyla]

Dinner w/ Kathy & Steve

We went to the newly expanded and remodeled Nobel House in Geneva. 2+ hour dinner. Had to get caught up. Love hanging with them.

[keepingupwithkyla]

Tuesday (6/14/22)

Flag Day

Up early. Eye doctor appt at 8, after I stopped at Herb’s. Oh yeah!! Had a great visit with Dr Myers.

Then back to the house. Chilled. Did some HR Green work. Haircut at 2:45. Kelly did NOT have to shave my head!!

Off to Thrivent office to drop off some paperwork the. Dinner with Kathy & Steve.

[keepingupwithkyla]

Arrived alive

We got to Christoffer’s house at 4:30. We emptied the car. Mary Gorecki was over at her daughter’s house (across the wetland) and they walked over to say hi. It started looking yellow and scary outside. They decided they better scurry. They got back to Amy’s house just in time for a tornadic weather event to strike. It lasted about 20 minutes and was crazy. No damage.

We went to the grocery store when the rain stopped. Then just chilled. GBM was kind of a bust. It was just Sweem and Christoffer (Buffet had to go in because of storm damage). I tasted a few.

Showered and bed!

[keepingupwithkyla]

Alabama

And just like that. We are in Alabama!! We are stopping in Franklin, TN tonight to see Martha and Al Segal.

[keepingupwithkyla]

It’s 920 miles to C’ville, we’ve got a full tank, half pack of cigarettes, it’s sunny out and we’re not wearing sunglasses. Hit it.

[keepingupwithkyla]

4/11/22 all good things must end

We got to the airport lickety split. Quickly thru all the nonsense. Got to our gate. Was going to grab a bite. NOTHING was open. Oh well. Grab a wrap to share and I’ll eat my apple.

I had such fun. Great sense of peace when I’m with C&L. We learned a new game and had fun with that. I don’t need entertainment, just relaxation. And it was very relaxing.

But, all good things must end. No sense in staying there, C&L are leaving too. And we can chill and swim in the pool at OUR house. 🤣

Till next time………..

[keepingupwithkyla]

“You have to hurry up and do nothing so you can relax.” ~Lisa talking about my retired life.

[keepingupwithkyla]

4/10/22 Last full Phoenix day

We decided that today would be a STAY HOME AND CHILL DAY (Lisa had a cold when we got here and it only got worse and the weekend progressed). So, we started the day with a walk around the neighborhoods in a new quest. It ended up being 3.2 miles!!

Then we came home and got ready for the pool. We literally spent the WHOLE DAY by the pool. We took a break around 11:30 to grill some burgers and have lunch.

As the burgers were cooking, Lisa and I were floating in the pool. Today was the first day that I didn’t ask if the skimmer was checked before we got in. So I was looking in there and saw something bobbing. It looked like a big shiny leaf. Going around and up and down. Lisa got out to examine it. She lifted the basket and screamed that it was a RAT!! I jumped out of the pool. I didn’t want it coming out of the skimmer back at me. Tom came to examine and assist. It was definitely dead and it wasn’t a rat, it was a baby bunny. Tom disposed of the body and we proceeded to lunch.

More pool time. More great conversation and laughing. Colby and I ran to the PO to mail a couple cards (his bday card and Kathy and Steve’s anniversary). We grabbed some things to snack on and got gas. Back to the pool.

Finally got out and came into shower after 6 PM!!

Then chilling and playing cards.

[keepingupwithkyla]