South Shore, North Shore and Pontchartrain

Friday, 7 a.m. and  Bill was hauling laundry to the wash house at Bayou Segnette State Park.  Free wash and dry is good any time you can get it.  Besides we had to wait for Larry and Gail to wake up, which they did about 9 a.m.  By 10 a.m. we were off across Lake Pontchartrain to the North Shore.

This is the Huey P Long Bridge that crosses the Mississippi River just west of the State Park.


The State Park on the South Shore of Lake Pontchartrain is 45 miles from Abita Springs RV Resort on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain and 24 miles of it is the Causeway Bridge over water. I thought the bridge was creepy.  I would have felt a lot better crossing this lake in a boat.

Not to worry....we'll be very careful.




















 Lake Pontchartrain is 60 miles east to west and 24 miles north to south.  The deepest spot somewhere out there is 65 feet deep.  I also read the deepest is 25 feet.  So somewhere in there is the actual depth..  The average depth is 10-15 feet and many areas are as shallow as 5 feet.

What was creepy was driving for 24 miles and not seeing land.  There was fog also this day so visibility was also limited.

 I was very happy to see land.  A little twilighty zoneish out there surrounded by blue and fog.

Arrived at Abita Springs RV Resort in the pouring rain.  The rain finally stopped and the rest of the day was rainless but cloudy.  We even had dinner outside by the campfire.  It was a nice evening.

Nice fishing lake at the resort.

We were each given a free week at the park in exchange for a little arm bending for "buy in as a member".  Not likely to happen.  Ocean Canyon Properties are part of the ROD system, except for this park.  We were curious about it so we agreed to visit.

 Another beautiful pool,
UNHEATED.  What is it back here?  No one uses the pool.  Like DUH!...Heat it up.  We're old man.  Our tickers can't take 60 degree water.

But the butterflies are cool.

The following morning was all you can eat pancakes and waffles for $3.99.  We ate too much but enjoyed it completely.  Afterwards we headed off to find out which WalMart had Bill's prescription.  There are three along a 7 mile stretch up Hwy 190.   We went to two and found it.

We heard about the Abita Brewery in Abita Springs so why not take the tour.  It's free too.

We went in for the 1 p.m. tour.  They gave each of us a 16 oz plastic glass and said "go pour your own beer".  If you don't like it then dump it and try something else.  Unbelievable.  The place was packed with 20 somethings.  Hey, free beer, all you want for about an hour and only a 5 minute interruption for a brief tour.

I tried the Christmas Ale and almost spit it back in the glass.  Ghastly.  The Light Amber was okay, the Root Beer was good but I had too much.  My stomach hurt later.  I don't usually do beer or carbonated drinks.  My bad.

So much to choose from.  A shame it tastes horrible for me.











The place was set up like a pub with a small gift shop.  Very pretty inside.

 Bill enjoying his beer, Larry enjoying his root beer.

Lots of paraphernalia and t-shirts.




Even the State of Louisiana in Abita bottle caps.

The tour was brief.



Dump all the hops, and stuff you make beer from into these cook vats, add boiling water and cook.

Move it all over to these vats.  Each holds about 32 barrels, or 9000 bottled beers.


The brewery goes 24/7

Bar opens for one last round.  Larry and Gail enjoy beer and root beer.  We go home.

Tonight was Western Night at the Park.  The Karaoke Bar was open, the dance floor was open, and we all danced.  Some people sang good, some didn't. Then the kids showed up.  We got tired and went home.

So ends day two on the North Shore.  Tomorrow is arm bending at noon.  Wanna place any bets?

Tune in later for an update.  :-)