Yesterday we went down to the Gulf of Mexico to check out the route. The departure point will be near the Silver Slipper Casino and behind that is a whole pile of fishing boats. At the boats we met Nicole and Mike who were very friendly and very helpful. It is easy, just head west, go under the big railway bridge and keep going until you hit the next big bridge. Can’t go wrong really.

To get to the Gulf you go through a lot of bayou country. Everywhere there is still evidence of Hurricane Katrina. Even around the coast at Pass Christian there are still lots of blocks facing the water where they have not rebuilt, just concrete driveways to nowhere. A block costs $350k and the houses are huge.

These are on the edge of the lake. They are all new and the gaps are where nothing has been done since Katrina

We awoke this morning to a pea souper and no life jacket so fixed the leak on our taps, bought a life jacket and explored the route through the city.

This from Lake Ponchartrain heading into the city

 The other side of the levee. We go this way.

Klaas giving directions from the levee

A bit further on Klaas and Connor

Buskers on our route

The Mississippi. See why I didn’t want to be in the Gulf in this?

Waiting to get back from the river to meet Klaas. 12 minutes to go past!

Better luck tomorrow we hope.

 Klaas

Hi. Greetings from the great Satan. New Orleans’s French Quarter is still very much alive and swinging with narrow streets and clap board houses all painted in different colours and bars every ten metres with jazz being played everywhere. Just as I remember when I first visited in 1948 as a sailor. The city is modern but the suburbs very greatly . Lots of beggars on the streets and slums with dead cars and rubbish everywhere. The houses are totally different to what we know. Yesterday we went down to the Gulf of Mexico to sash out the site for launching the great paddler and had a nice time seeing how the other half lives. Huge mansions, all new or build during the last ten years because hurricane Katrina flattened the lot. Literary blew them away. A lot of roads are still looking like a war zone, with pot holes and debris in various parts of New Orleans. The place we picked to launch is called Pass Christian and is in the state of Mississippi, having driven through Louisiana. After we launch the great master, Connor and I are taking a boat trip through the mighty Bayou to see some Alligators that inhabit this place. “Gators” as the locals call them. I hope Steve can paddle fast. Regards. Klaas.,