We were supposed to have a rental car on Saturday, but the emergency room visit put paid to that one, as the rental car office closed at noon.
Our new contacts from the Loopers Site, Al and Kaye, very generously offered to come and pick us up and then drop us back.
Al appeared around 9am to drive us across the causeway that goes right across the middle of Lake Ponchartrain to the north, exiting at Mandeville. We then turned north again to get to Madisonville.
This is taken from a high point on the causeway which is an approx. 25 mile highway across the lake, North/South. Originally it was just one bridge...built somewhere around 1965, and then the second bridge was built in the early 1970's. They are now two lanes going each way. The high points are to allow tall boats to get under the bridges, of course, otherwise the road isnt that far off the water.
Al told that parts of the bridge had been wiped out during Hurrucane Katrina, but whole sections are sitting around as replacement 'parts' to be dropped unto place. It is quite phenomenal.
I almost forgot to take these photos, were were enjoying chatting to Al, along the way.
It is a little challenging choosing which photos to put in here, I took so many, and there were way too many boats to photograph, not to mention the food! yes the food!!
Folks were so generous in describing the 'local' food to me when I stuck my head into things and asked people what they were eating. One of the chefs gave me a sample of his crawfish sauce especially:) YUM! wow! blew my socks off...well, it would have if I had worn them!
We arrived at Al and Kayes boat, a Marine Trader 47ft trawler, currently docked in the Marina Del Ray, Madisonville. She is a 1988 model, spacious inside and immaculate!
They had been to the Festival on saturday and tied up at this lovely home on the dock to the far left, which includes a green house for the owner's orchids:)
The greenhouse right next to the pontoon boat. Our dinghy was on the right(out if sight)
Waz with Kaye and Alan just after stepping off the dinghy.
The owner of the property is a keen gardener, and her imaginative plantings etc are all over the property. Take a look at these monkeys in the large oak tree!
...and just out front of the Gazebo are these two old lovelies.
...and then just on the next dock down...these old lovelies...
..and this one in particular. All are beautifully restored and are truly the pride and joy of the owners.
This quartet were singing Sea Shanties:)
Boats rafted together on the opposite side of the Tchefuncte (chee funk ta ) River where the festival is held. Huge crowds, many in boats and other forms of water transport.
Remember I told you about our neighbors here at the marina? Well, this is the boat 'Big Fish' with the partners sitting on the back. They are due back next door early this week.
A lot of these photos were taken from Al and Kaye's dinghy, which we four piled into to get to the festival. Better than cars, any day:)
They were demonstrating these things all day..I would LOVE to try them:)
A gorgeous Chris Craft. They are classics!
The food was VERY interesting. Lots of things we had never seen before. We didnt try this one...though they looked great! I did talk to the Filipina couple...former CPA's (Accountants)... who were making the chicken on a stick, and they showed me how they make it. All fried, of course:)
Dredge the chicken on sticks in well seasoned (read...cajun) flour and spices..dust off excess flour
dip them in egg wash
then put them back in the flour mix and cover again
then toss them in the deep fryer..yum!
One of the lovely southern homes that is now a restaurant along Water Street, Madisonville.
Al eating a roll filled with onions, peppers and meat of some kind...possibly a sausage.
The parade of boats began...all were dressed for the occassion, as you can see:)
This boat is a 1904 US Navy Cutter that is being restored by one of our neighbors, Alex Elworth. She is stunning tongue in groove on the inside. We were told she would be ready to roll within 6 months. She is a wee way from being finished.
Love the name...it is like something my middle son would name his boat:)
the artwork was typical NOLA
This boat owner had the right idea...it was VERY hot and humid, until you got down to the river where the breeze was.
There was a very festive air down on the river.
The buns are for the Muffalato
Another of Alex Elsworth's beautiful restored boats. He has 6 apparently.
Jambalaya is just Louisiana style fried rice, lol.
HUGE smoking machines for the various meats on offer
Hush Puppies....corn bread fried balls...we didnt get too enthused over them, but they are everywhere here and a staple.
The Festival King and Queen heading up the parade
How good does THIS sound? the fellow manning this store was from Germany. He has been in NZ and has a sister living there:)
We just didnt have room for all the fab. food on offer..wish we had:)
After the parade, the boats (each group were given the same materials to build their boats) were taken down to the swing bridge and launched. Some didnt make it too far, and there was much bailing going on:)
This boat/group were known as 'Pelican Dynasty', a micky taking on the popular TV show 'Duck Dynasty'...they eventually sank!:) Lots of fun and silliness.
The boats are just coming back into the marina as I write, and we went out to meet Solitaire owner Alex Elsworth. He is very proud of how his boats did in the festival competition. Mascot won best of show on the water, and his 1904 cutter won best of show boat on land. He just said he will christen that Cutter when she is finished, then wrap her in cottonwool and warehouse her. She is a bit too precious to have on the water for any length of time.
He tells the story of confounding a Navy Admiral with the fact that there was such a thing as a Navy Cutter. the Admiral swore up and down that wasnt possible..until Alex showed him the photos. He was blown away...obviously didnt know ALL his Navy history!
Well folks..it is lunch time, so I will stop here.
Time to sit out in the warmth and shade and read for a bit. We may be needed to help tie up some of the returning boats, too.
Ciao for now
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