"CRASH ON THE LEVEE, MAMA..."

Oh I am going to race through this post. I want to get to bed early so that I can go on another adventure. This time "Up the Country" from the Florida panhandle and into Alabama and then landing on a Georgia farm. Say what? What happened to Texas Patt?

YOU AIN"T GOIN' NOWHERE SON. THAT ROAD IS CLOSED.

Well, after a few days of rain - and I mean RAIN in San Antonio I went up near to Austin to an old town by the name of Bastrop. I had a great stay with a host couple and their 15 year old daughter. I never did get into Austin and was lucky to get to Bastrop as the rains and flash floods were something not to mess with at all. The entrances to the highways were blocked by police just trying to get out of San Antonio not to mention those poor people that died in Houston. When it comes to weather just know and accept Mother Nature has total control so be smart, cautious, patient and flexible.

Jullia, Tom and Abby really were great. Julia toured me around the day I arrived and the next day when everyone was busy with their lives I explored  Bastrop's streets and art scene including the foundry. Here are some pics.

During a dry moment I headed down and over to, and right on through Houston staying on the interstate the entire way. It was a long drive to north of Baton Rouge. I was heading to hosts with a home that they call Serenity Cottage. Some cottage! It has several huge rooms. I had the great privilege to be assigned to the SUNRISE ROOM.

The lads were WONDERFUL and so much fun. And so were their friends and all the critters. Brett and Darin AIRBnB out a couple of the bedrooms. Luckily (for me) no one booked the SUNRISE ROOM.

Now... let's talk about southern hospitality and LOUISIANA COOKIN'. Heaven - this must be heaven, except for my ever expanding waistline that is. GUMBO with Slap Ya Mama, craw-fish and crab pie and oh... add some cream and get cha self some pasta. And then there were those perfect half fried half poached eggs in the morning. I had to get out of there before I grew out of all my clothes. I HAD A BLAST. I wanted to hug all of them forever. If you need a place to stay in Louisiana you can find them on AIRBnB.

After Slaughter, LA I drove to New Orleans and that is another story. My friend Linda's niece heard that I needed a place and had pity on me having camped in Texas in a wind storm. She had points for hotels and booked me a hotel room. When I got the email confirmation of a comped room my mouth dropped open. The room was in the WESTIN by the French Quarter. REALLY? And when I checked in they upgraded me for no apparent reason to a river view. THANK YOU ANGELS. This was more than perfect as what I wanted to do in town was to see my friend Angela who I know from Buenos Aires. Her apartment is n the French Quarter. She gave me a lovely late afternoon tour of the area and it was fantastic to catch up on things.

THANK YOU BETHANY!!!!!!

The next day was another drive this time to the Florida panhandle where I am now typing as fast as I can. I have been staying with Joe and he too cooked for me. He is a master of smokers and he had a beef brisket waiting for me when I arrived. I don't want to take a full length photo or get on a scale for quite awhile. Tonight we went out for sushi, then pecan pie and ice cream. I AM NO LONGER TRAVELING LIGHT!

On that note I must get to sleep. I have to because all the blood from my brain has been diverted to my digestive system. I have no more cerebral power. I am done.

ABRUPT BUT NECESSARY... Here's some Dylan and THE BAND for your listening pleasure...

Crash on the levee, mama, water's gonna overflow...