May 5 - Santa Monica!

Had a later start today and then found our way to 'Uncle Bill's Pancake House' in Manhattan Beach, for brekky.  They are an 'institution' in MB, known as the best pancake house in the district!

Today is also 'Cinco de Mayo' day and all Mexicans are celebrating!

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a celebration held on May 5. It is celebrated in the US and in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, where the holiday is called El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (English: The Day of the Battle of Puebla).

It originated with Mexican-American communities in the American West as a way to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War and today the date is observed in the United States as a celebration of thanks to Mexico in fending off would-be French support for the Confederate States of America in the Civil War. In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is generally mistaken to be Mexico's Independence Day —the most important national holiday in Mexico—which is celebrated on September 16.

We found ourselves driving through LA to Santa Monica to have a look around.  Parking was easily found and relatively inexpensive.  We walked down to the pier to see what was going on.

The Santa Monica pier is a large double-jointed pier located at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California, and is a prominent, 100-year-old landmark.  The pier contains Pacific Park, a family amusement park with a large Ferris wheel.  It also has a carousel from the 1920s, the Santa Monica pier Aquarium, shops, entertainers, a video arcade, a trapeze school, a pub and restaurants. The end of the pier is a popular location for anglers and has a great Mexican restaurant.

We enjoyed our walk around the pier, noting also the sign which states that the pier is the end of the famous 'Route 66' which runs from Chicago to LA (Santa Monica).  Also known as 'the Mother Road' because it encouraged trade and migration to the west.

I wanted to enjoy the view from the end of the pier and the Mexican restaurant had taquitos on its menu so in we went for beer and margaritas!  We were also given a string of black beads from Jose Cuervo for our efforts!

Party cakes in the local bakery!

Finished up with a walk around the downtown area before deciding that we should make our way back to our hotel and try to avoid the afternoon rush on the I-405.  5 lanes in either direction blocked and moving at a snail's pace - can you imagine it?  Not fun!

May 4th - Los Angeles, CA! Drive to Big Bear Mountain...

Decided to get out of the city this morning and drive to Big Bear Lake.  It's a city in San Bernardino County, about 2 hours drive from LA.  The south shore of Big Bear Lake is surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest.  We enjoyed the drive up (about 40 miles) although it was winding and warnings of rock slides.  I can see why the motorcyclists like the ride up the mountain!  The alpine trees would make a picturesque view in winter with all of the snow!  There were several opportunities to pull over at 'turnouts' and take photos.  We could see snow on the caps of the mountains.  Lots of wildflowers in bloom.

Big Bear Lake was inhabited by the indigenous Serrano Indians for over 2,000 years before it was explored by Benjamin Wilson and his party. Once populated by only the natives and the Grizzly bears, from which the area received its name, The population of the Big Bear Valley grew rapidly during the Southern California Gold Rush from 1861 to 1912. Grizzly bears were not found in the region after 1908. Today, there are black bears in the region since their introduction in 1933, and they are sometimes sighted in residential areas.

Big Bear is also a ski area and there are many resorts.  Hot springs were located and some hotels advertise access to them as part of their hotel package.  David had looked up on the internet places to eat and the Black Diamond Tavern came highly recommended.  We stopped in for a beer - Hanger 24 IPA and I had a Coors Light.  Food was excellent - David's Steak Salad was consumed in its entirety and I was served the most enormous plate of nachos I've ever seen!  

Next, we went to the Big Bear Alpine Zoo to have a look at some 'critters' and this zoo primarily offers injured, orphaned or imprinted wildlife temporary housing. 

This is a raven who fell out of the nest and was being attacked by the others when saved.  He's imprinted on humans now and will stay at the facility.  He was cute!

This lovely grizzly bear ate 8000lbs of a bee keeper's honey - and was about to be euthanized when the facility agreed to give him a new home.

This is one of three mountain lions who were rescued when they were cubs.  Mum was killed and they noticed she was lactating.  Followed her prints and located the den where there were the three little kittens.  They have been looked after at the facility and have been taken to numerous schools for educational purposes so that children can see the beauty in these wild cats.  Now of course, they are too big and I would say, dangerous, to be outside of their pen.  I wouldn't like to encounter one in the wild!

The drive back was 'interesting' in the Saturday afternoon LA interstate traffic!  David was alert all of the way.

  

May 3 - Flight from New Orleans to Los Angeles, California

Travel day today - had to be at the airport by 4.45am and the flight left at 6.45am.  Our flight wasn't full and just before take-off, the flight attendants asked if anyone wanted to move!  Have never been on a flight like it!  Consequently, we arrived in Dallas 15 minutes ahead of time!

We had to move terminals to catch the next flight to Los Angeles.  It was full, and luckily we had paid the extra for seat allocation, closer to the front.  Unfortunately, I had the aisle and David had the middle seat; and the lady who got the window wanted the blind closed.  She was also experiencing difficulties with her personal hygiene and very tired.  Poor David was very annoyed with her constant wriggling and bumping him!  Good news was that the flight arrived 25 minutes ahead of time!

Took the bus to the car rental and then to the hotel - they were great, allowed us to check in early!
We went for lunch at 'The Cheesecake Factory' - always delicious!  Bought some groceries and found we needed a 'nanna nap' because of the early start!  A good night's sleep was enjoyed by both of us!

May 2 - Gulfport to New Orleans, LA

We decided to drive along State Road 90 (US90) to get to New Orleans today.  It mainly runs along the shore line of the gulf of Mexico.  Firstly, we drove to the post office in Gulfport which was near the beach.  We had a look around the marina area and the beach.  It looked like a beautiful beach and the weather was sunny and warm so it all looked amazing!

As we drove along the 90, we noticed that there were no houses and very few trees in the first two blocks of land from the road.  Then occasionally were houses, but they were all built in a similar fashion - high up on stilts and the ground floor was fairly open, mainly being used for car parking.

Guess this is mainly because the hurricanes have decimated the front land areas and the rebuilding has been too costly because the home owners may not have been able to afford it.

It was an interesting drive.  We arrived at our hotel at St Rose, the airport suburb only about two minutes from New Orleans international airport.  Our flight leaves at 6.45am tomorrow and we have to be at the airport two hours before...  that will be an early start!

May 1st - Covington - Gulfport, LA

Only an hour's drive to Gulfport, today.  Looked at tripadvisor for information and ideas of touristy activities and found this one:  'IMMS - the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies'.

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (“IMMS”) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1984 for the purposes of public education, conservation, and research on marine mammals in the wild and under human care. Located in Gulfport, Mississippi, IMMS has been an active participant of the National Stranding Network since its inception. IMMS is the premier stranding organization in the Mississippi-Louisiana-Alabama region of the Gulf Coast with the capability and expertise to care for sick and injured marine mammals. IMMS serves as an important educational outlet for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, incorporating programs for conservation, education and research of marine mammals and their environment. 

We were able to book on-line for the 1.30pm tour, cost $10 per person.  

Firstly, we were taken into the auditorium to listen to 'Skipper', our tour guide who explained the mission of IMMS and their work especially with helping sick and/or injured marine mammals.  A large number of people are volunteers who are available 24/7.  They sound like passionate people who love their coastal environment.  Of course, the hurricanes of recent times, especially Katrina in 2005, have had a huge impact on the gulf waters.  We also were unaware that in 2012, the availability of food for the sea lion colonies was extremely limited, forcing many mother sea lions to abandon their babies. The IMMS retrieved many babies and nursed them, let them go and some became stranded again.  One baby, now at the centre, named Katie, became stranded 5 times so they decided that she should live permanently at the institute.  She is extremely gorgeous!

They also care for injured birds and we met Daisy, a white & pink coloured cockatoo who has worked with her trainer to show some awesome behaviours.  Next, we went into a room full of tanks and touch pools where we could see an albino catfish, a blue crab, a horseshoe crab, stingrays, snakes, baby turtles, brown bamboo banded sharks and my favourite, hermit crabs!

Skipper showed us his 'baby girl' - an albino Californian corn snake (named because their belly markings resemble a corn kernel) and he offered the kids a chance to pet her.

He took us outside to the dolphin pools - so exciting!  They care for 3 retired navy dolphins and a couple of stranded ones.  They have to be exercised and that is part of the training with behaviours.  A couple of the kids were invited to feed them.  A limited amount of opportunities exist each day for visitors to book a one-on-one experience with the dolphins, unfortunately, they were all booked out.  But we enjoyed seeing the dolphins none-the-less!

Katie, the sea lion...

Having finished at the IMMS, we went for a drive around town and then back to the hotel.  We asked the clerk if he could recommend a good place for dinner?  He referred us to the 'Half Shell Oyster House' on the shores of Gulfport.  We only had a short drive down to the town centre, not far from the gulf waters.  We had a delicious meal!

Wednesday 30 April - Gonzalez - Covington, LA (near Abita Springs)

A nice, slow start this morning.  Parts of Pensacola, Florida have had 15-20 inches overnight and there is flooding on the I-10.  Jim and Lesley have had some hold ups on the interstate.
We took our time driving across to Covington, went for a look in Cabela's Outdoor & Sporting store.

Met up with Jim and Lesley at the motel.  It had truck parking but it took Jim several attempts to get in to the carpark because it was a tight turn and there were cars parked making it difficult.  Of course, he eventually parked.  We got settled then jumped in the soul-train to get to Abita, to the brewery for the 2pm tour.

We were a tad early and the staff were still setting up so we looked around the visitors centre/bar/shop.  David had a go at what can only be described as a drinking? game - a ring on a string hanging from the ceiling.  On the wall, a wooden beer bottle.  Aim:  take the ring and swing it at the wall and get it over the neck of the bottle.  David did it in about 4 tries. (Beginner's Luck...)

Quite a few people arrived and so the 'tour' began before 2pm with the hostess, Christine, giving a general history of the brewery and the nature of their beer.

They then told us that we were going to line up at one end of the bar, walk through, grab a plastic cup and pull ourselves a beer!  They would have had about a dozen of their signature and seasonal beers on tap!  We were told we could have as many tastes as we wanted and just to keep lining up!  Bloody brilliant!  The host, Robert, soon realised that we were the 'party people' and he kept making jokes with us.  

David liked the Spring IPA and the Imperonator, the Amber and the SOS (Save Our Shores).  Jim liked them all!  Lesley and I like the Strawberry Ale.  I tried the Golden Ale and I also liked the Andygator.  Lesley tried the Purple Haze which has raspberry flavour added and she liked that too.  Just as well we were able to 'taste' because I would never in a million years have bought strawberry flavoured beer!  And now I'd buy a carton!!!  Thanks Dave for being the 'responsible adult' / sober driver for the day, because the three of us were near-on plastered after realising that the Andygator was 8.5%!!!

We drove about a kilometre into Abita Springs town and then went to the Abita Brewpub.  This was originally the location of the Brewhouse but they needed more space.  The Brewpub is now a restaurant.  It was 4pm and we were starving having not had time for lunch!

The food was fantastic - David had a Jumbalaya Ryan and I had the Fried Shrimp.  Lesley asked for the Pecan encrusted Catfish - it was huge but she loved it!  They have quite a decorative garden/entry area and we spent some time looking at all of the displays.  Best brewery tour day we've ever been on!

Driving back to our hotel, we saw a flock of Canada geese and they had goslings!  Lesley and I walked back to the park and were able to take some close up pictures of these beauties!

Tuesday 29 April - Baton Rouge to Gonzalez, LA

Only 13 miles to Gonzalez!  We didn't think much of the brekky offered at the Springhill Suites at Baton Rouge so we checked out (late, after a sleep in) and found an IHOP for a decent brekky!  Lesley and Jim had a change of loads, but we're still meeting up with them tomorrow.

I like Gonzalez and Louisiana.  We found the outlet mall for a few shops we specifically wanted to check out.  Our hotel was not far.  We had a little drive around Gonzalez - it appears to be a neat and tidy place and the people are friendly.   Had a quiet night watching the weather channel for updates on the extreme weather and tornados still occuring from the same weather system that went through Bossier City - worried about Lesley and Jim having to drive through it to get their load to Houston.

Love the outlet mall!