The Kennedy Space Center

Saturday 4th May - 2019

Today we spent the whole day at the Kennedy Space Centre, which by the way is a totally mind blowing. The Kennedy Space Center (aka NASA) is a brilliant experience with lots of presentations and things to see, do and experience. Well worth the price of admission.

Our arrival into the Kennedy Space Center

Arrive early to spend a full day absorbing the incredible history and hands-on experiences. Not only the history, but the future of the space program too. A 2-day pass may be beneficial, in order to experience all the presentations and displays. 

A tour bus takes you on a drive out by the launch pads, the site where every important and significant US human space flight mission has originated from. You'll also see the newly added SpaceX area and rocket assembly hangar. 

In the early '60s, US President John F Kennedy launched 
the Americans into the Space Race

Then stop at the Apollo/Saturn center to see rockets, boosters in an amazing presentation. Sit inside the recreated 1960's era Mission Control and experience an actual countdown of a Saturn V powered Apollo series rocket launch. 

Additionally, you can see the actual returned rockets and space pods on display. Also the original countdown clocks used for all the launches.

The recreated Apollo Mission Control centre.
The whole place vibrates when the simulated launch takes place.

Return back to the main visitor's center to see the actual, retired Atlantis Shuttle Orbiter vehicle that flew 33 missions and orbited the earth 4,848 times. There are numerous theaters with 3D or Imax or interactive to visit and discover. There are cafes scattered throughout the complex and prices for food and drinks are much better than at the big theme parks in the Orlando area.

The Shuttle Orbiters quite often re-positioned to Cape Canaveral
fixed atop a specially modified B747 transport aircraft

Memories can be such a wonderful and powerful experience and today was one of those days for me. I could not help but think about the many memories in my life almost 50-years ago on the drive over here to Cape Canaveral from Fort Myers today.

On July 16th this year, 2019, it will be 50-years since Neil Armstrong and his crew blasted off from right here at this very location in Apollo 11, destined to be the first humans to land on the moon.

The size of the Saturn rockets up close is incredible

On February 14th, 1971, (48-years ago) I watched the immortal NASCAR driver, Richard Petty win the Daytona 500 in his brand new Plymouth Road Runner just up the road from where I am right now. Buddy Baker was 2nd & none other than AJ Foyt was 3rd. It was just like yesterday.

The famous NASA rocket assembly building

During the drive from coast to coast across the State of Florida earlier today I noticed a road sign that said 99 miles to Miami. My girlfriend and I lived and worked in Miami way back in the early '70s, she as a Key Punch operator & me as a motor mechanic. 

Those were the days before computers as we know them today, as I can remember visiting her at her work and she would show me this thing called a computer. It was as big as this 33’ Mobile Home that I am now driving around America.

Anyway enough of all that because it makes me feel old and I sure as hell do not want to think about getting old.

Cheers for now

Warbo

Cape Canaveral arrival

Friday 3rd May - 2019

The sun is just setting here at the busy cruise ship harbour of Port Canaveral. Port Canaveral is an inter-modal port, that handles cargo, cruise ship and naval vessels and is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.

We tried to get space at the Jetty Park Trailer Park this evening. (9035 Camp Ground Circle, Cape Canaveral.) We did not arrive here at Canaveral until after 1900 this evening and of course they had the full house sign up. 

You know you're in Florida when there's a huge Ron Jon
Surf Shop billboard close by a busy roadway. They're everywhere in Florida.

I managed to back track to find an overnight park here at the Terminal 10 car park of the Port Canaveral Cruise Ship facility. There are no signs saying that you can’t overnight here, so I said to David if you are game, then so am I, to which he agreed to. So here we are, all set up.

David and I, side by side, settling in for the night in
the Terminal 10 Cruise Ship car park at Port Canaveral.

Today was a very busy day again for us, we departed Fort Myers on the Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida at 0830 and drove from one side of the state to other. It was 147 miles to Stuart, Florida situated right on the beaches of the Atlantic Coast of Florida. We had lunch in the Elliott Museum car park before venturing into the Museum to check out the merchandise.

Earlier today at the Elliott Museum

After a big day today, I'm going to hit the sack very shortly, as tomorrow we will spend the day here, in and around the Kennedy Space Centre. I will walk over to Dave’s rig now and organise a time for tomorrow morning.

Cheers for now.
Warbo

Elliott Museum, Stuart, Florida

Friday 3rd May - 2019

Earlier today, David & I visited the Elliott Museum in a town called Stuart, Florida, approximately 120-miles south of where we are now located in Cape Canaveral.

The Elliott Museum offers a variety of collections, including vintage cars, baseball artifacts, artwork, Americana, rotating exhibits in the Changing Exhibitions Gallery, an art studio with classes, a theater, a tribute to local philanthropists Frances Langford and Ralph Evinrude, a Museum Store, a student art exhibit, and much more.

A 1925 Springfield Rolls Royce Silver Ghost

Pall Mall Tourer

I wanted to check the Elliott Museum out because I had been advised that this Museum exhibited the best assortment of AA Ford Trucks (just like my '29 AA Ford truck - ‘Hoover’) in America, I definitely was not let down by that advice.

A ‘57 2-door Chevy Bel Air on display

Not only was I surprised about the AA Food Trucks on display, this Museum also had many other Classic vehicles on display. I was delighted to see a ‘57 2-door Chevy Bel Air [above] in the collection, almost identical to my '57 Chevy Bel Air at home in Sydney.

A great collection of Ford AA trucks

This Museum featured something that I have never seen before in any Museum anywhere else in the world.

Cars from as early as 1886 are exhibited along with early bicycles and motorcycles. Having viewed the main exhibits it was interesting to see how one could choose a car from the stacks to study at closer quarters. Your choice is brought down on a 3-storied automated lift system and arrives on a turntable for your viewing pleasure.

Cars available on the Museum's Automated

Vehicle Racking System

If you care to read the photo [above] about the ‘Automated Vehicle Racking System’ you will understand exactly what I am talking about as you can witness in my couple of photos.

Cars are retrieved by a robotic picking system
and the offered on a revolving turntable for misapply

The last time that I was here in Cape Canaveral was in 1971, I wanted to see some ‘Moon Rock’ that the Apollo 11 expedition had bought back to earth from their mission. David has never been here so, seeing that we were more or less passing by the front door of the Kennedy Space Centre here we are.

Cars are retrieved by a robotic picking system
and the offered on a revolving turntable for misapply

Tomorrow we will spend exploring this wonderful facility here at the Cape, tours start at 0900 in the morning. Tomorrow is also Kentucky Derby Day, what a pity we can’t be there, as we are headed up that way once we leave here.

Tennessee also awaits us, I am especially looking forward to the Smokey Mountains National Park.

So that’s about all from ‘Ken’s Magical Mystery Tour’ for now.

Cheers

Warbo.

Thomas Edison & Henry Ford Winter Estates

Thursday 2nd May - 2019

Where do I start. Today has been truly amazing. David and I arrived here in Fort Myers, Florida at the site of the historic Winter Estate homes of US industrial icons, Henry Ford & Thomas Edison. Because of their strong and enduring friendship, their homes were located side by side.

We arrived around 10:00am this morning because we had booked a tour that only takes place on a Thursday morning at 11:00am.

This photo is of Thomas Edison’s house - 'Seminole Lodge'

The homes encompass more than 20-acres of historical building and gardens including the 1928 Edison Botanical Research Laboratory.

Inside-the-Homes Tours: This tour is a unique opportunity to take a sneak peek inside normally-closed off areas of Thomas Edison’s 'Seminole Lodge' and Henry Ford’s 'The Mangoes' homes.

Highlights: The Museum's tour includes many Galleries interpreting the lives of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and their families we experienced the exhibits of Edison inventions, Ford automobiles.

Interior of Thomas Edison’s house

The famous Banyan Tree is located on the property. It's world renowned because Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone were working to find a natural source of rubber that could be grown in the United States. The Banyan tree was one of the 17,000 samples that were tested for Edison’s research. 

View looking out from the balcony of one of the upper bedrooms from
Thomas Edison's Cottage, towards the Caloosahatchee River 

In a photo that I took today Historical Documents reveal this Banyan tree was planted around 1927 and is understood to be one of the largest trees in the continental United States. This type of tree, Ficus benghalenis, produces a white milky sap (latex) that can be used to create rubber.

Together with his friends, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, Thomas Edison would attempt to solve a problem impacting America’s security and economy. Within a few short years, thousands of tests would be conducted in an international search for a plant that could be grown in the United States to produce a critical product – rubber.

Other tour guests standing around Thomas Edison’s dining room table with
our tour guide Taylor, 3rd lass from the right. ‘Seminole Lodge’.

The 'Into the Wild' tour explains what these three Vagabonds (Ford/Edison/John Burroughs) & how they would explore the Florida Everglades in a Model T Ford Ute, or as the Americans would say a 'pick-up'. 

Their outings may have been a bit fancier than the average camping trip, involving dozens of staff members and even purpose-built camping vehicles, such as the 'Chuckwagon' that Ford had constructed to carry food and water for the campers, which is on display.

An Edison statue tribute beside the home's Banyan tree 
that is understood to be one of the
largest trees of its type in the continental US.

I could rave on here all day long about today’s events, however if you are interested in Henry Ford and Thomas Edison this Museum is not to be overlooked and is must to put on your ‘Bucket List’ adventures.

This Grand Piano was the one that Edison’s wife Mina
would play in their house.

Tomorrow morning we depart Fort Myers and drive 147-miles to Stuart on the Atlantic coast of Florida, the Elliott Museum is there waiting for me to discover. This museum has the reputation of being the best AA Ford Museum in all of America.

My latest acquisition, my Model AA Ford truck that I have nick-named ‘Hoover’, will be very happy that I will be paying a special visit to his brothers & sisters here in Florida.

Then the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral is next up on the road trip list for a visit on Saturday.

Cheers for now.

Warbo

Florida - Fort Myers arrival

Wednesday May 1st - 2019

Well, well, well, after a great tip from my good friend Steve Core, we sure were not disappointed when we arrived at the Pinchers Seafood Restaurant here in Fort Myers, even though it was late we managed to get all the information required for our planned BIG day tomorrow.

I spoke to the friendly staff & asked them what was the go here at the Restaurant. So tomorrow afternoon once we have finished our sightseeing tour of the Edison/Ford Winter Estates, they advised us to arrive at the restaurant at 5:30pm so that we can take advantage of their ‘Happy Hour’, that's when the food & drinks are much cheaper & before the crowds arrive a little later.

A great find from a good tip... Pinchers Restaurant
Fort Myers, Florida

We have decided to dine out side on the balcony overlooking the Marina. The sun sets here at approximately 2000 hrs. The good oil is to watch the sun set from our dining table.

As you can see by these photographs this place is truly spectacular, what a coup you have put us into Mr. Core. Even though I took these photos more or less in the dark, I can’t wait to see what eventuates in the daylight hours.

I can now see exactly why my ‘HERO’ Henry Ford & Thomas Edison choose to spend their leisure time here in Fort Myers. I can only imagine what this area was like way back in the ‘20s. This area is very much upmarket now.

On one of the walls of the Pinchers Restaurant I couldn’t help but notice a signed print of Ernest Hemingway, which bought back many memories of a trip my son, Nathaniel & I made to Paris, France a couple of years ago when we frequented the Ernest Hemingway Bar in the Ritz Hotel. Wonderful, wonderful memories came flooding back in my mind.

The colourful wall of Pinchers Restaurant in Fort Myers, 
Florida, including a signed Ernest Hemingway print.

Heavens knows what we have ahead of us tomorrow, as one of the Nation’s top ten most visited historic sites, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates is open all year-round seven days a week offering exciting tours and creative programs.

Pinchers Restaurant is located right next door to the
historic Edison/Ford Winter Estate homes.

The interpretation of the site honours the legacy of the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford families. Edison & Ford changed the world with their inventions, pioneering the automobile industry, movies and film, lighting and electricity, sound and communications. Highlights of the day no doubt will be: The Historic Homes, Tropical Gardens, Edison’s Laboratory, Museum, World famous Banyan tree.

Should be a wonderful day for photos, I am so excited.

David and I enjoying a sensational meal and
atmosphere at Pinchers Seafood Restaurant

I talked David into adding Cape Canaveral to our tour, once we depart Fort Myers here on the west coast of Florida we will drive over to the east coast which is no more than a couple of hundred miles.

My main reason for visiting Florida is three fold now that I have included Cape Canaveral.

1) I lived and worked in Miami Beach, Florida for 18-months in 1971 as a used car motor mechanic for a Jewish Gentleman, I know that you probably will not believe this. The name of his business was called ‘Mothers Used Cars’ right slap bang in the middle of Harlem. I can assure you that I sure did a lot of growing up as 24-year-old Aussie Boy from Down-under.

When I lived and worked in the early '70s in Miami Beach I used to go to Cassius Clay’s Gym to watch the Mouth from the South train. It was also after the Cuban Missile Crisis under JFK’s watch, however it was also just after all those students were massacred on the Kent State University Campus in Ohio, these were very turbulent times in the US.

2) I also want to visit the Elliott Museum in a place called Stuart, on the east coast of
Florida. Apparently this is the ‘B’ all to end all Museums for AA Ford Trucks. As you know I purchased ‘Hoover’ last year so I want to see what they have to offer me. Maybe they might want to add my ‘Hoover’ to their collection. Hah! Hah!

3) Once again I was fortunate enough to visit Cape Canaveral in the early days (1971) of the Apollo flights to the moon, I was fascinated by the whole Space program. I wanted to see some ‘Moon Rock’ that Neil Armstrong & his Apollo 11 team bought back to Mother Earth from their successful mission in 1969. So it will not hurt me to re-visit the Cape again after a lapse of only 48-years...

Lunar rock on display at Cape Canaveral
it was brought back from the Moon by Apollo 11 in 1969

Remember, ‘Adventure before dementia’ is my motto. Tomorrow should be an exciting day of ‘ADVENTURE’

Cheers for now from the West Coast of Florida.

Warbo.

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

Mobile, Alabama - 27th April - 2019

We drove the 150 miles from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama. In Mobile, we visited the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, situated on the western shore of Mobile Bay. 

Yesterday was a very adventurous day exploring THE BIG ‘A’ as they call the retired WWII battleship, USS Alabama. The 100-acre Memorial Park also features the full size WWII Submarine, the USS Drum and the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion with 27+ rare and historic aircraft on static display.

Both ships are open for self-guided or pre-organised guided tours and both vessels are US National Historic Landmarks.

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park on the
shores of Mobile Bay, Mobile, Alabama

We clambered all over both vessels from top to bottom, the USS Alabama has 12-decks open for inspection, we went from deck to deck, up and down steep ladders and exploring all the spaces. I have never been on a Battleship or Submarine previously, so I was like a kid in a lolly shop.

These Americans sure know how to put a sensational Museum together, nothing like it any where else in the world. And you don't have to look very far to find heroes, the spirit of military pride is alive and well here. Not only did they exhibit the Battleship & Submarine they also had in addition, 27+ various aircraft on display including a B-52 Bomber and an SR-71 Blackbird aircraft parked in the car park.

The view from the flying bridge of the USS Alabama
towards the bow and over her two forward 16"/45 cal gun turrets

I really do not think these accompanying photos need too much explanation, however check out the thickness of the door that protects the ‘BIG BRASS’ on the Battle Bridge.

David doing a size comparison test on the 16" thick watertight doors
that protect the 'Big Brass' on the ship's battle bridge

I wonder how the Korean ‘Rocket man’ feels when he looks at the armament on this vessel that was commissioned in August of 1942. These days this is only a toy compared to what the Americans have floating around the world.

David is standing beside one of the 16”/45 caliber projectiles
Each turret's three barrels were 66ft long
each projectile weighed anything from 850kgs to 1,200kgs

Nine 16”/45 caliber guns (mounted in 3 main turrets) accurate to 21 miles. Technically called 'three gun' turrets and not 'triple' because each barrel could be elevated and fired independently. Additional armament were twenty 5”/38 caliber guns (5 twin mounts per side). Forty-eight 40mm guns (12 mounts), fifty-two 20mm guns. Absolutely ‘AWESOME’ total firepower.

[above] David is standing beside one of the 16”/45 caliber projectiles, here you can actually see how ‘BIG’ the rounds are and they were extremely accurate at down range enemy targets up to 21 miles away.

The WWII-era Submarine USS Drum

The USS Drum was deployed into the Pacific theatre of WWII, sinking several Japanese warships and providing vital reconnaissance for the assaults on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She is the oldest US Navy submarine on open display to the public. There is no way that I would be a sub-mariner, those guys had real BIG BALLS to sign up for the silent service onboard a Submarine.

During her war service in the South Pacific, the USS Drum visited Australia on several occasions with Brisbane, Queensland being the liberty port and the Brisbane Submarine Base at New Farm, being the replenishment & refitting station. 

Forward torpedo room, makes you appreciate
what tight working and living quarters the brave crews had

The USS Drum was commissioned in November of 1941. She is 311’ 4” long with a beam of 27’4”. Her crew consisted of 7 officers & 65 enlisted men. She earned 12 Battle Stars during World War II.

She completed 14 war patrols and is credited with sinking 15 enemy vessels. The total tonnage sank ranks the USS Drum as the eight highest scoring US submarine of WWII. 

USS Drum's enlisted crew's berthing quarters. Definitely not as luxurious as the
Qantas crew rest on the Boeing 747 that I had the pleasure of during my flying days

Leaving Alabama behind, we entered the state of Florida today on our way south to Fort Myers, located on the Gulf of Mexico Coast of Florida. I am sitting here at the moment in a roadside rest area not far from Tallahassee, the capitol of Florida. 

We are headed down south to see how American icon Industrialists, Henry Ford & Thomas Edison used to spend their winters at their winter estates in Florida. Back in 1916, Henry Ford bought land in downtown Fort Myers, next door to Edison, his mentor. Now, both estates serve as museums that honor their founders and remind all of us about what they overcame and what they accomplished.

That’s all for now until we explore the Ford/Edison winter estates in Fort Myers, Florida. 

Cheers for now.

Warbo.

The Shotgun Jazz Band

US Friday 26th April - 2019 - New Orleans

We have just spent a wonderful evening in and about the French Quarter of New Orleans Jazz clubs tonight. Even the most experienced traveler knows that having a local friend with inside knowledge of a destination makes a trip all the more special.

My newest Uber driving friend (Paul) is just that person, you can see him in one of the photos with his drink in his hand. When my RV broke down on our arrival here into New Orleans, by chance I met him at the workshop while I was waiting for my RV's gear lever to be welded.

Outside the Spotted Cat Music Club
on Frenchmen Street in New Orleans

He gave me all the good oil of where to go & what Jazz clubs to frequent. So this evening we met him and his friend at one of the Jazz clubs he suggested we attend. You can see David & myself listening to a band called the Shotgun Jazz Band at this fabulous Jazz club called The Maison on Frenchmen Street. 

Please look closely at David’s cap, he is a staunch Donald Trump supporter, and also carries a gun with him at all times. There is no road rage when you are traveling with David, I wonder why !!!

Forget about the Jazz clubs on the touristy and over-priced Bourbon Street, Frenchmen Street is where it is all happening & what’s more these Jazz clubs are not a rip off as many of them are on Bourbon Street.

David [left] and my good self. Please look closely at David’s cap, he is a
staunch Donald Trump supporter, and also carries a gun with him at all times

I fell in love with Marla Dixon (Trumpet & Vocals) of the Shotgun Jazz Band, she is a young Hillary Clinton look alike, don’t hold that against her. Her presence on stage was amazing, & boy oh! boy could she sing. Not only that she made her Trumpet actually talk, that is how good she is.

I was so impressed that I purchased two of the bands CDs, as a matter of fact I am listening to one of their CDs sitting here in the Mobile Home typing up this report.

Paul my New Orleans Uber driver friend also recommended that we also visit another Jazz Club called The Spotted Cat Music Club just a short walk up Frenchmen Street from the Maison Jazz club.

At The Maison Jazz Club the Shotgun Jazz Band playing traditional
New Orleans Jazz in the spirit of the great revivalists

Let me tell you that once being entertained by the amazing Shotgun Jazz Band for 3-hours... the following act, the Spotted Cat Music Club had no chance, not even close.

The time here in New Orleans is just on midnight, so I must finish up now as we need to hit the road again in the morning heading for Mobile, Alabama. As I have mentioned previously, this is the third time I have visited New Orleans, the first occasion was way back in the late '60s, then again a few years ago when I came over here in 2013 to watch the Australian V8 Super Cars racing at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. 

David has never been here before, so it has been an ideal opportunity to show him the ropes.

Our New Orlean's Uber driving friend, Paul on the left
enjoying the live music

Walking around the streets this evening the smell of marijuana you could cut with a knife, as Bill Clinton once said that he did not inhale, well let me tell you, I did, one should never give up a free high, and I don’t mind anything for nothing. As you know many States over here have legalised Marijuana & here in Mississippi, it's one such State.

Cheers for now until the next story from Ken’s ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ 2019.

Warbo.

The Maison Jazz Bar

26th April - 2019 - New Orleans

Dave and myself are holed up in this Jazz Bar, The Maison, a three-level restaurant and bar located on Frenchman Street in New Orleans waiting for 7:00pm and the Shot Gun Jazz Band to strut their stuff.

Situated in the French Quarter, Frenchmen Street is an off-the-beaten-track gem, it's considered a ‘local’s Bourbon Street’ where real New Orleanians gather to listen to live music and grab a drink.

The Maison is just one of many Jazz Clubs and bars
along several blocks of Frenchman Street

The Maison is one of the major centers of gravity for local live music. Jazz acts take over the large front area, where you can order excellent imbued spirits from behind the bar.

When I had chance meeting with a local Uber driver the other day he highly recommended this place to me - so here we are for the evening. 

Dave and I are here to check out the
Shotgun Jazz Club band.

We have hit the jackpot because there is the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on here in New Orleans this week.

Foodwise, apparently the Cochin De Lait Po-Boy sandwich is to die for. It consists of Cajun style slow pulled Pork, dressed with cold slaw & drizzled with BBQ sauce, served with fries.

The very intimate front stage area at The Maison

On Frenchmen Street, certain things are just guaranteed: proximity to good music, good food, interesting culture, and an unbeatable street scene. It's only a couple of hundred metres from the shoreline of the Mississippi River. 

Below; Dave and yours truly take the opportunity to have a close look at the GREAT MISSISSIPPI near the Latin Quarter this afternoon.

Dave and I beside the mighty Mississippi River
in downtown New Orleans, behind us are the
Crescent City Connection twin cantilever bridges.

NB: I have just been informed that the Shotgun Jazz Band play 3x1 hour time slots, how good is that.

Gotta go, the band has just started to play.

Warbo

New Orleans arrival

Thursday 25th April - 2016

This morning we departed from our overnight parking in the Walmart Car Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with an easy 84-mile drive to New Orleans... so we thought. It was raining like cats & dogs, and I mean raining. I have never driven through such treacherous conditions in all my 71-years on this planet. Visibility on the Interstate Hwy was down to 50 metres, (Very, very scary with this big rig of a Motor Home).

When we finally arrived here at this beautiful Saint Bernard State Park camping ground in Braithwaite, Louisiana, as you can see by the photographs. On arrival, the Park Ranger informed us that we had just driven through 4” of torrential rain in the 2-hour drive from Baton Rouge.

My RV and my Toyota Echo tow car in the gorgeous
Saint Bernard State Park camping ground in Braithwaite, Louisiana

Now the fun part of the story begins... I pulled up outside the Park's reception office to register for a couple of days. When I went to engage the transmission into PARK in the RV, the park brake lever broke clean off in my right hand. Not impressed as you can imagine, because if I turned the engine off I would not be able to start the engine again because vehicles do not start unless you engage PARK. What’s more I could not engage reverse gear. It is not any fun without reverse as you can well imagine.

Anyway to cut to the chase, I had just happened to notice an auto repair shop along the road, for some unknown reason not very far from the St Bernard State Park. I told David to register and l will drive back to the repair shop to see if they could help me. I walked into the Wuertz Brothers Tire Services workshop and explained to the owner of the business what had happened. 

I would need to remove what was left of the lever in the steering column so that we could weld the broken lever to that small piece still in the steering column. He was very helpful & told me that he has a MIG welder. So I pulled out the tool kit, and I removed the broken part & this guy welded up the broken lever and I would be on my way again. He charged me only $30.00.

Wuertz Brothers Tire Services workshop
where they assisted me with my snapped transmission lever

While I was waiting for him to weld the part I got a chat on with another gentleman that was also having his car serviced, he just happened to be a local Uber driver so he was just the person I should be talking to out the local area. I asked him many questions about distance from Bourbon Street & the French Quarter, (14 miles) he told me where to park the Toyota tow car only one block from the French Quarter cheaply ($12.00 for ten hours) which is only one block from where it all happens.

He also told me the best Jazz Bars & Restaurants to go to plus another couple of things to see while we are here. So tomorrow morning we are off to the Chalmette Battlefield not too far from here on the way into New Orleans. 

My RV and my Toyota Echo tow car and to the right, David's
5th wheel rig parked next to me in the Saint Bernard 
State Park camping ground in Braithwaite, Louisiana

This is the battlefield that Andrew Jackson who would later become the 7th President of the United States, stopped the British in the Battle of New Orleans on Jan 8th, 1815 killing many thousands of Poms with very few casualties on their side.

He also advised us to go to Frenchmen Street where all the night clubs are. In particular, he pointed out that ‘The Maison’ is a jazz club and bar where we will see local artists called ‘Shotgun Jazz Band’ for a few hours where we could enjoy listening to various jazz bands for the evening and indulge in some real Southern cuisine, especially the Pulled Pork sandwiches.

As you can see by the photographs here that I shot in the State Park this arvo the weather has cleared up nicely, so hopefully tomorrow will be a good day for our sightseeing. Nothing else to report right now, we will leave New Orleans on Friday morning and head on over to Mobile, Alabama, to see the Battleship USS Alabama & the Submarine USS Drum plus more than 25 aircraft.

This morning (US time) my thoughts were very much at home with you all because of the Anzac Day commemorations, usually a HUGE day to be remembered.

Cheers for now.
Warbo