On 01/5/2009 thru 04/16/2009 we had medical problems. On 03/06/2009 we moved the RV to Gulf States LTAC. On 03/24/2009 we moved the RV to Lakeside RV Park in Livingston, LA for two days. Then on 03/26/2009 we moved to Punkin Park Campground in Hammond, LA.
On 04/26/2009 we moved the Motorhome back to Ocean Canyon Abita Spring RV Resort in Abita Springs, LA. We visited Tchefuncte River Lighthouse and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum on 05/03/2009. The current Tower dates back to 1868 and uses a fifth-order Fresnel lens. The picture is of the Tchefuncte River Lighthouse.
The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum takes you on a historic journey from canoes to steamboats. The museum has mostly models but does have a Civil War Sub. The picture is of the sign — no photographs allowed.
The Tchefuncte River Lighthouse keeper’s cottage was moved in 1955 to the museum grounds. The picture is of the keeper’s cottage.
We drove south of New Orleans, LA to visit Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve Barataria Preserve on 05/09/2009. The preserve comprises of 20,000 acres of marsh, swamp, and national levee forest. The picture is of one of the wildlife in the park, an alligator.
On 05/23/2009 We visited the Jean Lafitte NHPP Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. The lives of the Acadians (Cajuns) and others whose travels brought them to Louisiana’s bayous are featured at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux. Explore recreation, clothing, home furnishings, religion, cuisine, and fishing through exhibits, artifacts, videos, and films. A 200-seat theater is used for productions by the Thibodaux Playhouse, Inc., and other programs. The picture is of a display case in the Museum.
We arrived at Styx River Resort in Robertsdale, AL on 05/27/2009. We visited the USS Alabama BB-60 on 05/30/2009. The USS Alabama is a WWII Battleship with 9 16-inch main guns. Keel was laid at Norfolk Navy Yard on 02/01/1940. In 1943 she completed a tour of duty protecting lend-lease convoys to Britain and Russia, also her first major Pacific engagement was in the Gilbert Islands in November and December 1943. She stayed in the Pacific for the rest on the war. The picture is of the USS Alabama BB-60 from the bow of the ship.
On 05/31/2009 we visited Fort Pickens which is located a couple of miles west of Pensacola Beach FL. The fort was named after the Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens and was completed and officially ready for troops on October 4, 1834. It is famous for being one of the few forts in the south that was never under Confederate control. In addition, Fort Pickens briefly held Chief Geronimo and several of his warriors and their families (1885-87). During the late 1890’s and early 1900’s, new gun batteries were constructed at Fort Pickens. In the mid 1900’s, World War II brought the last era of coastal fortification in the United States. Most of these additions were finished late in the war and were only manned for a brief period of time. New technology made coastal forts obsolete. The picture is of Fort Pickens From the bay road.
