Today’s journey took us 291 miles

from Tuscaloosa, Alabama

through Mississipi

and into Louisiana

To New Orleans, otherwise known as the Big Easy (possibly because it was considered one big speak-easy, or illegal drinking establishment, during the prohibition era when drinking was banned in the United States).
With 51% of New Orleans being at or below sea level (an overall average of 1.5 feet below sea level, with some areas being up to 10 feet below) you’d probably not be surprised that Hurricane Katrina could have caused such a catastrophic effect. However, since the beginning of the 20th Century of 2,000 square miles of coast that had previously protected New Orleans has been lost. Without this loss it is likely that things would not have been so bad.
Anyway, the reports of Tropical Storm Gustav hitting here on Monday (by which time it is expected to be a full-blown hurricane) haven’t caused everyone to leave just yet, especially not in New Orleans’ most famous party venue Bourbon Street (named after the House of Bourbon, the ruling French Royal family at the time of the city’s founding in 1718).

However, evacuation plans are underway here and they will start in earnest tomorrow. We will be continuing on our planned route tomorrow anyway.

As of today we’ve completed 9,799 miles leaving 347 miles to go before we reach Houston.