The Road Trip

As we drove in to New Orleans, we were surrounded by boarded up, derelict houses, smashed up cars, basically a mess! Its hard to believe that after nearly three years Hurricane Katrina has still left its mark. We drove through a few rough parts of town, looking for our campsite, hoping its not any where in the hood!
We arrived to a very average campsite, it provided a shuttle bus in to New Orleans, which was a result as driving that big old van in to city centres is no fun and the parking is a night mare! Aboard the shuttle we met our first English travellers, fellow Essex travellers too! They are travelling the US for 6 months and have bought there own RV or more like a coach! They had bought it big enough for 8 sleepers so there kids can stay with them. They were our parents age and had retired young to do their travelling!
New Orleans is an interesting city with the poor and rich side. We met a few locals, some who had insurance at the time of Katrina, which had paid out fully and they had re organised and re built their lives and on the other side who had no insurance and were still suffering!
The motto of New Orleans is 'Let the good times roll' and what we could see from the French Quarter this was certainly the case. There were musicians on nearly every corner playing jazz and friendly faces where ever you turned. We were here just in time for the Jazz Festival, which was pure luck. The town was all set for an amazing few weeks ahead.
We saw the famous cemetery's with the huge block graves and we also saw the poor mans graveyard, where strays dig up the bones from the graves - not a nice sight!
We took a horse and carriage tour around the old town, where you could see the lacy iron work balconies, rows and rows of trendy shops and flowers lining the roads and balconies.
I was quite concerned about going to New Orleans hearing about all the violence and crime. We didn't encounter any problems, the people were friendly and we had a great time.

We left New Orleans and headed of on 'The Great River Road' which is otherwise known as the historic Highway 61 which basically runs parallel with the Mississippi River and the blues, jazz, rock and roll towns!
We drove through Mississippi where you couldn't help but notice the poorness surrounding the state. There really wasn't a lot to see here, apart from the flat lands, farms and the odd person sitting on the road!
I did notice that Brett kept looking far in the distance and from side to side, bearing in mind we're on a dead straight road and can see the road way ahead I asked his what he was looking for...he was looking for Tornado's...we were driving through Tornado Alley. We didn't see any!!

Where the King meets the Princess and her Prince....

We drove the 360 miles to Memphis, Tennessee where we stopped at a very modern RV Park. It had a pool table but no cues. A TV but no remote or ON switch. It had restrooms with codes on the doors we didn't have the codes. So, it was back to the RV for the usual card games and Connect Four...made up from a board drawn by me in my notepad. I had Corona Beers caps for lids and Brett had US pennies. You may laugh but it keeps us entertained for hours!
This RV'ing is quite a lonely existence. We thought we'd meet so many people at the campsites. But the American version of 'camping' is driving round in huge coaches with Kingsize beds, full bathrooms, kitchens and lounges with satellite TV's and computers. So, no one leaves there motor home, except me and Brett...the lone travellers! We go to the bars on sites and theres no one in there so they are closed, no one in the games room or even the rest rooms! Its handy at times though, as I still refuse to go and shower alone in case I get kidnapped (i've watched too many horror movies!) So, its easy to get Brett in to the ladies to protect me without being noticed or told of by security!
I did make friends with the cleaners in the laundry room, whilst doing our laundry in Memphis...I talked, they stared and said Yes every so often... this US / UK English barrier is still a problem, they had no idea what I was saying and were just saying yes to be polite!
Back to Memphis, we went to Graceland to see where The King was from, we arrived, we saw two planes, a few shops and a Welcome to Graceland..I said to Brett...wheres the mansion, is this it? Not realising they take you on a bus to the house!
I'm by no means an Elvis fan, apart from Brett and my family, the other huge love of my life is Robbie but since seeing all that Graceland had to offer and reading 'Me and a guy named Elvis' by his best friend Jerry Schilling....Robbie Williams has competition! I read the Elvis book in a day and a half, spent a whole day at Graceland and now I am a HUGE Elvis fan. By the time I got to Elvis's grave I really had to stop myself from crying from the great loss of Elvis...I think Brett may have left me!!!
I'm so glad we went to Graceland, it was an absolutely amazing experience to see his house and to see all about his life. I loved it, we both did and would recommend it.
Brett is now reading the Elvis book and is enjoying it as much as I did. I never really understood what all the fuss was about - I am now fully converted...I LOVE ELVIS!!!
We went to Beale Street, where Elvis found his name and we were hugely disappointed. I think this was once an amazing place but unfortunately tourism took over and it is sooo commercialized.
We had some terrific thunder & lightening storms in Tennessee and whilst in the camper van, it makes it all the more exciting! We're turning in to a right pair of geeks!
We left Memphis and went past Graceland on our way out. I felt sad to leave my new found obsession..brett didn't even slow down as we passed!!


We were heading further up North towards our final destination - Chicago! we headed to St Louis where the 'Anheuser - Busch Brewery' is, the home of Budweiser and the Gateway Arch which is the Gateway to the West. We'd picked out our campsite, which was just minutes to the attractions. We've been finding that we arrive at a campsite and they say they are near the sites which are in fact 50 miles away! So, we've begun to be very fussy where we go. So, we got to St Louis and were directing ourselves to our site...reading the lonely planet it said "East St Louis in Illinois is not a pleasant place after dark - avoid it at all times". So, we were driving through, a little lost in what I would describe as the hood and what do we see...our campsite or should I say a car park in East ST Louis...this wasn't on the guide...Nice One! We locked the doors, cursed the camp guide and drove to the next nearest campsite...30 miles away in St Charles!!
St Charles is a historic river town which was the first state capital. Its right on the Missouri River and was a real local, cute little town with lots of history on the Clarks!! Route 66 also passes through the town we had a little drive on the famous Route 66! St Charles had a fab English store, where we stocked up on UK Chocolate and Robinsons squashes! We went out in the evening and met a few locals who were fascinated by what we were up to. At one point we we had about 5 locals surrounding us, wanting to talk to us!
If we had arrived the week before we would have been there for an earth quake, lucky we missed it!
We left St Charles and continued North, we were having a few problems with our camper so stoped early at 'The Yogi Bear' campsite in a small town called Yorkville about 50 miles from Chicago. The nearest town was a town called Sandwich and all that was there was a foodstore, a liabry and a gas station! We were out of season at our campsite. They had a games room, a pool, mini golf, a pub but it was all closed - so annoying!

With 9 days to go until we have to drop the van off we decided we'd go on a little detour, no where too far just Canada!! So on Thursday 1st May 08 we set of early on our trip to Canada to go to Niagara Falls and beyond. We were just out of Yorkville when the camper died on us!! Luckily we were just outside a repair shop for vans!! A few phone calls later, the camper was under repair and being paid for by cruise america. We grabbed some food, Brett called home and we basically entertained ourselves for about 4 hours! Cruise America are on first name tours with us, I think I'm there worst nightmare!
We finally got back on the road and after a good few hours stopped at Jackson, Michigan for the night. We were at a cheap campsite with 5* ratings, it was disgusting! With my dislike to public showers and my level of fussiness we hadn't showered for a day or so. So, we had to use the facilities. we did the usual and I sneaked Brett in to the ladies and had a shower. As we showered you felt instantly dirty by the disgusting surroundings!
Back to the van and a dinner of crisps and beer, a few games of connect 4 it was straight to bed to prepare for an early start for our final leg to Canada!
We crossed the border, expecting a grilling which we had been warned about, we had a few questions and were sent on our way - Nice one!
We drove through London, Tilbury, Essex, Windsor, Chelsea and Manchester before reaching Niagara Falls campsite.
We went to a fantastic dinner show called 'Oh Canada Eh?'. Apparently Canadians are known for saying 'Eh' after every thing they say - that must be where I get it from Em!! The show was 5 courses including a Roast Dinner, not quite like Mums but still nice. The waiters and waitresses were the singer and dancers too. we had an evening of singing and dancing about the history of Canada - very interesting!
We're off th the Falls tomorrow (Sat 3rd May)and doing the sights of the surrounding areas over the next few days before heading back on the 600 mile drive to Chicago!
Brett is still enjoying the drive and still won't allow me behind the wheel. I'm the on board food and drinks hostess providing food and drinks on request.
We have, so far, driven 2,700 miles across the states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and now a detour to Canada.
We complain about our roads at home but the roads here are truly awful. When i say we've driven across the states, we've basically bounced across the states, like being on our own trampoline! Curtains have fallen down, the plug has come out of the shower! And with all our pots, pans, plates and cutlery its like driving with an out of control drummer constantly on the go!!
However, we are still enjoying every moment of it and having lot of fun and laughs along the way!