RV RAMBLING RAMBLES: FAIRVIEW RIVERSIDE STATE PARK, LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND NEW ORLEANS

We moved to Fairview Riverside State Park at Madisonville, Louisiana on March 11th and stayed thru the 12th. The park sits along the Tchefuncte River that flows into Lake Pontchartrain. This park was close enough to the river that Joyce said if it starts raining a LOT, we're hookin' up and headin' out!

Joyce and I standing in front of Lake Pontchartrain

Fairview Riverside Park sits on the Tchefuncte River

If you look straight down the dock walkway that is our campsite.

House we could see from the campground on the river

The yard was full of statues

Otis house was built by a saw mill owner in 1880s sits inside the park.

Old tree in the park

Lake Pontchartrain covers 630 square miles with an average depth of 12 to 14 feet. The lake is oval shape and is 40 miles east to west and 24 miles north to south. They made a causeway (bridge) across the lake to make faster travel. The bridge is the longest bridge in the world at 24 miles long. Just to put that in perspective to people at home, that would be traveling from Archie, MO to Belton, MO over water with nothing but water on both sides.
We are camping on the North side of the lake so we traveled across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway to get to New Orleans. Randy had crossed it as a kid and wanted Joyce to experience the LONG bridge.

Causeway across Lake Pontchartrain. The blue dot was us in the truck crossing.

In the distance you can see the 24 mile Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (this was taken from Fontainebleau State Park)

65 mph speed limit on the causeway

They had 7 or 8 turn around's across the bridge where there was generally a sheriff or tow truck sitting

Nothing but water and concrete for 24 miles

Finally land in site

We drove by the Superdome and then drove through the French Quarters. It was Sunday and we were amazed how many people are touring the area. We went down Bourbon and ??? streets. The buildings and ironwork is neat to see. We didn't get out only drove around. It is hard to image all of the area under water because of Hurricane Katrina. There is so much new construction.

Superdome in New Orleans

Superdome

"Since we're in New Orleans lets go see French Quarter."
This is the famous Canal Street.

So Randy drove the truck down Bourbon Street on a Sunday at 11 am.

Part of Royal Street was blocked to vehicles, it is noted for it's art galleries.

Traffic was crazy!

Loved the architecture & wrought iron balconies.

Bourbon Street in French Quarter in New Orleans

The narrow streets reminded Randy of driving in San Juan

Royal Street in the French Quarter

The return trip we drove around the west side of the lake to get back to our campsite. We stopped at a Mexican restaurant and had lunch. Joyce said we hadn't had Mexican for a long time and enjoyed the food.

Joyce has been very nice letting me have my seafood. It's time for her to enjoy Mexican.

Later we decided to check out Fontainebleau State Park. It sits on Lake Pontchartrain.
We stopped by Just Chillin' to try out a new treat for us. It's called Snoballs. They're similar to flavored icee's. If you get it with any flavor of ice cream inside it's called a Stuffed Snoball.