We left Rayne this morning and travelled into the New Orleans area staying in Kenner which is a suburb.

Riding in through the wetlands it's interesting to note how a lot of the roads are built at least 20 feet up on raised bridges. At times we were on hurricane escape routes which is a reminder of how quickly the weather can change around here.

It was amusing when we arrived at the hotel, as whilst out the front we suddenly heard police sirens and 2 motorcycle cops pulled up to the intersection on the corner stopping the traffic from each direction, allowing a minibus through which turned immediately into our hotel car park. The cops then rode off.  We watched as 3 guys got out wearing black and white striped kit. They walked past saying hello and John asked the last guy if he was a basketball player and he said 'no, a football player and I've managed a 20 yard run, so ready for the game!'. Bob, I guess you know what he means, but its gone over John's head:-)

 

We had 3 nights/2 days in this lovely part of the world. After a long day yesterday, today was for catching up on laundry, John washing his bike and getting himself a haircut.

Before we left this morning, it was lovely to sit and eat a breakfast of fresh fruit, looking over the Gulf of Mexico.  

 

 

 

From Galveston, we rode to the end of the Island and caught the Ferry across to the Bolivar Peninsula.  It was really interesting riding along the Peninsula, as all the houses are built on stilts. We rode into one of their villages (below) and it looked so strange - they were obviously expensive houses but so vulnerable to the sea even at that height.

This house was all on its own and seemed to be perched on a tiny strip of land between the road and the sea. The front gate made us smile. Can you imagine a postman having to deliver to these houses - he would have to be fit:-)

We had such amazing luck today - we had heard on the news that Endeavour (the last ever shuttle) was having its last flight today (piggy backed on a Jumbo) flying over Houston before being put on display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles but when we arrived for a visit to Houston Mission Control Space Center we were told that it had landed at Ellington Air Force Base, a few miles north and that it was open to the public until 9pm that evening.

So we joined the thousands of people who walked miles to get into the base and we were so glad that we did. We were surprised that we were allowed to get so near to it. An amazing experience.

 

 

After all the motels we now have an hotel on the beach!

Have booked 3 nights on Galveston Island (made famous by the song by Glenn Campbell),  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JlARH_8VyA

50 miles south of Houston, Texas.

 

Decided on a  night in so while updating the blog, enjoyed a take-away, bottle of wine plus music from the I-Pod and a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico! What more could you want?

 

 

Visited 'The Alamo' in San Antonio today. For those of you of a certain age you will remember the film made in the '60s with John Wayne.  The front of the mission and the adjoining wall is all that is left of the original building. The 'Battle of the Alamo' was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution and so draws many visitors. Inside there was a very comprehensive museum and yet there was no entrance fee. The upkeep relies on donations.

 

 

The Cenotaph dedicated to the people who died at the battle of the Alamo is very impressive.

 

Like many cities, San Antonio has its tower, called 'The Tower of the Americas' which was built for the 1968 World Fair.

View from the Tower looking over the city which we found to be very compact and pleasant to walk round.  I think we are fortunate that it is now out of season so not very busy. I am sure in the summer months it must be heaving.

There is an irony to these last 2 days - Texas was the one place we had not looked forward to as the weather was almost guaranteed to be over 40C (110F) - and what has it been?  18C (65F) and pouring with rain. We have just arrived in San Antonio and warming up with a cup of hotel room coffee!
Just think, if the weather had been like this on 6th March 1836, the Mexican Army may have stayed at home and the Battle of the Alamo never would have happened:-)
Hopefully we will see the Alamo in drier conditions tomorrow.