Another boondocking experience exceeded our expectations. We stopped in Mandeville near New Orleans, on the other side of Pontchartrain Lake. Our hosts - Linn i Lynn (just to make it easier to remember) after they retired 10 years ago, they sold their house in Oregon, bought a motorhome and became full-timers. For Linn it's very convenient especially that her greatchildren are in 3 different parts of USA, so they can easily visit them all every once in a while.
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| In Louisiana there's an RV behind every tree... |
Lynn is a pastor so when he was asked to minister at little church in Louisiana he said yes. They signed up for 2 years, but if God allows (in Lousiana rather vampires, fairies and warewolves) they will stay longer, taking trips around the country every now and then. They live in their motorhome at parking by the church and invite travelers like us. And it's a great place to stay. There's not only a place for your RV (with water and electricity), or even for up to 3 or 4 RVs, guests are also invited to house/church, and can use a bathroom, washer and drier, nursery for kids, wi-fi and whatever else one might need. On top of that our hosts did everything to make us feel welcome. Let's just say that famous southers hospitality will make us have to go on a diet...
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| With our hosts and us |
On Sunday they invited us to a mass. It's a non-denominational church, just a group of Christians meeting for a prayer and reading Bible. It felt like family gathering, it started with a cup of coffee, then there was a mass, which was more like interactive lecture, without all the rituals we know from catholic church. Plus a lot of singing, and a holy communion at the end made of a waffle and grape juice.
There are around 30 people in community, age average around 60 but there were also a few teenagers. Lynn told us that before Katrina there were over 50 people coming every Sunday. Hurricane changed a lot, not only in a landscape. Some people who evacuated didn't come back, some moved away cause they didn't feel well there any more. Those who stayed have a strong bond. After mass there was also a cake (sombody had birthday) and lots of food, we spent a nice afternoon chatting with everyone. We shared some of our experience, we got some advice for our trip, we found out a bit about Louisiana and heard some interesting life stories.
Maciek had a great time there, he could use a swing, there were some toys for him in a nursery, he could take ride with Lynn on a tractor which is used most for pulling portable waste tank. Linn was a great aunt who would spoil Maciek with treats and cartoons, which was for him a nice change from strict parents.
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| Maciek and Lynn on Gator |
At Linn and Lynn's we also met Malcolm and Terry, who one year ago started spending summer in the north (in their case Delaware), winter in the south (this year maybe even Mexico). They not only use Boondockers Welcome for sleeping at other people places, but also can host travelers in Delawere .They invited us over and we'd love to come, we just don't know if we wil have enough time. But if not now maybe next time!
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| Malcolm, Terry and 2 out of 8 feet |
Mandeville is not only a place with great people but also a really good base for visiting New Orleans. It's less than an hour away by one of the longest bridges in the world. It's toll only if you go south, so from Mandeville we went round the lake which was less then extra 20 miles, and then for free straight from French Quarter, right through the middle of the lake. It's more or less the same to get to plantations in Mississippi Valley. We'll write more about those places in next posts.
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