We had nothing planned today. After a late start we drove a roundabout way to Abbeville for a last meal at Shucks. The meal consisted of shrimp salad and gumbo for Kay and fried oysters for me, topped off with a large serving of bread pudding. Interestingly, the bread pudding was very good, and the butter rum sauce tasted exactly like mine! Returning to the motorhome via rural roads, we witnessed one crawfish pond after another, and many were being harvested as we drove by.

The last night of the 2019 Cajun RV Rally featured crawfish and Zydeco music by Grammy Award winner Chubby Carrier. Zydeco is a music genre that evolved in southwest Louisiana by French Creole speakers which blends blues, rhythm and blues, and music indigenous to the Louisiana Creoles and Acadians. Though distinct in origin from the Cajun music of Louisiana, the two forms frequently influenced each other, forming a complex of genres native to Louisiana. Again, Kay and I danced the night away listening to the great music. HSV Roadrunners were well represented, and a great time was had by all.

We finally made it to the Boudin Festival in Scott, self-proclaimed “Boudin Capital of the World”. Boudin is a Southern Louisiana sausage-type delicacy comprised of ground pork, rice, onion, and Cajun spices and seasonings. It is served in a casing (my favorite, with mustard) or in deep-fried balls with a surprise center of melted cheese. Despite the mid-morning hour, the deep-fried Boudin balls tasted very good and were washed down with ice cold beer. With ominous clouds building in the southwest, we made a quick tour of the small festival grounds before driving Acadian country roads back to Rayne where we settled in for the afternoon.

It began raining mid-afternoon, and though there were short periods of letup, it continued raining throughout the night, often in deluges loud enough to wake us.

A chicken and sausage gumbo dinner was followed with music by Jo El Sonniet, a Cajun Music Hall of Fame, and Grammy Award winner (in camo). He and the band were awesome—he could make that accordion do things we thought impossible. Kay and I danced the night away, mostly country waltzes.

The morning yielded another overcast sky and late start. After skipping breakfast, lunch was at Fezzos, a much-awarded seafood and steak restaurant. Kay had fried shrimp and meat pies, while I had shrimp etouffee and grilled shrimp. The food was food, but not up to Shucks (Friday’s restaurant) level. 

And then, we were off to Vermillionville, an historic Acadian settlement with docents outfitted in period dress. While there, a Cajun jam session was underway and featured a couple of Cajun Music Hall of Fame members, including accordionist Sheryl Cormier. Her husband sang many of the old mournful Cajun French songs. Most of the language spoken among jam musicians was Cajun French.

From Vermillionville, we drove to Cypress Island Preserve in hopes of photographing water birds and alligators. It was not meant to be. Despite the long drive to the Preserve in the middle of scant development, there were already several cars of families enjoying the quiet natural area—a good thing. However, with the combination of kids having a good time and heavy winds prevented any bird or flower photography. We did see an Allen’s Hummingbird (a local rarity), a Prothonitary Warbler, and a Tufted Titmouse thanks to a local birder who offered assistance.

After a brief visit to Costco to return a couple of items, we made our way back to the rally grounds for the evening happy hour, dinner, and music. A fair dinner was served and included sausage jambalaya, green beans and new potatoes, and slaw, and strawberry and lemon cakes for desert. Music was provided by Swamp Pop Band featuring hall of famers V.J. Boilet and Bobby Page (Oscar winner Green Book featured one of their originals). Once again, we danced the night away.

Friday morning arrived with a light mist and overcast skies. Kay and I hardly ever deviate from a morning routine of coffee, and catching up on news, emails, and Facebook friends, and this morning was no exception—thanks Verizon for personal hotspots with unlimited data.

The first stop of the day was Costco to cash the preceding year’s dividend check and have hearing aids cleaned. And then it was off to Schucks Oyster House in Abbeville, Louisiana, for lunch. Seated after a brief wait, we ordered; Kay had salad with remoulade sauce as a dressing and her usual fried shrimp and onion rings—the remoulade sauce was to die for—and I had a dozen on the half shell. Oh my goodness, were they ever good!

After lunch we drove to Scott, Boudin Capital of the World to attend the annual Boudin Festival. After driving for a half hour in search of an entrance and parking place, and finding one along the frontage road, we discovered that the festival didn’t start until 5:30 pm.

Back at the coach, we rested until happy hour, joining other Village Roadrunners in the main hall. The etouffee for dinner was very bland and tasteless, not real good. The music, however, was great. We “danced the night away” to the music of Kira and Her Bayou Beat as they played Cajun, Country Western, and oldies,

Several months ago, friend Stan Jensen convinced us to register for the Cajun RV Rally in Rayne, Louisiana—so here we are—our first rally since October 2012. (We got frustrated with rallies held by one of the RV clubs we were in; seems like they expected the hosts to wait on the other attendees hand and foot, including planning, preparation, and cleanup of most meals—not my cup of tea—so we just quit going!)

Because of the deluge of rain in the Rayne area the last few days, all sites on grass became part of a flooded field. Consequently, we were all (about 50 RVs) parked on at least some pavement, with our back wheels were in the grass. It was also tight as our bedroom slide was within inches of the next RV’s slide. Fortunately, both the 50 amp cord and the fresh water hose reached, just barely. It was too soggy to extend the jacks, but we were sufficiently level to extend the slides.

After the quick setup, we hustled off to lunch at Chef Roy’s Frog Cafe. Kay had etouffee and shrimp, and I had shrimp salad—both were delicious!

Back at the RV we tried napping, but the close proximity of RVs and associated noise made it impossible.

We enjoyed a potluck dinner and humorist in the evening, while also getting to know more attendees. The humorist was a tad off color, but not offensive. It’s going to be a good rally.

With last minute items in hand, we returned to the RV, connected the “old” Honda CR V, and drove south to Diamondjacks Casino in Bossier City, Louisiana. The 4-1/2 hour drive was uneventful except for the constant headwind the whole way. Check-in and setup was pretty quick, after which the inside of the motorhome was cleaned after being stored for 9 months.

We both were starving, and drove to Ralph and Kacoos. Kay really enjoyed the Catfish St. Ann’s while I had a below average Catfish Acadiana, a big disappointment from the restaurant chain I visited 40 years ago.

Back at Diamondjacks, we visited with fellow HSV Roadrunners Bob and Jane Nitchal. Kay made a donation to the outdated casino while I caught up on email, etc.

We were on the road again Thursday morning, driving south to Rayne, Louisiana, “Frog Capital of the World.” It misted, rained, or down-poured most of the 4+ hour drive.

Monday through Tuesday, March 18-April 2—Readying the RV for a Louisiana Rally. On Monday it was driven to Purcell’s on Mabelvale Road for new tires (via the FMCA Michelin tire program) and servicing (oil and filter change and greasing). Tuesday it was back into storage where it stayed until Thursday, March 28.

Dewinterizing is relatively easy, in and of itself, but involves a lot of hurry up and wait. During the process, the RV was washed and dried, and pulled into storage while the tanks and lines were being sanitized. The chlorinated water was drained on Friday and the fresh water tank partially refilled to finish the job. Then, it was back into storage where the refrigerator was turned on. On Monday, a peck in the windshield was repaired. Now, all that remained was packing.

Clothes, groceries, and cameras were loaded Tuesday; we’re ready to go.

Late last night, we packed the suitcases, and set them outside the room to be picked up. And then, before dawn, we sailed into New York City harbor. It took a couple of hours to maneuver the ship through the harbor channel to our landing.

We were anxious to depart the Norwegian Gem and catch a flight home via Chicago. However, it was not to happen soon. It took a couple of hours to make it off the ship, pick up our luggage, and exit through customs. Another wait in a long line preceded loading onto the bus for the trip to the airport. Finally, we arrived at the airport, checked the luggage, and waited for the flight home. After two uneventful flights, we arrived at Little Rock, picked up the car, and drove to Hot Springs Village, arriving home shortly before midnight.

While the individual features of this trip could not be described as outstanding, it was a terrific getaway from the wet dreary weather, and would rank among our favorite cruises (of course they all do).

All ports-of-call were “successfully” visited and are now becoming pleasant memories. Continuing north on Tuesday, the Gem sailed between Haiti and Puerto Rico. Seas were rough with 11-foot waves generated by 35 mph winds, but the ship’s stabilizers made for a relatively smooth ride. As could be expected, the pool area was packed, and it was difficult finding a quiet place to read. The day at sea, and accompanying lack of activity, resulted in a long day. 

Seas were calmer on Wednesday; I slept most of the morning while Kay read. The rest of the day passed without too much fanfare.

Thursday was the last full day at sea, and it was all “rock and roll”.  A front fresh off the east coast hit us broadside. Temperature on the pool deck was 59 degrees.

The cruise has proved to be a learning adventure. For example, Europeans like to consume alcohol, lots of alcohol! Americans, as a general rule, are too nice and considerate. Calories burned in climbing stairs and walking from one end of the ship to the other do not come close to offsetting calories gained by eating on a cruise ship. The rate of speed of someone walking in front of you on a ship is inversely proportional to how big of a hurry you’re in! Also, narrow hallways and openings provide a great place for conversation and holding up foot traffic. Two piece swimsuits are not suited to everyone; nor are Speedos! And finally, there is a significant and obvious difference between flip flops and thongs, or so a friend told me.

Today’s late morning excursion, Palm Beach Reef Snorkel, was only a short drive from the ship. As we arrived at a “resort beach” in Bonaire National Marine Park, the small size and large crowd of snorkelers and scuba divers took us aback. After unloading from the old school bus, a pair of lounges was selected, and a mandatory safety and equipment briefing was presented. Each person was issued a snorkeling vest, mask, and snorkel, and fins for those few of us choosing to use them. The protected reef teemed with colorful fish and coral. After approximately an hour, we rested and drank a complimentary Amstel beer (made in the Dutch Antilles with distilled water). I went back in the water for another half hour of photography, before exiting and drying. (Photos were taken with an almost ten-year old Pentax camera.) For me this was the best excursion of the cruise. 

The Norwegian Gem departed Bonaire mid-afternoon, heading north northwest toward New York City with no stops in between. The next three sea days precede our arrival in New York City Friday morning. Consequently, we will be using our three days of “executive time” to doing a whole bunch of nothing.