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We left California and began our journey to New Orleans for the Jazz Festival. We gave ourselves a week to get from Lake Elsinore, CA to New Orleans, LA. We did not want to rush so we figured we would drive from around 9:00am until 4:00pm each day. With time off for lunch and breaks we plan to average about 300 miles a day.
Our first nights stop was at the Black Canyon KOA just north of Phoenix, AZ. As luck would have it we met a very nice couple who where staying in the spot next to us. Jim and Michelle have been traveling since last summer. They left Florida and traveled to Alaska. When the cold weather began to set in they came south and ended up in Oregon working in a campground for several months over the winter. Once things started to warm up they continued south and had been in the Phoenix area for a couple days when we met them. They plan to meander around the southwest for a couple of months before heading back to Florida. The most amazing thing about this couple is they are traveling and living in their converted Ford F250 van with their two dogs, Moby Dog and Artimus. People tend to forget how much you can do when you are young.
Continuing eastward we spent nights in Gallup, Tucumcari, El Reno, Russelville, Shreveport and Lafayette before arriving at our destination in New Orleans.
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Joan and I have been looking forward to this for months, actually Joan had been wanting to do this for 30 years. While researching the festival we found a link for RV parking near the fairgrounds provided by Creative World. What they have done is with the help of the Big Easy Rollers they lease some spaces at the Tad Gormley Stadium for RV parking. They offer water and very limited power. More than 15 rigs sharing 30 amp connections all protected by a single 100 amp breaker and ~15 more rigs sharing 20 amp connections all on a single 50 amp breaker. It was enough to keep the batteries charged but when the temperature got into the eighties those 50A and 100A breakers didn't stand a chance. We finally just ran our generator whenever we needed to cool the coach down. The parking area was inside the gates of the stadium, backed up to the perimeter fence. The stadium is in use every weekend for local track meets so there was staff available. In fact, we found a bronze plaque commemorating a concert by the Beatles in 1964.
The location for this impromptu campground was excellent. A 1/2 mile walk or drive got you to the southeast corner of City Park where you cross into the neighborhood surrounding the fairgrounds. Another 1/2 walk and we where there. We drove the first half, parked then walked in. After spending a full day eating, eating, eating and walking from stage to stage to listen to some fine music that last 1/2 mile home was better done in a car.
Our hosts for the first weekend from the Big Easy Rollers where Warren and Betty McDanials. They helped everyone get parked and hooked up. They provided very good breakfasts and dinners for a very fair price and they provided tickets at the advanced sales price.
Now the Jazz Fest:
Where can you go to spend seven days watching live music from 11:00am to 7:00pm, on twelve stages for $25.00 a day. I've seen tickets for one concert that ran more than the $175.00 we spent. This festival is a must see for anyone who likes Jazz, Blues, Gospel or Rock. All the music you could possibly want and some of the best food you will find anywhere. All the acts we watched where good, some of the most memorable acts where: Susan Tedechi in the Blues Tent, BB King at the Sprint Stage, Ike Turner in the Blues Tent, Tribute to Little Walter, Buckwheat Zydeco, Toots and the Maytalls, Rockin Doopsie Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters, Buddy Guy, Dr John, Nickel creek, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and many, many more.
