So Long To 2015 - 12/31/15 - Yuma, AZ

Thursday – December 31, 2015
Imperial Dam BLM LTVA
Winterhaven, California

As another year draws to a close, we find ourselves celebrating Christmas and the New Year in the desert, at the Imperial Dam LTVA, just as we did in 2014.

This year, there are fewer snowbirds wintering here, probably about 25% less from last year. Also, it has been much cooler, with daytime temperatures in the low sixties compared to the middle sixties last year. One constant is the wind and the sun. Days are sunny, which makes it feel warmer than it actually is and the wind speeds vary by the day. Some days will be calm with wind speeds around 5 mph or less, other days may have wind speeds of 10 mph with wind gusts to 15+ mph. Then there are those rare days when there will be sustained winds of 20+ mph with wind gusts to 50+ mph. Fortunately, we only had one of those days this year and one in 2014.

We enjoyed watching the evening parade of several vehicles decorated with Christmas scenes. This event took place every night during the week leading up to Christmas. Such a fun time!

Once we had our campsite set up we put out our hummingbird feeder. Other campers also put feeders out. There are numerous hummingbirds in the desert, and they sail through the air like miniature, jet-propelled drones as they go from feeder to feeder, sampling the homemade nectar. We often hear the fluttering of their wings before we see them. They are so fast… now you see them, now you don’t!

As sunset approaches, we often hear the braying of wild burrows off in the distance. On occasion we will see them, individually and in a group of three or more. From what we have observed, they appear to be more active at night than during the daytime. We have seen them stand in one place, seemingly without moving, throughout the day. Then at sunset they start to roam and graze, making their way to areas containing water.

On occasion, we will spot a coyote off in the distance from our campsite or trotting along side of the road when we are driving into Yuma. But more often than not, we hear the raising chorus of their yelping as darkness settles over the desert.

We spend our days going for walks, reading, playing board games or cards, watching some of our favorite television programs and sight seeing.

Sunsets in the desert present a kaleidoscope of brilliant color and variation as cloud formations form a spectacular display of varying geometric shapes against the backdrop of the darkening sky.

Such is life in the desert during our winter sojourn!

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Imperial Dam LTVA - 12/21/15 - Yuma, AZ

Monday – December 21, 2015
Imperial Dam BLM LTVA
Winterhaven, California

We spent a restful night at a 24-hour Walmart in Las Cruces, New Mexico. We were anxious to get an early morning start, with the objective of arriving in Yuma, Arizona before sunset.

Traveling west of Tucson, Arizona on Interstate 8 showcases the vastness and beauty of the desert region of southwestern Arizona. Saguaro cactus dominate the landscape in some regions while majestic mountain vistas present themselves in the distance.

Border patrol checkpoints on Interstate 8, both eastbound and westbound, provide a measure of security along our southern border with Mexico. All traffic is diverted through these checkpoints. In addition, Border patrol agents are frequently seen traversing the stretch of Interstate 8 between Tucson and Yuma.

Clear skies and warm weather welcomed us to the Imperial Dam, BLM, LTVA in Winterhaven, California (20 miles northwest of Yuma, Arizona). We will spend the winter in this desert region.

Arizona and California have sizeable portions of federal desert land that are operated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Some regions of these desert lands are designated as Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVA). These are large areas: some with water, restroom, trash and dump facilities and some with no facilities.

LTVAs operate from September 15 to April 15 each year. During this time period, campers can choose to stay in one location or move throughout any of the LTVA’s. The fee is $40 for 14 consecutive days of camping or $180 for any period of time within the September 15 to April 15 timeframe.

Camping on BLM lands, not designated as LTVA’s, is known as dispersed camping. The BLM allows camping on any BLM lands as long as it isn’t posted against camping. There are absolutely no facilities within these areas, campers must pack in and pack out everything. This type of camping is usually free, but there is one major caveat: you can only camp in one area for 14 days out of any 28-day period. Once your 14 days are up, you must move to another site that is at least 25 miles distant.

We choose to camp in LTVA’s. Shortly after setting up our campsite, the sun began to set, reflecting off of the mountains in the distance.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Travel Details:
Departed: Las Cruces, New Mexico
Departure Time: 6:00 A.M.
Arrived: Winterhaven, California
Arrival Time: 3:45 P.M.

Campground: Imperial Dam
Type: BLM LTVA
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: N Longitude: W
Camping Fee: $180.00 (September 15 to April 15)
Campsite: North Florida Flats
Campsite Hookups: None
Campground Amenities: Flush Toilets, Water, Dump Station
Site Size (length): Any Length

Cellular Service: Verizon - 4G, 3 Bars
Internet Service: Verizon Jetpack, 5 Bars
WiFi Service: Free WiFi at Yuma Proving Ground Library & Bowling Center
Dish TV Satellite Service: Strong signal – receive local networks and all satellite channels.

Total miles traveled today: 520
Route Traveled:
West on Interstate 10
West on Interstate 8
North on Arizona Highway 95
West on Imperial Dam Road (entrance road to Yuma Proving Ground)
West on Senator Wash Road to Imperial Dam BLM LTV

Las Cruces, NM - 12/20/15

Sunday – December 20, 2015
Las Cruces, NM

We departed Fredericksburg, Texas under overcast skies. Our objective is to be in Yuma, Arizona on Tuesday, to avoid any possibility of dealing with the Christmas holiday traffic.

While traveling on the seemingly endless Interstate 10 through western Texas, Sharon consulted our Android Smartphone App, Allstays Camp and RV, to find a place to spend the night. We selected a 24-hour Walmart in Las Cruces, New Mexico that received good reviews from other RV’ers who had spent the night there. We were not disappointed. We were comforted to see roving security on the premises. We selected a secluded parking spot by the garden section and spent a peaceful night nestled among several other RV’s.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Travel Details:
Departed: Fredricksburg, Texas
Departure Time: 8:30 A.M.
Arrived: Las Cruces, NM
Arrival Time: 7:00 P.M.

Campground: Walmart, Exit 140, I-10
Cellular Service: Verizon - 4G, 5 Bars
Internet Service: Verizon Jetpack, 5 Bars

Total miles traveled today: 546
Route Traveled:
West on U.S. Highway 290
West on Interstate 10

Christmas Lights - 12/18/15 - Fredericksburg, TX

Friday – December 18, 2015
Christmas Lights on Main Street
Fredericksburg, Texas

Before we departed Fredericksburg, Texas we wanted to experience the nighttime Christmas light decorations on the stores along Main Street and at the park on the northwest corner of Adams and Main streets. So… off we go on a nighttime auto tour of this quaint Texas town.

Traveling along Main Street reminded us of a nighttime scene out of the classic movie "It’s A Wonderful Life", starring James Stewart. Of course, there is no snow here in Texas, but the scene along Main Street waxes nostalgic about past visual celebrations of Christmas.

The town’s park featured several decorated trees with bluish-tinted lights, a tall, beautifully decorated Christmas Tree

and a tall, multi-section, rotating display of Christmas holiday characters.

As we walked through the park we discovered a small, enclosed ice skating rink. Skaters of all ages and skill levels were enjoying the thrill of gliding over the ice.

Oh how I remember that wonderful feeling so well! Instant, wonderful memories from my youth flooded my senses.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Fredericksburg, TX - 12/17/15

Thursday – December 17, 2015
Fredericksburg, Texas

We enjoyed a beautiful sunny day, with the temperature in the middle sixties. We took advantage of the nice weather to take a walking tour on Main Street of Fredericksburg, Texas. Main Street is lined on both sides of the street, for about six blocks, with boutique shops and restaurants. It is such a pleasure to see this small town thriving with so many business establishments. Too often in our travels, we have passed through many small towns that have not survived the economic pressures of the modern era.

Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 and named after Prince Frederick of Prussia. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 10,530. The town is also notable as the home of Texas German, a dialect spoken by the first generations of German settlers who initially refused to learn English. On October 14, 1970, the Fredericksburg Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas.

There are many attractions within this region of Texas:

Vineyards
Several vineyards are located within the region and are popular with visitors. Many vineyards offer wine tastings.

LBJ National Historic Park

Visitors can experience more than 100 years of Hill Country history at this 718 acre National Park. This park honors a native Texan, Lyndon Baines Johnson, who achieved the nation's highest office: 36^th President of the United States.

The park's location is historically significant since it is in the heart of the former president's home country. The area has been influenced by three major cultures: Native American, Spanish and German. Indians roamed the Hill Country first, leaving behind artifacts which tell of their nomadic life. The Spanish conquistadors followed, bringing a culture which was to endure to the present. German immigrants settled the Hill Country in the early 1800s and their descendants still call it home. Their culture has had a major impact on the development of the region and the park itself. All of these cultures are represented at the park. The facility was officially dedicated in August 1970 in a ceremony attended by the Johnson family and a host of dignitaries.

Old Tunnel State Park
This park is home to up to 3 million of Mexican free-tailed bats, every May through October. They inhabit an abandoned railroad tunnel located 12 miles east of Fredricksburg.

Watching a colony of bats emerge, as we did in August 2010, is truly a special experience! During emergence, the bats spiral upwards in a counter-clockwise direction in order to gain altitude. Their emergence from the tunnel, on our visit, lasted close to two hours.They filled the twilight sky with a narrow, dark cloud of fluttering wings, spiraling upwards, for as far as the eye can see.

Aerial predators, such as red-tailed hawks, are sometimes seen catching bats as they emerge, and terrestrial predators, such as racoons, feed on fallen bats. The large, serpentine column of bats can travel as high as 10,000 feet and 60 miles, one-way, each night to feed on agricultural pests such as the corn earworm, cutworm, and webworm moths. Each bat can eat its weight in insects nightly, and the Old Tunnel colony may devour over 25 tons of moths per night!

During our visit in 2010, we returned to the state park at 4:00 a.m. to observe the bats return to the tunnel. It was amazing! Also a bit intimating! It was pitch black outside when we arrived, alone, in a desolate area. As the night sky receded and dawn approached, about 5:30 a.m., we heard the bats before we could see them. We were standing outside, watching for them, as they flitted close overhead, in what appeared to us, a haphazard fashion as they quickly descended and disappeared into the tunnel. It is an experience we will never forget.

Fredericksburg is favored with several German restaurants. We just had to sample at least one of them, so we chose Der Lindenbain, based on its menu and delightful atmosphere.

Sharon ordered the Bratwurst Platte (two pan fried veal and pork sausages)

and I ordered the Zigeuner Platte (two pan fried veal and pork sausages topped with a mildly spicy bell pepper sauce).

Both entrees were served with sauerkraut and German potato salad. Everything was delicious and we congratulated ourselves on choosing this restaurant.

We finished off our walking tour in Fredericksburg with a visit to the Java Ranch.

We purchased two large Mocha’s and enjoyed them within the warm ambience of this wonderful local coffee shop.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

LBJ Municipal Park - 12/16/15 - Fredericksburg, TX

Wednesday – December 16, 2015
LBJ Municipal Park
Fredericksburg, Texas

We spent a quiet, restful night at a strip mall in Sealy, Texas. There were a few rain showers during the night and we awoke to overcast skies.

We decided last night we would spend a few days in Fredericksburg, Texas, located 80 miles west of Austin Texas. Our previous visit to this quaint town was in 2010.

At around 30 miles north of Interstate 10 on Texas Highway 71, we left the overcast skies behind and were favored with sunny skies for the duration of our travel to Fredericksburg.

While traveling west on U.S. Highway 290 we passed a Texas ranch that had a herd of cattle, all black, with a wide band of white around their middle. We had never seen this breed of cattle before and subsequently learned they are the Belted Galloway breed.

The Galloway is one of the world's longest established breeds of beef cattle, named after the Galloway region of Scotland, where it originated, during the 17th century. It is now found in many parts of the world, being exported to Canada in 1853, the United States in 1882 and Australia in 1951.

We arrived at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, without reservations, which is our usual modus operandi. No problem, they had plenty of campsites available. We will spend three days here.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Travel Details:
Departed: Sealy, Texas
Departure Time: 7:50 A.M.
Arrived: Fredericksburg, Texas
Arrival Time: 11:45 A.M.

Campground: Lady Bird Johnson
Type: Municipal Park
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: N30.24431 Longitude: W098.91231
Camping Fee: $35.00 per night (no discounts for out-of-state seniors)
Campsite: 52
Campsite Hookups: Electric, Water, Sewer
Campground Amenities: Flush Toilets, Free Hot Showers, Dump Station
Total Campsites: 90
Site Size (length): Can handle big rigs – 45 ft.

Cellular Service: Verizon - 4G, 3 Bars
Internet Service: Verizon Jetpack, 5 Bars
WiFi Service: Free WiFi throughout campground
Cable Service: Free cable hookups at each campsite
Dish TV Satellite Service: Strong signal – received local networks and all satellite channels.

Total miles traveled today: 193
Route Traveled:
North on Texas Highway 36
West on Interstate 110
North on Texas Highway 71 W (Exit 695)
West on U.S. Highway 290
South on Adams Street (Texas Highway 16)
West on Lady Bird Drive to Campground

Sealy, TX - 12/15/15

Tuesday – December 15, 2015
Sealy, Texas

We spent a delightful seven days in New Orleans. Our nomad lifestyle beckoned us back on the road, traveling to "somewhere," to discover another adventure.

Our travel goal for today is to get somewhere west of Houston, Texas before settling down for the night. We arrived within the city limits on the east-side of Houston, on Interstate 10, around 5:00 p.m. Traffic was already backed up, creeping along bumper-to-bumper, and continued so, even when we exited onto Interstate 610 North, a by-pass route around downtown Houston. Finally, close to 7:00 p.m. we cleared the seemingly endless traffic congestion of Houston. What a relief! I made a mental note to myself: Never travel through Houston again!!!

While traveling through Houston, Sharon had been busy researching places to stop for the night on our Android Smartphone App: Allstays Camp and RV. A truck stop in Sealy, Texas looked promising. Decision made!

Upon our arrival in Sealy, Texas we were pleasantly surprised to discover a strip mall adjacent to the truck stop. Within the strip mall were an Italian restaurant and an Asian restaurant. Perfect! A place to spend the night and have dinner too.

We dined at Jin’s Asian Café. Sharon had the Kung Pao Chicken and I had the Mongolian Chicken. Both items were delicious and satisfied our ravenous appetites.

Exhausted from our day’s journey, we settled in for a night of much needed rest.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Travel Details:
Departed: New Orleans, Louisiana
Departure Time: 11:05 A.M.
Arrived: Sealy, Texas
Arrival Time: 7:20 P.M.

Campground: Palais Royal Strip Mall
Type: Strip Mall
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: N29.76209 Longitude: W096.15223
Camping Fee: Free

Cellular Service: Verizon - 4G, 3 Bars
Internet Service: Verizon Jetpack, 5 Bars

Total miles traveled today: 400
Route Traveled:
West on Interstate 10
North on Interstate 610
West on Interstate 10 to Exit 720
South on Texas Highway

Streetcars - 12/14/15 - New Orleans, LA

Monday – December 14, 2015
Streetcars
New Orleans, Louisiana

We spent Sunday relaxing at our campsite at the Bayou Segnette Campground in Westwego, Louisiana. Overcast skies, with gusty winds approaching 25 mph, dominated the region. Thunderstorms were forecast to hit the area around 5:00 p.m. However, the worse part of the storm passed to the north of the campground. It wasn’t until around 9:00 p.m. a few rain showers, with gusty winds, passed through our location.

We awoke to a beautiful day: clear blue, sunny skies with the temperature forecast to reach 71 degrees. Perfect weather to spend our last day in New Orleans riding the streetcars!

New Orleans has these quaint, 1940’s era, streetcars that operate through specific regions of the city. Fares are $1.25 per ride or $3.00 for a 1-Day Pass that is good for unlimited rides.

New Orleans streetcars currently operate four lines, all of which connect on Canal Street:

St. Charles Line:
The streetcar leaves from the corner of Canal and Carondelet streets. This 13.2-mile route traverses the Central Business District, the Garden District and Uptown, turning onto Carrollton Ave.

Riverfront Line:
This 1.8-mile route runs along the Mississippi River from the lower French Quarter to the foot of Canal Street.

Canal Line:
This line connects with the St. Charles and Riverfront lines. Some Canal streetcars (marked "City Park" ) take the "spur" down Carrollton to City Park; other (marked "Cemeteries") continue to the end of Canal Street.

Loyola Line:
This new line runs from Union Passenger Terminal to Canal Street.

We parked at the Algiers Ferry parking lot ($5.00, all day). Unfortunately the ferry was not operating upon our arrival, so we had to take the bus over to New Orleans (there is also a bus stop at the Algiers Ferry landing).

We rode the St. Charles streetcar first. The highlight of this trip was the ride through the Garden District. Multi-million dollar historic mansions and multi-family homes adorn both sides of the street, throughout the district. The architectural splendor of these magnificent mansions is breathtaking.

The area was originally developed between 1832 and 1900 and is considered one of the best-preserved collections of historic mansions in the Southern United States. The 19th-century origins of the Garden District illustrate wealthy newcomers building opulent structures based upon the prosperity of New Orleans in that era.

This whole area was once a number of plantations. It was sold off in parcels to mainly wealthy Americans who did not want to live in the French Quarter with the Creoles. It became a part of the city of Lafayette in 1833, and was annexed by New Orleans in 1852.

Originally the area was developed with only a couple of houses per block, each surrounded by a large garden, giving the district its name. In the late 19th century, some of these large lots were subdivided, as Uptown New Orleans became more urban. This has produced a pattern for much of the neighborhood: of any given block having a couple of early 19th-century mansions surrounded by late Victorian period homes. Thus, the "Garden District" is now known for its architecture more than for its gardens.

As the streetcar makes its turn onto Carrollton Ave. it passes by O’Henry’s Food & Spirits Restaurant. The restaurant is housed in a 2-story house that was filled with diners as we passed by it. The streetcar operator made a point of pointing this restaurant out to the passengers. I made a mental note to add this restaurant to our next visit to New Orleans.

After the 26-mile roundtrip ride we were ready for lunch. We ventured over into the French Quarter to seek out a restaurant for a Poboy sandwich. We chose the Tableau Restaurant at 616 St. Peter Street. We liked the open-air, upscale-type ambiance of the restaurant. We were not disappointed! Sharon had the Pulled Pork Sandwich and I had the Fried Shrimp Poboy. Both selections were delicious!

A short walk from the Tableau Restaurant brought us to the Riverfront Streetcar Line. We boarded the streetcar at the Toulouse Street stop and rode it to the end of the line to the French Market. We remained on the streetcar and on the return trip, disembarked at the Dumaine Street stop.

There was an important reason for getting off of the streetcar at the Dumaine Street stop. It was close to the Café du Monde at 800 Decatur Street. This café is known for serving up the best beignets!

We ordered one order of beignets (a serving of 3) and two café au laits. The beignets were so delicious, even better than the beignets we had on Saturday at another place, we got another order to-go.

We finished off our visit to New Orleans with a walk along the Mississippi Riverfront. The sun had set a couple of hours ago and the lights from the city’s high rise buildings and gambling casinos reflected off the surface of the water. We basked in the serenity of the moment as we made our way to the Algiers Ferry station. We were pleased to see the ferry was now operating. We would not have to take the bus to the Algiers Ferry parking lot, located on the other side of the Mississippi River.

So long New Orleans… see you again on our next visit!

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

French Quarter - 12/12/15 - New Orleans, LA

Saturday – December 12, 2015
French Quarter
New Orleans, Louisiana

We begin Sharon’s special day under sunny skies and pleasant temperatures in the high seventies. We will celebrate her birthday at the Pier 424 Seafood Market Restaurant on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. We had dined at Pier 424 during a visit to New Orleans in March 2013 and so enjoyed our dining experience that it has become another one of our favorite restaurants in New Orleans.

We requested an open-air table adjacent to the sidewalk, so we could people-watch while we dined. We had the Oyster Rockefeller and Crab Cakes for appetizers. Sharon had the Shrimp Grits (her favorite menu item) and I had the Crawfish Etouffee (my favorite menu item) for our entrees. We were not disappointed… everything was delicious. We decided to forego dessert and have it later somewhere else within the French Quarter.

After lunch, we sauntered down to the corner of Royal and St. Peter streets to watch one of our favorite street musician groups: Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans band.

Doreen Ketchens is a soulful, talented, New Orleans musician, armed with a clarinet that has a mind of its own. When she wails on that clarinet her music fills the air with a celebration of musicality that draws crowds of appreciative visitors, turning the French Quarter street corner into an open-air jazz club.

Though she holds no official title, Ketchens is considered one of the city's cultural ambassadors. She and her band; tuba-playing-husband Lawrence Ketchens, trombonist Ronell Johnson, guitarist Paul Kimnetz and drummer Dorian Ketchens-Dixon provide one of the most entertaining musical street shows in the French Quarter.

Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans has represented New Orleans and the United States around the world, performing in Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, South America, Russia and the United States. They have performed for four United States presidents, including Bill Clinton, George Bush Sr., Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. The band also boasts 23 volumes of CD’s and 3 DVD’s.

In addition to being superb performers, Doreen and her husband Lawrence are outstanding educators. They regularly perform in schools around the world, educating students of all languages, spreading the culture and music of New Orleans.

After listening to Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans Band for a while, we continued on our walking tour of the French Quarter looking for a place to have dessert. Sharon had a taste for beignets, so we headed over to New Orleans Famous Beignets and Coffee shop on the corner of Decatur and St. Peter streets. We ordered one order of beignets (a serving of 3) and two café au laits. The beignets were so delicious, we got another order to-go.

We finished off our visit to the French Quarter with a stroll along the Riverwalk. This is a scenic area bordered on one side by the French Quarter and the other by the Mississippi River. Visitors are often favored with views of ocean freighters, cruise ships and barges traversing this region of this mighty river.

During our visits to the French Quarter in previous years, we had parked in the Algiers Ferry parking lot on Morgan Street ($5.00/day weekdays and $10.00/day weekends). We would then take the ferry ($1.00 for seniors) across the Mississippi River into New Orleans. It is a short walk of about three blocks from the Ferry station to the French Quarter.

On this visit we decided to drive into New Orleans and park in one of the public parking lots located within the French Quarter. We arrived around 12:30 p.m. and departed a little after 4:00 p.m. The cost for parking was $25.00! The lot we parked in did have the parking rates posted at the entrance to the lot. I subsequently found the rates posted at another nearby parking lot.

Premium Parking (www.premiumparking.com)
0 – 2 hours: $10.00
2 – 3 hours: $15.00
3 – 5 hours: $25.00
5 – 8 hours: $30.00
8 – 24 hours: $45.00
Lost Ticket: $100.00

On our future visits to New Orleans we’ll continue to take the ferry.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Willie Mae's - 12/11/15 - New Orleans, LA

Friday – December 11, 2015
Willie Mae’s Restaurant
New Orleans, Louisiana

We discovered Willie Mae’s restaurant while watching a segment on the Food Network during the summer of 2015. We decided to add this interesting restaurant to our next visit to New Orleans.

Willie Mae’s Scotch House was established in 1957 as a bar in New Orleans’ Historic Treme neighborhood. After a year the bar was moved to its current location at 2401 Saint Ann Street, which consisted of a bar, a barbershop and beauty salon in the front. In the early 1970’s, the beauty saloon closed, which brought on the demand for a restaurant from Willie Mae’s bar customers. The aromas of Mississippi and Louisiana cuisine emanating from the kitchen filled the air and brought on constant demand for delicious food.

In 2005, Ms. Willie Mae Seaton was honored with the prestigious James Beard Award for "America’s Classic Restaurant for the Southern Region." This award changed everything; bringing it from a local neighborhood eatery to a nationally recognized restaurant. Unfortunately, shortly after receiving the award, Hurricane Katrina hit the area and caused severe damage to the restaurant. With assistance from the Southern Foodways Alliance and many other organizations, the restaurant was able to reopen in 2007. Thus, bringing recognition from the Food Network and the Travel Channel as "America’s Best Fried Chicken." Today, Kerry Seaton Stewart, Ms. Willie Mae’s great-granddaughter now runs the operation that’s still serving up "America’s Best Fried Chicken." The restaurant is located in New Orleans’ 6^th Ward, just blocks from the historic Treme Neighborhood and the French Quarter.

We arrived at Willie Mae’s around 1:30 p.m. If it were not for the restaurants’ sign, this would be just another home in a residential neighborhood. There were a few people waiting in line outside of the restaurant.

No need to add your name to a wait list… just wait in line. As tables become available, one of the wait staff comes outside to welcome the next group in line to their table. We had a short wait of about fifteen minutes.

Parking throughout the neighborhood is free and there is a parking lot on the corner opposite from the restaurant.

Sharon and I had their famous "America’s Best Fried Chicken" with a side of Red Beans and Rice, served with a savory Corn Bread.

We followed that delicious meal with desert. Sharon had the Red Velvet Cheesecake and I had the Turtle Cheesecake.

Having now sampled their fried chicken we can see why they have received accolades for their cuisine. We will definitely be repeat visitors to this establishment!

Tomorrow another adventure begins.