Texas - 2024 - Day 6 - Travel back to Austin - Oct 4, 2024

 Today we had a full day of driving again to get ourselves back to Austin, TX.  

This morning we thought we were going to treat the kids to a Buffet Breakfast that they have been asking about, but instead Lola and AA treated the kids to a order off the menu in our hotel. MbMell and DD stayed back to pack. T had to try the crawfish omlete as he hadn't had any crawfish yet.  

We enjoyed our breakfast before getting the car and leaving the Hilton Double Tree hotel. Unfortunately we didn't get to charge before heading on the road, so we only drove about 1 hour before stopping to get a quick charge.  Lola and MBMell went to McDonalds to get a drink and MBMell some breakfast.  It was disappointing as the iced tea Lola and DD got was sweet tea, and wow was it way too sweet to drink.  DD and the kids ended up coming in to the restaurant to go to the washroom, and DD almost had AA's coffee spilt all over him, but luckily it was on the floor and not on him.

Back on the road we headed to the next charging location.  We parked and tried to head for lunch at McDonalds, but when we got in the restaurant, there were signs all over that that they didn't have drinks or ice cream.  We started to look at the menu board, and there wasn't even a drink option for Lola to have, like they didn't even have hot tea, never mind unsweet tea for DD.  We ended up going to Chick-fil-a just a short walk back towards the car. 

This is where people were getting a little moody.  B decided she wasn't going to eat, DD was mad about the McDonalds and that we were eating at 11:30, and not closer to noon, but this was the best stop on our Super Charger adventure. 

AA doing a little work in the car, witnessing a test.

MBMell and Lola ate at one table and the others at the other around the corner.  The restaurant was full of volleyball teams, so there weren't a lot of seating options available when we got there. We "all" ate, except for B, and headed back to the car to continue on our adventure.  Back over the bridges, and we decided we were going to stop at the Buc-ee's that was just past Houston.  Traffic was heavy and the time just kept increasing as we tried to make it through Houston.  We arrived there way later than DD had wanted. But we stopped and got some snacks, and used the washroom.  B still refused to eat anything.  MBMell was happy to have a Key Lime Pie.

There was a bucee's statue there last time we came...

Next stop was a little outside Austin at Santa Fe Steakhouse.  It wasn't as close to Austin as DD would have liked, but it was the best option for all. No Charging at this place as we had charged enough to get home from the Buc-ee's.  B was finally hungry.... but didn't let on.  She had 2 dinner rolls when they got placed on the table, ate her entire pasta with chicken and garlic bread, and then at 2 more dinner rolls, one in the restaurant and the last one on the way to the car.  We all enjoyed our meals, which were huge serving, and AA enjoyed always enjoys a good salad bar.

 

Back on the the road, the glow of the sun was beautiful as well as a sliver of the moon.  DD got us home just before 9, and it was time for the kids to get to bed. 

The adults played some games, and AA set up stuffed friends as he had done many years ago for the kids to wake up to.

We had a great time in New Orleans, and were excited to spend the day in Austin tomorrow.

Texas - 2024 - Day 5 - New Orleans - Oct 3, 2024

 Today we started the day at Couvant Restaurant for a wonderful breakfast.  T continued on his "liquid" diet trend and order an Acai bowl. The adults were excited for the croque madame (no Lola), but MBMell and DD had these in Paris, and always have them when they were on the menu.  MBMell was supposed to eat a lighter breakfast today, but that failed when she saw this on the menu.

We all enjoyed our food a lot, but the service was a little slow. But we had a relaxing day with only a few things planned so we weren't in a huge rush.

Next up we walked to the french quarter to try out a Mule Ride.  We should have started off the trip with this instead of ending it, as the tour guide provided recommending things to do and places to come back to see on the tour.  The couple on the carriage was very excited that we would fill it so we didn't have to wait for more people before going on our 30 minute tour.  We went around the french quarter, where the tour guide pointed out the different architecture, different types of homes, the first pharmacy in america, and the famous preservation hall (that was under construction but they are getting ready to reopen it).  We went past lots of neat balconies, houses and even the Cornstalk hotel - where the fence was iron corn stalks.  We found out they use Mules instead of horses, as they can handle the heat much better than a horse.

Next stop was for the Famous beignets.  This is why MBMell was supposed to eat a smaller breakfast as this was one of the things on her list she wanted to do.  We got take out, and sat at Jackson Square across the street from the cafe, where some tried the delicious treat except for Lola of course, and B wouldn't have one either.  They were hot, and covered in icing sugar.  AA also tried the coffee that had chicory, that they said was used as a filler to use less coffee.  AA said it was ok, but a little different tasting.

Once done with the treat we headed on the other side of Jackson Square to The Presbytere Louisiana State Museum.  T wanted to learn about Hurricane Katrina, and we knew B would enjoy the costumes of the Mardi Gras section.  It was a small museum but the kids enjoyed their "sides" and maybe a little cross over too. The costumes of the parades on display were very elaberate and couldn't imagine holding all that jewlery, fabric and feathers on your head and back.  After about 1.5 hours we were completed, and headed for lunch.  We were hoping to set inside the cathedral that was right inside, but unable as mass was going on, and we didn't want to wait for it to be over.

For lunch we went back to the first breakfast place we went to Coterie Nola.  We has a great time the first time so we wanted to try it for lunch. The guys were excited to try the flights of beer and MBMell had a Hurricane, which had a little alcohol in it, and she felt it.  MBMell and DD shared a Po Boy, Lola had jambalaya, AA and B enjoyed their salads, while T had the "taste of new orleans" which was spicier than he would have liked. 

After lunch we headed back to the hotel to do the activity B has been hoping we would be able to do before we left, go to the pool.  We could see it out the window of our room.  It was small and it was cold, but the kids really enjoyed it.  AA and DD also went in but they said it was cold. MBMell and Lola sat beside the pool.  The clouds were getting dark and the forecast said it was going to rain, but it was holding off while we were at the pool.  It was a struggle to get B out of the pool, but DD and T went back to the room to find out the cleaners were there, he also had problems with is key in the elevator, once they came back we all headed back, Lola got clean towels from the cleaners across the way, and we told them they didn't need to clean our rooms.  All the pool goers had showers and MBMell had a nap (that hurricane hit her hard).

Once everyone was rinsed off, the 5 of us played TowerFall on the switch now that DD went and got a HDMI cable.  We had an awesome time!  Lola and the kids even beat AA and DD, which is not always easy.

We got MBMell up from her nap and headed down to the hotel restaurant to enjoy some beverages and play some games before heading to our dinner reservation.  T played one game of Monopoly Deal with the adults, the decided he wanted to watch B play Animal Crossing.  We had a good time with a large enough table for all of us which felt weird as we had been playing on a bench in our hotel room most nights.

We walked to Hard Rock Cafe on Bourbon Street, it was about a 10 minute walk, and it only drizzled lightly or even at all.  Lola and the kids had burgers while AA, DD and MBMell ordered the always good fajitas.  DD was still full from the other meals of the day, so MBMell and DD shared another meal, while DD decided to order the nachos to supplement his half portion. B was excited about the pink bun, for cancer awareness month.  We headed back to the hotel, stopping for some drinks for the evening, where of course we were going to play Monopoly Deal.  We played a few games, including Overcooked on the switch.  It was a great last night in New Orleans.

Lola and MBMell went for a late night "snack" at Shake Shack before the restaurant closed.  MBMell got a milk shake, and Lola couldn't decide so of course she got a full meal :).  It was so good!