Trip Chronicle #1 - We are headed to New Orleans. Leaving at about 2:30 today we have now made it to Natchitoches, Louisiana - pronounced Nakutish. After an investigation of the Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Inn, and Econo Lodge, we settled on the Econo because it was $64 bucks, an open pool, and breakfast of some type. The pool was warm, uncomfortably warm, like Ebola/Ecoli/Staff infection warm. So, I limited our time to about twenty minutes. We swam right after our arrival, Erin, Jeb, and I did. Leslie and Caleb hung out in room 127 watching Remember the Titans.

After the swim, we drove through the historic downtown of N. which we hardily recommend. For you movie buffs, Steel Magnolias, an early Julia Roberts movie, was set in this locale. The town is built along the Cane River and is quite picturesque(sp). We also stopped at Sonic and Burger King with all of us eating for $6.45.

We are headed to N.O. to see the Aquarium and the Aububon Zoo, both outstanding. We will also see some friends from Mississippi, Ted and Nancy Jackson. I wrote some about Ted in an earlier blog. He was photojounalist for the N.O. newspaper. We are scheduled to spend the 4th with them on Lake Ponchartrain with them in his sailboat.

Back to the Econo Lodge. This one is unique in that there is a window-seat/nook/bed/ where Erin is sleeping tonight.

One question regarding hotels is the absence of fitted sheets. Now, that is partly our experience because we stay in Econo Lodge's and other similar establishments. One Miller rule of travel is that the place we are staying needs a pool, which is easy to find, and that it is cheap, but safe. Where we stay isn't a big deal. We would rather spend money on something other than lodging, particularly lodging that we are in for less than twelve hours.

Tomorrow night, Tuesday, and Wednesday we are staying in the Maison Dupuy Hotel. A really good rate on hotels.com led me to this unknown establishment.

Other independent travel thoughts:

1. Interstate 20 is terribly boring even as interstate highways go.

2. I think everyone should take vacations.

3. Travel with one small bag per person. Keep stuff separate.

4. Children who cannot tie their own shoes must travel with shoes that velcro shut.

5. Scenic roads are almost everytime superior.

6. Anything but an interstate is scenic.

7. I do not understand what makes a breakfast continental.

8. Staying in a motel room with the curtains pulled tight and the air-conditioning cranked down low = good sleep. Especially when cleaning up is taken care of by someone else.

9. I think that there should be some sort of quick, disposable tooth brushing contraption.

10. All historical markers must be read.

It is now 10:47 p.m. Everyone is still up watching Remember the Titans or reading. In the morning, we rise and head south. First, through Alexandria, which I remember is mostly industrial blight, then Baton Rouge, home of the kittens, on to N.O.