Leg 8 - New Orleans, LA to Pensacola, FL

Decided not to spend the extra night in New Orleans. One night on Bourbon Street was plenty.

I had some Jambalaya for dinner on Bourbon Street which was good. I then walked to Frenchman Street, about 12 blocks, where I was told there were jazz clubs. Music clubs would have been a more accurate description. The music was good although a 'one drink per set' minimum put a damper on staying longer than one set. By the time I got back to the hotel it was after 1 am, a long day since I got up at 5 am starting leg 7.

I took the following video just before leaving Bourbon Street. I have never seen that many over liquored people in one spot, ever. Even on the Las Vegas strip. It was one solid mass of party, party, party.

Bourbon Street

I left New Orleans, LA at 9:30 am after a short nights sleep. I was not charged for the second night of the reservation.

I kept with my plan to stay off of the Interstate as much as possible. I took US Hwy 90 E to Pascagoula, MS. From New Orleans, LA to Pascagoula, MS, Hwy 90 E hugs the southern coast. It was absolutely gorgeous. The white sand beaches of Biloxi, MS were an awesome sight.

I stopped in Pascagoula, MS for lunch. I saw a place off of Hwy 90 that had a full parking lot, a sure sign of good food. I was not disappointed. There was no menu, just a large buffet of fried chicken, black eyed peas, fried green tomatoes, corn bread, mashed potatoes and much more. All you can eat for $11.75! No wonder the parking lot was full. Tough to do better than fried chicken in southern Mississippi.

I took Interstate 10 E from Mobile, AL to Pensacola, FL where I decided my energy level just wasn't up for pushing on any further. I checked into a Holiday Inn Express around 3:30 pm.

This was the first time on the trip where I was in four states all in the same day; LA, MS, AL and FL. A big difference from almost a week just in Texas.

Now that I am in Florida, I will be here for at least five days. I have to cover the panhandle and the entire length of Florida twice. Once going south to Key West, FL and a second time going north for the third corner in Maine.

Overall, 235 miles and 6 hours.