Weekend fun at Hilltop RV Park in Princeton LA

We are getting the used RV that we purchased four months ago ready to haul to our next Workamping assignment. In the meantime, we're hooked up in Hilltop RV park in Princeton, LA near Shreveport. It's peaceful and quiet and surrounded by tall trees. There are hiking trails and a small lake stocked with fish.

This weekend I invited the kids and grandkids out and we enjoyed the great outdoors in 72 degree temperatures and sunshine. If you want a quiet place with reasonable rates that can accommodate small or large rigs, including several pull throughs, this is a nice place to visit.

 

 

Stampeding Buffalo on iron mountain road.MOV

Some things just make sense

Some things just make sense; like towel racks in the bathroom, curtains on the windows, and yes, paper towel holders. Then why did I purchase a used, ten year old, fifth wheel that didn't have a paper towel holder installed? Why didn't the previous owners take care of this? Sure you can shove the roll in a drawer or put it on the counter, but really, why would you take up precious storage or counter space? It's been on my "to do" list for too long. Finally, last week, I spent about three dollars to purchase the plastic holder, and today I got out the drill - the result:in less than five minutes, I had the holder installed and my paper towels are now where they belong - over the sink, in a handy place, leaving my counter tops and drawers free of their clutter. It's the small things that make me happy! What did yo do today to make your life easier?

Book Review "Chasing Charlene: a novel of loss and deliverance" by Chris Haden

For those who seek pure entertainment or light reading on a rainy day, this is a perfect page turner. It combines a love for the RV lifestyle as well as having a strong emphasis on motorcycle travel. Many themes run through this piece: romance, sorrow, heartbreak, trials and tribulations, as well as true love. Chuck Calder, the main character has lost the love of his life and is chasing the meaning of life both literally and figuratively. He rides his Kawasaki 1500 cc touring bike cross country to all the old places he and Charlene lived in or frequented. From Arizona to California and parts in between, he describes the scenes both in present day and in the past; a nice manner of composition. How does he come to terms with the loss of the love of his life?  How does his past military service fit into it all? Are his memories true or did Charlene have an affair during their long marriage? Does it matter? Will he ever find love again? How does one move on after such a tortuous loss? You won't find any spoilers here. You'll have to buy the book, and support a fellow RVer. It's available on Amazon Kindle for just $2.99.

Book Review - "Retire to an RV, the Roadmap to Affordable Retirement" by Jaimie Hall Bruzenak and Alice Zyetz

"Retire to an RV, the Roadmap to Affordable Retirement" by Jaimie Hall Bruzenak and Alice Zyetz is a comprehensive guide for anyone considering retirement to an RV. Its easy language and sensible advice is especially beneficial for beginner RVers. It covers such topics as making the decision to live the RV lifestyle, how to get your mail, selecting your RV, how to afford the lifestyle, medical insurance and health care on the road, safety and emergencies and much more. The authors also provide a resource section with links to over 200 topics and a section titled "55 ways to save money living the RV lifestyle". The authors speak from experience, lending credibility to the book. The Kindle edition can be purchased on Amazon for $17.47.

The Plan of Action

Making the decision to live full time in an RV requires thorough planning, and one must consider all aspects of the move.  There's no right way, I've found. It should be an individual plan tailored to what's right for you and your family. With that said, I've found a plan that works for me, and also might work for you. The basis of this plan is the fact that I have not yet sold my house, but I have purchased my RV home. We purchased a used RV, which I recommend for newbies, if only that the investment will be much lower than a new RV if you decide this lifestyle is not right for you. Also, most new RVs can lose up to 20% of their value as soon as they are driven off of the dealer's lot. Purchasing used, however, comes with its own set of problems. One might not have the original manuals. There may be repairs and modifications that need to be made before moving into the vehicle. And, of course it is going to take some time to sort through your stuff and decide what to keep. Then, there's the actual packing and unpacking. This process will require decisions on what needs to be taken and what are extraneous or simply desires. The needs are pretty straight forward; dishes, for instance. But, you will have to decide which dishes and how many. You will have to do this with every household item from towels and linens to clothing. Then there's the stuff you want to take; maybe it's a print or wall hanging that is dear to you, maybe it's a nic nac or collectible, maybe it's your book collection. In each case you will have to determine if it's worth the weight and if there is a place for it on the RV. Also, you should ask yourself if it will add value to your life, or if it will just add clutter.

The plan I am full steam ahead with allows me to live in the RV in a local park while being able to take care of my house while it is on the market and still have a support group of my family and friends in the local area. It allows me to continue to work part time and save money for the new lifestyle. In essence, I've become a full timer and a workamper without leaving the town that I've lived in for the last 20 years. 

When I first moved into the RV almost 4 months ago, I loaded it up with the things I thought I would need, use and want. Since then I've been able to look back and see what I have really used and what is extraneous and can be removed.  I've sorted through my clothes and linens and found that I was able to discard some of these items; I donated most to Goodwill. I decided to keep one extra set of sheets so I can change sheets and have the extra set if company visits. I keep three throw blankets that can double as covers when I have guests or are used to snuggle on the sofa or when I'm watching TV at night and I fall asleep, or as a cover on my new sofa when Chloe, the Yorkie decides to bring her wet or dirty paws inside. Even though I clean and dry her paws and fur at the door, I'm just not ready to let her have free reign of the sofa without the additional protection of the covers. These covers also complement my decor so they can be thrown over the back of the chair or sofa, out of the way when not in use. I've found that if an item can have more than one use, it is a good choice for the RV.

I love to cook and have brought an assortment of pots and pans as well as dishes along for the ride. Even so, I've found that many of the items I brought were destined for Goodwill, and I purchased a few additional items that are conducive to my new lifestyle. When considering dishes, pots and pans and small appliances, I think it's important to first determine how much cooking you will do, what type of cooking and how many people you will be cooking for. Initially I purchased plastic dinner plates, bowls and saucers but decided I really disliked eating from plastic. To enrich my life, it was important to have glass plates and bowls. So, I compromised and purchased a set of four since most of the time it would only be my husband and I that I am cooking for. The additional plates are used for serving platters when needed or on occasions when I have company. If there are more than four dining with us, it's paper plates to the rescue. The bowls are large enough to use as mixing bowls for scrambling eggs, making gravy or sauces in the microwave or warming up and steaming vegetables in the microwave, yet small enough to be used as soup or cereal bowls and are small enough to take up little storage space. I have two wine glasses, four 8 ounce stackable cups, four 16 ounce stackable cups and four glass coffee mugs. I round out my cabinet with a couple of small storage containers for left overs, but if possible I use freezer storage bags both for freezing items and for leftovers in the refrigerator. I have a full set of eight forks, knives, butter knives and spoons as well as a selection of cooking utensils - ladles, can opener, corkscrew, spatula, and the like. Over the past few months I have been able to discard and donate several of the utensils that I've found to be unused and therefore extraneous. 

I've found that most of the cooking I do is for one or two people and so some of my small appliances were not being used. In truth, they were only used occasionally in my sticks and bricks home, but there I didn't have to consider storage and weight like I have to in the RV. The large crock pots, warmers, blender, juicer, bread maker, mixer with bowls, platters, baking pans, pots, various other pans and skillets went the way of Goodwill or were sold at one of three garage sales. Since I am in a park and hooked up to electricity, I found that I can save money by using electrical appliances (since electricity is included in my lot rent, and propane is not), so I've reviewed and ultimately purchased a couple of electrical appliance that have come in handy. I still like to make soups and chili, but have nowhere to store leftovers (or limited space for leftovers), so I purchased a small crock pot that takes up less space and of course, meets the criteria of running on electricity. I kept my electric griddle for omelets, grilled cheese, pancakes and such since I used it almost weekly in my home. I've found in the RV, though, that I haven't used it at all. It may be time to get rid of it, too. I purchased an induction stove top complete with stainless steel fry pan, but may have rushed into this purchase as I've yet to master cooking on this appliance. It's beneficial in that it's electric and can serve as a cook top if you're out of propane or want to save on propane. The appliance doesn't get hot since induction technology only heats the area that comes into contact with the magnetic cookware, leaving the unused portion of the element unheated. There is no open flame or red-hot coil to ignite fumes or flammable materials. It's flat surface, with no grates or coils makes it easy to clean using a damp cloth or sponge. I also like the fact that it's square, making ultimate use of storage space. but it has some drawbacks too. I can only use magnetic pans for the worktop, making my favorite skillet useless. I find it difficult to control the temperature, regardless of its advertisement stating it has precision heating controls. The jury is still out on this appliance. I kept my quesadilla maker and use it for breakfast, lunch and dinner creations. It runs on electricity and makes delicious, crispy quesadillas in minutes.  I fill tortillas with scrambled eggs, sausage and cheese for breakfast, ham, or turkey and cheese for lunch or pizza ingredients, Philly cheese steak ingredients and many more creations for a hearty dinner menu when combined with soup and salad.  It's a keeper!

For now, my plan of action, living in the RV while I am selling my home is working out great and I'm learning just what I need to know before I hit the road. 

Come back soon and visit my page as I write about other space saving RV tips and my transition to full time RV living. 

The benefits of living full time in an RV

There are many benefits to living in an RV and if you're not convinced, here's my pro list.  I'll share my much shorter con list later - no wait, there is not a con list.

• There's a lot less living space to clean
• You can tap into your creative side and decorate your RV just like your home; only on a smaller scale.
• There's a lot less maintenance than if you own a home. 
• Much of the maintenance you need can be done by yourself or with the help of another RVer.
• You can take your home with you when you travel; save on hotel bills.
• You can live on a lake one week, in the mountains the next or in your daughter's driveway the next.
• Want solitude?  Boondock.  Want the social scene?  Check in to a park and meet new people.
• You're not a pest when you visit family since you don't have to crash their living space.
• Lot rent is reasonable and sometimes includes cable and internet.  You can choose parks with just the basics or parks that have a complete recreation program - even a pool!
• Your energy consumption is much lower than in a sticks and bricks home.  Without trying, you leave a smaller carbon footprint.
• Refrigerators and food storage areas are small so you don't have to load up on groceries - it's easier to follow a diet when you don't have loads of food packed away, screaming "eat me", "eat me".
• It's fairly easy to find temporary work; especially seasonal. You might even get your lot rent included for free.  Free is good!
• You meet tons of new people either in person or on the internet RV forums.  Try RVillage.  You'll find me there. 
• If on the off chance you don't like your neighbors, you can move.  Or, if you wait a while, they will move.
• You don't have to give up your favorite possessions.  You just have to pare down and take what's really important whether it's a 50 year old quilt that your grandmother hand sewed or as in my case a "magic carpet" that I brought back from the Middle East during my military service. 
• Photograph storage is likely to be on your computer, saving tons of space in printed albums. Likewise with books. Kindle and the Kindle app will save you book storage space.
• Your pets can travel with you.  You don't have to find a "pet friendly" hotel. 
• You get to travel to places you've only dreamed of.  Visit the monuments in Washington D.C. and the Statue of Liberty at Ellis Island.  Take in an NFL, NBA or other sporting event in a city you would otherwise not visit. Travel the Natchez Trace, Hwy 101, Route 66, the Blue Ridge Parkway and other gems of the United States.  The list is endless and I could go on for days!
• Learn first hand about different cultures in the cities you visit. 

To me, the very best thing about RV living is that I feel like I'm on vacation every day, even if I am working. What's your favorite thing about living full time in an RV?  Send a comment.

You Don't Have to Go it Alone - there's a large community of RVers out there

I've always been a fan of the internet, and so when we decided to go full time and become Workampers, I turned to the forums and vast array of web sites for information.  I googled RV and literally thousands of domains were returned.  When I narrowed my search, I was able to find just about anything relating to RVs and the RV lifestyle.  I found that I wasn't alone, and I'm certainly not crazy - but if I am, I'm in good company.  There are more people living full time in RVs than I ever could have imagined.  Their experience has benefited me immensely and I continue to learn from them each day. For instance, my first weeks in the RV taught me new terms like gray water, black water, Fiver, Gooseneck, inverter, slide out, Workamper and Boondocking. If you're new to the lifestyle, you may or may not know these terms and can find them and more on the Good Sam's Camping Website. 

In addition to searching the web for general interest items, I also had occasion to surf for specific items such as replacement glass when someone busted one of my windows, furniture, refrigerator parts (grrrr!), sewage systems, propane and electrical issues, decorating, towing, campgrounds and the dreaded tv, internet issues. I didn't always like the answer I found, but I always found a myriad of answers, some contradictory, some opinion rather than fact, and others right on the mark. But every answer I sought brought value and increased my knowledge base. I've been full time for four months and have been forced to take a crash course in all things RV. I've got to say that the RV community is a close knit, helpful group for the most part. As with any large group, there's certain to be differences, but I've yet to encounter any "holier than though, snooty" persons who knew everything and didn't want to share it.  To the contrary, each person I asked a question to, each board I posted to, each comment I made -- all were answered with respect and a humble attitude. Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure they exist; I just haven't run across them, and my point is this:  if you want to call yourself a part of a group, it doesn't get much better than calling yourself an RVer, which brings me to two groups that I recently joined; Escapee's RV Club and RVillage. The Escapee's home page proudly displays:  "Escapee members will find help with every aspect of RV'ing; from how to receive your mail, generating income on the road, finding reputable RV services, and locating places to park", and as far as I can tell, they hold up their end of the bargain. I was particularly impressed with their RV Advocacy; fighting for our rights, such as the fundamental right to vote, providing legal domicile information, mail service and especially their BOF (Birds of a feather) groups which establish groups for like minded individuals such as geocaching, computers, boondocking, quilt lovers, and more. One such group is Boomers BOF, a casual social group for those who have a youthful mindset (all ages are welcome to join as long as they are a member in good standing with the Escapee's RV Club). This group led me to look at Xscaper's.

“Xscapers is a support network geared toward a new generation of RVers who have not yet retired and who have already, or are aspiring to, hit the road pursuing a full-time or part-time nomadic lifestyle.” (Xscapers "about" page)

Xscapers is free to join and more information can be found on their website.  Once you join the Escapee's RV Club, you can choose to join Xscapers too, and will then have access to their full website and membership benefits.  

Xscapers led me to a social network site in which they have a large group, RVillage. RVillage is like a Facebook for RVers. But it's not just a social network; it provides a wealth of information and advice via its forums and group boards.  

Whether you're new to RVing or just haven't taken a look at some of the fun and informative sites on the internet, it's never too late.  One thing is for sure; you'll quickly find out "you don't have to go it alone - there's a large community of RVers out there".

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY 

When you live in an RV, I've found that you have to consider all purchases to determine need, cost, and value. 

Traditionally, Valentine's Day is a time to show your love to your significant other whether it be a girlfriend/boyfriend, BFF, child, or spouse.  The key is that if you and they live together in an RV, it's important to consider any gift you might purchase.  Remember, gifts can add weight to your RV impacting fuel mileage and your budget.  Gifts should be included in your budget since many, if not most full time RVers or Workampers live on a budget. Here's some ideas:

1.  Don't buy anything.  Go on a picnic, visit a museum or other sightseeing trip, take a walk in the woods, along the beach or other beautiful location.  Take along cheese and crackers and some wine or champagne.  

2.  Make a romantic dinner.

3.  Go out to dinner together, or lunch if you prefer.

4.  Visit the humane center and rescue the pet you've been planning to get.  Make sure you've considered the ramifications, and don't buy your sweetheart a pet that neither of you are prepared to take care of. 

5.  Buy dessert or chocolate covered strawberries from the grocery store bakery. 

6.  A six pack of beer and a steak on the grill even in February in the snow can be memorable. 

7.  Flowers are passe but many people expect them.  At least they don't last so you don't have to worry about the extra weight.  You can even buy plastic, re-usable and collapsible vases that don't weigh an ounce. Or buy a small plant that can travel with you and will last forever if taken care of. 

These are just some ideas.  Remember that gifts don't have to be tangible things that you can touch. Sometimes it's more important to make memories that you can share.  The main thing is that you show your love to that special someone. 

MY NEW WHITEBOARD

I like to make notes. Sticky notes can be found on a lot of my work files. I use a steno pad to make a daily and weekly list. And, I always have a whiteboard in my home to keep track of things like my important to do list (things I can not forget), upcoming birthdays, phone calls I need to make, and my grocery list among other things. Basically it's an "in my face" to do list which I can edit with a dry erase marker and an eraser, or if I'm in a hurry, I can make erasures with a swipe of my fingers.

When I moved into the RV four months ago, my whiteboard didn't come with me because it was permanently secured to my refrigerator in my house. So I purchased a small board with a string for a hanger which I could move around the RV. The problem was there were only two places I could hang it - on the bathroom doorknob which was too often out of sight, so not an acceptable location, or hanging over the remote control for the heater. The latter was the chosen place and it is visible from the main living areas of the RV. Visibility is key because the more I see it, the more I remember the items on the list, and the more likelihood that they will be completed and erased from my to do list.

**TIP: I usually use my cell phone to take a picture of the board each day as I'm leaving the RV so I can have it with me when I'm doing my shopping or errands.

The problem with the replacement whiteboard that I purchased for the RV is its size, measuring just 6" X 8". It's way too small to hold my complete list, and therefore does not adequately meet my needs.

Over the past several months, I've been in search of the perfect whiteboard. It's not this one, but I think I'll keep it for really important reminders since I've become accustomed to its location, and I'm sure to review it several times a day, thus guaranteeing I'll take care of whatever imminent to do item is listed on this board.

Next, I purchased a large whiteboard 18" X 24" which is big enough to contain my large list, but too large for the RV. It's bulky and ugly if left in the living area, so I have a habit of tucking it under the desk where it's mostly out of view, which defeats the purpose. 

I've known for some time that I need to replace it, but have not found its replacement until today. I thought I found a replacement a few weeks back when I was at the fabric store. I saw a chalk board decal that I could hang inside a cabinet or on a door, and thought I would hang in on the sliding bedroom door or the bathroom door. I purchased it and got it home, but found out that it was a permanent decal and would be difficult to remove without dealing with a lot of tape residue. Rather than take it back, I gave it to my daughter who hung it inside her kitchen cabinet door and uses it. In hindsight, I'm glad it didn't work out because I'm not sure I would have liked the chalk. 

So my quest continued. 

Today I was at Home Depot purchasing some door trim; this item will be the subject of a future post. I walked through the window treatment aisle and my eyes briefly caught a display of WALL POPS decals. I've always been a fan of this wall art since the designs are aesthetically pleasing and there's a large selection to complement any decor, so I paused to peruse the display. A bright red decal caught my eye, and when I saw it, I knew I had found my new whiteboard. Since it was big enough to be a visible reminder of my to do list and cute enough to fit into the RV decor, I checked the price, $19.95. Yep, it went in my basket and off to the checkout counter I went.

I couldn't wait to get back to the RV and hang the decal. I had two options of a display area, the bathroom door or the sliding pocket door to the bedroom. Since I don't often pull out the pocket door, it really wasn't an option unless I wanted to start using it all of the time. So, I went with the bathroom door. I know, I said earlier that it was not a good place for the whiteboard. But, what I meant was it is not a good place for the 6" X 8" whiteboard. Because this one is so large, approximately 20" X 46" it would work. Additionally, when I said it wasn't a good place for hanging the whiteboard it's because at the time I kept the bathroom door closed most of the time. And, with it closed, the whiteboard is not very visible. But, since then, I've found that I like to keep that door open most of the time. One reason is that it opens across the stairs to the bedroom so it looks like a door is closing off that room. I like to have that appearance but the only other way to do that is open the pocket door, which I hate to do - it is very difficult to reach your fingers in the slot and slide the door - just not a good design; another reason not to hang the new whiteboard there.

**TIP: Another reason I like to keep the bathroom door open is that there is no heat in there, and when you wake up in the middle of the night or early morning to use the facilities, the small toilet room is freezing cold. With the door open, the heat from the bedroom gets into the toilet room.

(Note: My RV has a separate shower, toilet room and sink area attached to the upper bedroom.)

The Wall Art is a nice addition to my decor and has solved a problem; it weighs almost nothing, and was not cost prohibitive, all factors to consider when adding something to the RV.  

Happy Mardi Gras

MARDI GRAS  

When you think of Mardi Gras, what comes to mind? New Orleans, floats, beads, costumes, queens and kings, masks, king cakes, parades, and revelry, no doubt. Let me tell you what I know about Mardi Gras. I've lived in Louisiana for twenty years and can sum it up in one word, PARTY! OK, that's not really true, but it comes very close. In truth, Mardi Gras itself is a one day holiday and is on the calendar as the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, but the entire season has evolved to be called Mardi Gras by most revelers. It, however, is not the entire season as we like to think; the season is called Carnival, and is celebrated worldwide in cities such as Nice, France; Cologne, Germany and Rio de Janeiro.

Carnival begins on the Feast of Epiphany or the twelfth night (January 6^th) and ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday, determined by the date of Easter. It celebrates the arrival of the three kings at Jesus' birthplace, thus ending the Christmas season.¹ The gifts that the kings brought with them may be the reason for the gifts of the Mardi Gras season, trinkets such as cups, beads and doubloons. But the tradition of throwing trinkets during parades began in the 1870's by the Twelfth Night Revelers and remains a time honored tradition in New Orleans. The parade goers traditionally scream “Throw Me Something, Mister” to plead for the trinkets, and in New Orleans and other cities, women often bare their breasts to show themselves deserving and to garner the attention of the throwers. For good, family oriented Mardi Gras, Shreveport is a great option.  The Krewe of Sobek starts off the season with their annual parade. They are dedicated to bringing the Mardi Gras experience to the inner city.  Their goals are to support organizations that provide a helpful hand to those in need within our community, take part in charitable and non-political civic causes, provide fellowship among members of the community and participate in various parades and celebrations in the Louisiana area. Next, the Krewe of Harambee take to the streets for their annual Mardi Gras/MLK Day Parade.  The Krewe of Harambee's goal is to increase minority participation during the Mardi Gras season and support charitable organizations. The annual Highland Parade is well known as a kid friendly event. And, who wouldn't want to participate in the annual Barkus and Meow event, designed especially for our four legged friends? Two large parades in Shreveport are the Krewe of Centaur and the Krewe of Gemini ; both boast a more raucous crowd, but also have designated family areas along the route. 

Not surprisingly, Mardi Gras has its roots in paganism of the ancient Greeks and Romans celebrating fertility rites, but it was adopted by the Catholic church as a way to prepare the people for Lent. The leaders of the church quickly realized that it would be easier to allow some type of traditional festivals rather than abolish them altogether, while still bringing the people to Christianity. So they acquiesced to this period of raucousness.

During Medieval festivals, participants donned costumes, and that tradition continues today. The first American Mardi Gras was celebrated near New Orleans in 1899, therefore, New Orleans became the obvious city to host modern day celebrations, and they continue to be the main American host city for parties and parades. But, the celebrations are taking hold across the United States and moving to northern Louisiana and east and west across the Gulf states. The larger Louisiana cities such as Lafayette, Baton Rouge and Shreveport are all areas with full Mardi Gras schedules. It should be noted that the city does not put on the events, they just issue the parade permits. Events are put on and funded by private organizations, called Krewes. These Krewes select royalty, hold balls (usually closed to the public), and often organize the massive parades.

Purple, Green and Gold symbolizing Justice, Faith and Power are the official colors of Mardi Gras and were selected by the Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff of Russia when he visited New Orleans in 1872. A little known fact is that the colors he chose impacted the colors of two arch rival Louisiana College football teams. The stores stocked up on fabric for the official Mardi Gras colors, and Louisiana State University purchased a large amount of the purple and gold colors leaving only the green in stock. Tulane University then chose the green for their uniforms, and today their colors are green and white.

The King Cake, on the other hand, has its roots in the fact that the wise men brought gifts to baby Jesus. The King Cake is a sweet yeast cake covered in poured sugar in the Mardi Gras colors and usually has a plastic baby hidden inside. Long ago the queen was selected by which lady found the baby in the cake. In modern day, the tradition is that the person who finds the baby has to buy the next King Cake or host the next King Cake party. In recent years, cakes no longer have the baby hidden; that's something you have to do yourself.  In the days of law suits and frivolous litigation, company's are not willing to bear the burden of such a threat, so they just lay the baby on top.  They've also made it much larger than it was in years past, to decrease the risk of accidentally swallowing the plastic trinket. 

As for floats and parades; in 1833 a wealthy plantation owner near New Orleans solicited money to help finance an organized Mardi Gras celebration, and in 1837 the first parade was held. But, it wasn't until two years later in 1839 that one single float rolled through the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras and thus began the tradition of floats in the parades.²

^{Mardi Gras comes to a close in Shrevport-Bossier City tonight when the Krew of Aesclepius parade rolls through the Louisiana Boardwalk and revelers later meet on the Texas Street Bridge for a final toast.  The Krewe of Aesclepius parade begins at 7 pm at the Boardwalk.  At midnight, revelers will gather on the bridge for an Ash Wednesday ceremony that will mark the beginning of Lent.  There will be champagne, followed by a closing prayer by a priest.} 

I hope you've enjoyed your history lesson and take the time to peruse the websites listed in the footnotes to learn more about this season rich in tradition.  And, as you're making travel plans for 2017, consider Shreveport for Mardi Gras.  Happy Mardi Gras!

1http://www.nola.com/mardigras/about/index.ssf?/mardigras/about/content/history.html

2Http://www.novareinna.com/festive/mardi.html