Remembrance/Veterans Day

A shower day, laundry day, 5 loads, but now everything from jackets, clothes to bedding and towels are clean. Bob has found a diesel place that has been recommended as the 'best in the state'.....our exhaust brake has not been working for a month but we also haven't had many mountain passes to deal with so it hasn't been a priority. If you are ever in Gonzales, La, and need diesel work done on your vehicle 'Coy's Diesel' is the place to go. They looked after us immediately, not even knowing what the problem was. After about 4 phone calls to the manufacturer in Chilliwack and 2 test drives they feel the problem is solved. We are only charged for an hours labour.
Our next stop before home is a grocery store, also recommended, called Ralph's Market. We are shopping for Louisiana meats, sausages, spices, anything local. We ask an employee that is in the meat department about all the different sausages they have. A few names are familiar from the ladies in the Welcome Center.

Jack turns out to be a walking encyclopedia of Cajun, Creole cooking as he worked with Emeril Lagasse in New Orleans. We are introduced to Andouille, Boudin, and several other sausages, gulf shrimp and even rib eye steaks. Turns out we have bought a few of the appropriate spices. We now know the difference between Jambalaya, and Jumbalaya.....
The store looks run down but is in the throes of renovations. Who knew we would meet a chef that has worked with Lagasse? He still lives in New Orleans and commutes to a different lifestyle. So often we have met busy people who don't hesitate to stop and spend time with us.

Bob is getting hands on information

Gulf shrimp.

Ralph's has a chef?....that creates a huge batch of Jambalaya every Saturday morning to sell in their three local stores. When we told him we were camped at Cabelas he said either he or an employee would do a drive through Cabelas and bring us a pot for our lunch on their way to the other stores.
Our mundane chore day ended with a dinner of our own halibut cooked with Cajun spices and coleslaw to cool the palate along with a few glasses of wine.
We met more welcoming people today and have more contacts of people to see and places to go. It just continues to make each day a wonderful adventure. I'm so glad I have persevered with this blog because I can't imagine remembering all our days without a written journal.
Tomorrow I get my art supplies. I am excited and again hope I will get the time to paint. I have to be the one that makes the time.

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