Saturday night we did the Krewe of OAK midsummer Mardi Gras street party & parade. One last bit of partying New Orleans style while there still is a New Orleans. Much smaller turn out than usual, as many had already left or were leaving; some folks exausted from boarding up their houses but showed up any way. Some of the stops weren't made; some bars and businesses along the routes were closed, though Maple Leaf, Carrollton Station, and Snake & Jakes were going strong. The golf-cart floats weren't there (someone said they saw the giant heads earlier in the day, but perhaps the giant disembodied heads of James Booker and Everet Maddox et al decided to evacuate or go into hiding on their own). Good party. Hollie was a bit tired for it. Beverly was seriously getting in to it, and Girgl clearly enjoyed it.
I had advised Bev and Girgl to head out as early as possible in the morning, and they left for Arkansas before dawn. Hollie and I head out about 40 minutes later, heading east on I-10 while most people were evacuating north and west. We'd been advised to avoid Pensacola Bay, and took inland routes from I-65 going north from Mobile, various smaller highways before connectinng with 90 and back on I-10 at Crestview Florida. No major delays once we got past Slidell, Louisiana.
Two other groups of people from New Orleans at the motel breakfast this morning here in Jacksonville.
If New Orleans joins Atlantis in the role call of legendary lost cities, we exiles will no doubt have Krewes and jazz bands going in time for Mardi Gras.
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mshollie and I are safe in Jacksonville Florida.
