Deep South Postscript and Stats
As anyone who has read enough of these blogs knows by now… I have trouble writing those last few days of each trip. But, instead of a final story on Birmingham and the trip back, I’ll give you a few factoids postscript style!
Here’s some facts, figures and musing as I find myself back in Tampa today:
Total Miles Traveled: 2047
Average Price of Gas/Gallon April, May 2008(Most Expensive): $3.45 ($3.59)
Average per day cost in gas: $30 bucks
Average Lodging Cost: $75
Most Expensive Lodging Cost after tax: $130 (Birmingham, AL)
Cheapest Lodging Cost: $18 (Lafayette, LA)
Things I wish my rental car had: Cruise Control. 50mpg. GPS.
Moon Pies encountered (eaten): 3 (2.5)
Number of Days with rain: 2
Number of Nights spent in tin shack during tornado warnings: 1
Number of Times car was up to its headlights in flash flood: 1
Number of Days with Temps above 80 degrees F, despite warnings: 1
Best (Worst) Views of the Mississippi River: Vicksburg, MS (River Road, LA)
Number of Times ate Red Beans and Rice: 4
Number of Times ate Oysters: 3
Number of Days where no fried food was included: 1 - there was a flood and tornados, didn’t eat dinner, ate moonpies which to my knowledge are not deepfried.
Alligators spotted: 25+
Great Blue Herons: 5
Snakes: 2
Vampires: 0
Boat breakdowns: 1
Times when Mapquest or Google Maps was way wrong: 4
Times when roadsigns said left, but meant right or straight: 6
Times I crossed the Mississippi (times by accident): 6 (2)
Number of hours of driving Sprint got zero phone service: 8
Voodoo dolls acquired: 2. watch out people, I haven’t assigned em yet!
One other quick note on general knowledge gained: here is a list of words New Orleans residents really really pronounce “unusually”: Chartres Street (said Charters), Burgundy Street (said Bur-GUN-dy), Vieux Carre (said voo ka-RAY), Calliope (said Cal-e-OPE)
And Finally, the basic route: Tampa, FL > Apalachicola, FL > Pensacola, FL > New Orleans, LA > Vacherie, LA > Breaux Bridge, LA > Lafayette, LA > Baton Rouge, LA > Natchez, MS > Vicksburg, MS > Clarksdale, MS > Oxford, MS > Tupelo, MS > Birmingham, AL > Montgomery, AL > Tampa, FL
Tags: Alabama, Apalachicola, Breaux Bridge, Clarksdale, Deep South Road Trip, Deep South USA, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Orleans, Panhandle, Postscript, Roadtrip, Tornado, USA, Vicksburg, Tag Index