from Mobile to New Orleans

Saturday evening, January 31st

Well - we're actually here in New Orleans! As some of you know, I left Milton in a snowstorm on Wednesday and drove to New Orleans. It was a wonderful opportunity to drive southwest across the Appalachians and see a part of the country that I hadn't really seen before. I spent last night in Mobile, Alabama and this morning drove along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. While there has been considerable rebuilding of commercial buildings (casinos, hotels, McDonalds) along the coast, the devastation remaining from the 2005 hurricanes is still starkly visible. Vacant lot after vacant lot with only foundations visible. A cross and a sign that read: "St Patrick's Episcopal Church is temporarily worshipping at ......." All that remains of the church is its foundation looking out over a silver white beach and the peaceful waters of the Gulf of Mexico. All along the coast, for several blocks inland, the ravages of the hurricanes are still clearly visible.