Election Day in Louisiana

Having decided to have a days rest from the road, we laid our hats for a couple of nights in Louisiana. Cal had wanted to stop in New Orleans, thinking it was a great party place, but our motel was far from the partying and nearer to the Election Enthusiasts. We arrived the night before the presidential election - quite possibly one of our lesser laid plans.

During our time in America, Callum and I have become quite enthralled in this election who-ha. Having quite graciously accepted a 'U' (Unclassified - because the only mark they could give me was for spelling my name correctly) for my Politics A Level at school, I will admit that our British way of doing things goes a bit over my head; however, America seems to have it sussed. The folk over here actually care who runs the country, and the people who want to run the country actually care about those who live here... quite simple, quite effective, people bother to vote.

However, having been following the candidate we wanted to win and venturing out on our first day in Louisiana, seeing four women in the middle of the road holding signs up to vote for the opposition... we didn't really feel like being sociable... I had been told by a friend who has also driven across this fine country that, as a foreigner - don't bad mouth any of the politicians - you just don't know who you're talking to - just don't talk about the government, full stop! ... Quite hard to do on the eve of the elections!

So we kept ourselves to ourselves and crisped by our swamp of a pool, not talking to anyone. Then we went shopping... Then we went to a movie... Then we went back to the motel... not speaking to anyone! And then Obama made history, and we were happy... so then we went to sleep... !!

We've now left the party state of Louisiana (!!) and have driven through Mississippi today and landed in Alabama. Alabama is just how I imagined it to be. It's like we walked into the set of Forrest Gump; the streets are lined with the oldest of trees, whose leaves are just changing to a luscious golden colour. It's beautiful and I wish we could stay for longer, but Jensen's is calling and I swear if I wasn't in the most quietest of libraries I would be screaming with delight that in 48 hours we will be there... a whoop whoop is quite definitely appropriate right now!!

Whoop Whoop!

Jen