DAY 7: ON THE ROAD (NEW ORLEANS to AUSTIN)

A rainy drive. But here's a landmark--crossing the Mississippi River. The Mighty Miss!



We stopped for lunch in eastern Louisiana, at the Boudin King. We didn't know what boudin was--beyond a kind of sausage--and didn't know how to pronounce it, judging from the reaction of the girl behind the counter when Kamran asked if the sausage in the gumbo and in the sausage po boy was boudin ("boo-DAN," he said). So we may or may not have had it. Johanna was not impressed.



The drive sucked all the way to Houston (traffic, ugly things, rain)--but then, lovely and pastoral. Here is a freight train.



And a sunset as we approach Austin.



Once in Austin, we hunted far and wide for a restaurant with outdoor seating. (Artie, again. the jerk.) We found a place finally, with cold beer and a closed kitchen. But JJ's delivered subs, and all was well. See you tomorrow!