Surfing 50 States www.surfing50states.com

Throughout America we’d been warned about New Orleans, that when we go there to be very careful as crime has become a means of survival since hurricane Katrina. Luckily enough our mate Chad from Alabama was Louisiana born and bred, and offered to drive 3 hours west to show us around on his day off. He made the journey with Cory, another Alabama surfer we were lucky enough to meet when we scored waves there 5 days earlier. Whilst the French Quarter, Mississippi River and above ground coffins in Cemeteries were all fun to check out, it was equally amazing to see the devastation caused by Katrina. The levies that failed caused flooding throughout many neighborhoods in the suburbs, wiping out houses and forcing people to leave town. The past week of the trip has been a real humbling experience, entering neighborhoods that were washed away, or even exist no more, you cant help but empathize with the local communities and remind yourself how lucky you are. Later in the afternoon Chad, Cory, Jonno and myself headed south to Lafitte, Louisiana to chickity check out the bayou’s and try our best at convincing someone to tow us behind an airboat on our surfboards. Unfortunately we couldnt find anyone stupid enough to do it, and after hearing the dangers of airboating it was probably better off we didn’t. Altho we were real keen to try it, we scrapped that idea, and as the afternoon was getting on headed to a scenic swampland trail where we saw these overweight, gigantic dirty rats known as nutria’s. The closest description is like combining a rat, wombat & otter and hoping for the best. Anywhoozie from Lafitte, we headed back to New Orleans, picked up Chad’s mum and headed into town for some Po-Boys and Jambalaya at Mothers restaurant. After scoffing down some local cuisine, we headed out to the airport (via home) to pick up my sister, who had flown in after spending some time in Florida & Georgia. We dropped her bags home, had some King Cake (Mardi Gras tradition) and headed into Bourbon Street. Checked out quite afew places, collected as many Mardi Gras beads as possible, and partied the night away. We got back home late that night, giving Chad & Cory 3 hours sleep and an early rise to drive to Alabama! Krazy Southern Kids! Surfin Louisiana somewhere, somehow, sometime... tomorrow. New Orleans Krew!