Abandoned Six Flags in New Orleans.

Six Flags Amusement Park in New Orleans was so badly flooded during Hurricane Katrina it has been abandoned ever since.

A bit of history:
The park first opened under the name "Jazzland" in 2000 but it wasn't profitable so in 2001 the lease was put up for sale and in March of 2002, Six Flags purchased the lease.  The last day the park operated was August 21, 2005. Weekday operations ended a couple weeks before due to the fact schools start early in August in that region and end mid-May. The park was scheduled to open August 27 and August 28 as usual but once Katrina was forecast late on Friday to directly hit New Orleans, the weekend opening was cancelled in order to prepare for the storm and begin evacuations. After the park's drainage pumps failed during the storm, the berm retained the combination of rainwater and sea water overflow from Lake Pontchartrain caused by Katrina's massive storm surge, submerging the entire park grounds in corrosive, brackish floodwater to a depth of 4–7 feet. The floodwater was not drained for over a month. Due to the damage received, the park was closed indefinitely with no plans to reopen. (text taken from Wikipedia)

By the time I arrived it was pretty far gone. It’s been vandalized repeatedly and much of the decorations of the park have been piled up in heaps of sad garbage. Being in there was an adrenaline rush. The decrepit rides and buildings made noises in the wind and I kept thinking I heard voices. In the end, my only company was birds and flies. Many people have amazing photographs of this place. I had the opportunity to be there far after it’s prime of beautiful abandonment but I still feel like I made one other little dream come true. I read about the park just after the hurricane and have never forgotten it but I never actually thought I would get the chance to be there. Another check on my list!

Dogs. Mine and other strays.

I stopped at this gas station in New Mexico yesterday to photograph it.

I pulled in and two dirty little dogs came running out, tails wagging, to greet me. My first thought was I should bail because someone is living in there. I talked to the dogs for a minute and waited for someone to come out. The two of them went running into one of the buildings so I followed, cautiously. Inside on a table was a bag of dog food and some jugs of water but the dogs had disappeared. I thought, 'ok, good, someone does live here with them'.

I turned to leave but something still wasn't sitting right with me. That's when I saw a note on the table. This is what it said;

I tried my darnedest to nab these two as well, seeing that someone on the note would look after them if they could just get to the vet in a nearby town. They weren't having any of it. They were gone out of my site as soon as I tried to approach. Coaxing them with food did nothing. I added my note to theirs saying I tried and wish I could do more.

Since finding Okie, I have met quite a few people who also rescued dogs. I stopped to take a photo of an old restaurant in Texola, Texas and two beautiful dogs came running over followed by a woman. She told me just a few nights ago someone left them there at 2am and sped off. She can't keep them either but will do her best to find a home for them. Peggy, the lady I met here at the RV park also has a dog she rescued when someone dropped him off as a pup at a parking lot. So I ask, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE!? I still believe 90% of us are good but when it comes to animals we are not a people I am proud of.  I wonder if I could make a job out of traveling around and rescuing stranded dogs? It seems like I would have no problem finding them. I am happy to have made a difference in one little life but I wish I could do more.

I'll leave with a photo of Okie so I can end this post on a good note. She is a little gift to me and I love waking up with her snuggles. As I type this she is curled up with her head resting on my left arm. What a doll!

This is how we roll.

Okie and I adjust to our new life.

So, it's been a couple of days. What's been going on you ask?

On the 1st, the day after Okie joined me, we had a frustrating day crossing Oklahoma while trying to stay on Route 66. A great portion of the way the old road runs parallel to its I-40 Interstate replacement but the old road has a slower, more relaxed speed limit. I would end up on the I-40 and there the road would appear, following right along side, taunting me with its crawling pace and empty pavement. So few cars use this stretch of road I would have it to myself the majority of the time...if I could just stay on it. Getting lost did help me stumble upon a few signs and items of interest, like a relic train from the Rock Island Line Johnny Cash sang about.

Yesterday, Oct. 2, we made it into Texas and the landscape changed almost immediately. Now I'm in the environment that excites and inspires me the most. I don't know what it is about deserts, canyons and the endless big blue skies....Or maybe that's exactly what it is. It's so foreign to what I grew up looking at. I mean, just look at how photogenic this place is!

We drove most of the day but this time we had the Mother Road under us. When the sun began to set  I found a park outside Amarillo and we made supper. Bed time was spent in an RV park with showers, laundry and power. What a treat! The morning was filled with chores and playing "who can run the fastest". Then it was off to Palo-Duro Canyons.  Okie does very well walking with me most of the time and stays with me off-leash. She's learning quickly about where she sits when we drive (on my lap) and where she sleeps (with me of course). She recognizes the van and waits for me to pick her up into it. She's adjusting quickly and I'm thrilled.


Tonight we'll sleep in the canyon and start fresh tomorrow. It's cheaper than the park we stayed in last night, right by a highway, and MUCH prettier. The woman at the entrance told me if I'm in after 6 and out early we can stay for free. What a doll!! Then it's off to see Cadillac Ranch tomorrow.