2026 March 16-20, Trip to New Orleans with the Club, Diamonds in the Rough, Diamond Tours

 Day 1: Monday, March 16: Travel Day 

For breakfast, we ate Sausage and biscuits at home.

We rode to the Club, met inside to pick up our name tags, and had a brief talk about the trip.

We loaded onto the bus by 8:30 and were on our way. 

Our driver's name was Jerome, on bus 334, Graylines Tennessee, with a mural of Nashville wrapped on the side. 

Our first stop was Loves in West Point, MS. Hubby bought a Diet Coke and some Sweet & salty trail mix; he spent $7.01.

For lunch, we stopped at Burger King, where we bought one Steakhouse Whopper, fries, and two Cokes, and spent $15.98

We stopped at Love's West Point, MS, for a restroom break. 

For dinner, we stopped at Golden Corral in Hattiesburg, MS, for a buffet. 

I got fish, okra, blueberry pie, corn on the cob, a Diet Coke, and seafood salad. 

We traveled through Heidelberg and Laurel, MS., into Slidell and New Orleans, LA. 

We arrived at our hotel, Sonesta ES Suites New Orleans,212 Loyal Ave, around 6 P.M.

Room 905.

Took a shower, worked on this journal, watched some TV, and went to bed. 

3257-3261 Love's West Point, MS @10:32 AM

3264- Macon, MS 

3265-3268 Burger King Maridian, MS 

3269-3272 Laurel and Heideburg, MS Loves

3273-3275 Golden Corral Hattiesburg, MS @5:15 PM

3277-3281 traveling through Slidell, LA @6:28

3282-3299 Traveling through New Orleans, LA @6:48

3300-3301 Room at Sonesta ES Suites, room 905 

Day 2: Tuesday, March 17: New Orleans 

Breakfast in the hotel where I ate egg, bacon, waffles, Waffle, yogare and cranberry juice.

We were on the bus by 8:15. 

Our first stop was to pick up our rep and head to Mardi Gras World. We arrived a little before 9 and stayed until 11. 

We watched a video and then toured the warehouse where floats for Mardi Gras are made and repaired. 

We got back on the bus at 11 and rode to Riverwalk Mall, where we shopped and had lunch.

Hubby and I shared lunch we bought at Pei Wei Asian Kitchen: orange chicken, Seaweed Chicken, and steak, with a Diet Coke.  

We took a group photo before boarding the Creole Paddlewheeler for a cruise to the Chalmette Battlefield and returning to the Riverwalk. 2-4:40 P.M.

We loaded onto the bus and rode to Landry's Seafood House, 620 Decatur St. 

We enjoyed fried shrimp, salad, fries, red velvet cake, and iced tea. Tim bought appetizers: crawfish bites and spinach-and-asparagus dip with chips. 

After dinner, we got back on the bus and headed for our hotel, but ended up getting caught up in the St. Patrick's Day Parade for 2 1/2 hours. We sat on the bus waiting for the parade to end. 

We sang and danced on the bus while we waited. 

It was late when we got back to the hotel, and everyone was exhausted 

3304 Breakfast at the hotel @ 7:15

3305-3357 Mardi Gras World @9:19-9:39 A.M. 

3358 Mural Mall 

3359 Lunch @11:18 AM

3360-3365 Riverwalk 

3366 Riverwalk Jester @4:38

3371-3377 Walking to Landry's @5:07 PM

3378-3383 Dinner at Landry's @ 5:13 

Big Camera

7221-7307 Mardi Gras World @8:59-8:55

7308-7311 Riverwalk @11;3-1:28

7312-7360 Chamette Battlefield @2:46-3:36

Bought two Mardi Gras T-shirts at Puma for 18.01

Day 3: Wednesday, March 18: New Orleans 

Breakfast at the hotel, I ate an egg, a sausage link, French Toast, and water. 

We were on the bus by 8:15 and picked up our guide, Wanda. We toured New Orleans, stopping at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Everyone got out to listen to our guided talk about the cemetery.

One of the Crypts was built like a castle, costing several thousand dollars. I guess she took her money to the grave with her. 

Our next stop was at New Orleans City Park Restaurant (Benya's Café Du Monde), where we enjoyed a beignet and Coke. I took a few photos. 

We boarded the bus, dropped off our guide (8:30-11), and rode to the French Quarter, where we shopped and had lunch.

We ate lunch at Frank's Restaurant, where Hubby and I shared a shrimp po' boy and Coke. 

I ate the shrimp because the bread was very dry. (11-1:30).

Our next stop was the WWI Museum, 1:30–5 P.M.

Our next stop was for dinner at Crescent City Brewhouse, 527 Decatur Street. Here we enjoyed pork chops, green beans, spring salad, rolls, mac & cheese, bread pudding, and iced tea.  

When we were walking through the French Quarter, an Oriental woman approached us, put a couple of bracelets on our wrists, then asked for money. She also handed me a necklace, and I handed it back. She told Hubby that she wanted $40, and he said no. He gave her a $5, she said $10, Hubby said no, and gave her another dollar. I tried to give back the bracelets, but she said no. As she walked away, Hubby heard her say, " Cheap ashole. 

3384-3391 Park @ 8:48 

3392-3415 St Louis Cemetery #5 @9:20-2:38 

3416-3420 City Park & Restaurant @10:17

3421-3424 French Quarters Park Jackson Square 

3425-3443 French Quarters @11:33-11:48

3444 Lunch at Frank's 12:10 

3445-3451 French Quarters 12:33-12:55

3452-3473 WWII Museum 1:44–2:30 P.M. 

3474-3480 New Orleans Headed to restaurant 5:-5 

3481-3483 Restaurant @5:24-6:15 P.M.

3484-3492 Hotel Receipts Room #905

Big Camera 

7361-7366  French Quarters @8:54-9:14

7357-7371 Cemetery @9:26

7372-7381 New Orleans City Park @9:56-11:25

7382-7428 WWII National Museum @2:4:36 P.M. PM

Day 4: Thursday, March 19: 

Breakfast at the hotel. I ate egg, French toast, and juice.

After breakfast, we rode to Caesar's Casino, where several people gambled. We decided to walk over to the Riverfront Mall. 8:30-11

Hubby sat on the steps outside while I walked along the riverfront, taking pictures.

When we got back, we went inside the mall, bought a beignet, and walked around.  

Lunch: at the French Quarter Market Bowl of Gumbo. World-famous N'awlins on N Peter St: spend $12.32. 11:30-3

We also got a scoop of cookies and cream ice cream in a cone at Southern Candy Makers, spent $4.35 cas.h 

At 3, we headed back to the hotel to rest.6 P.M.6 PM, we loaded onto the bus for dinner at Boomtown Casino & Hotel in Harvey, LA

At each table, we had a spring salad, rolls, butter, and water. 

One table at a time went to the buffet. There I got fish, green beans, beans and rice, gumbo, and bread pudding.

There was dancing and music, and we stayed until 8 P.M. 

Rode back to the hotel, packed, as we are leaving tomorrow. 

3493 Breakfast @7:35

3495-3519 Riverwalk @9:08-11:07

3520-3527 Jackson Square @11:47-12:14

3528-3529- Dinner Boomtown Casino 6:01

Back to the hotel by 8:30.

Day 5: Friday, March 20:

Breakfast at the hot:l, I ateggsgg, bacon, and a muffin.

We were on the bus by 8:30, headed home. 

We stopped at Arby's in Tuscaloosa for lunch. Hubby ordered their lunch special for $8, which included a sandwich, curly fries, cheese sticks, a pie, and a drink. 

I ordered a roast beef slider and a drink we spent $14.05

We stopped at Love's Poparville, MS, to fuel up.

We stopped at Walmart in Russellville for a restroom break

We arrive back at the Club around 6 P.M.

Hubby helped clean out the bus, and we loaded our luggage into our car and headed for home. 

We stopped at Hugos for a Shrimp Fajita for dinner. 

Washed clothes, uploaded some of my photos, and went to bed around 12.

2025 Feb 16-22: Trip to San Antonio with The Club, Diamonds in the Rough, (7 Day BUS Trip) Diamond Travel

 Day 1: Sunday, Feb 16,

Everyone meets at the Club bus, which arrives at 7:30 A.M., and we depart for Texarkana, AR, at 8:00 A.M.

We stopped at Jack's for Breakfast 

I ordered a single Gravy and biscuit with a Diet Coke. 

Hubby ordered two steaks and biscuits, and he gave one to Fran.

The bus was loaded with all our luggage overnight, and the log 

Hall bags. The bus was loaded with water, a cooler of ice, and snacks 

We were on the road around 8 A.M.

Stopping at Love's Walnut, Mississippi, for a restroom break.

We stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel in West Memphis, AR

Hubby and I split a steak, baked potato, shrimp, and apples with cornbread. 

We stopped for dinner at 5:36 P.M. AT Flying Burger and Seafood, 5302 Summerhill in Texarkana, AR.

Shrimp Salad 

Shrimp Gumbo

Hubby ordered a shrimp salad; I ordered a cup of shrimp gumbo 

Hubby and I split a cup of vanilla ice cream and ordered a Diet Coke. We spent $30.36.

We stopped for lunch, and everyone paid for their meal. 

We arrived at the Best Western Plus Inn and Suites, located at 5219 Crossroads Parkway, Texarkana, AR, around 7:00 P.M. (16-17), room R200.

I took a shower, and we watched TV

Photos:

3092-3103 iPad Air Downtown Memphis, TN 11:13 A.M.

5870 Cracker Barrel West Memphis, AR 12:05 P.M.

5871 Loves Gas Station North Little Rock, AR 2:51 P.M.

3104-3106 Traveling North Little Rock, AR 3:24 P.M.

5872-5875 Flying Hamburger, Seafood Restaurant, Texarkana, AR 5:34 P.M.

5876 Receipts at Hotel 7:17 P.M., Texarkana, AR 

Zone 48, Miles 1.83, cal. 1,454 steps 4,765

Day 2: Monday, Feb 17,

We enjoyed a continental breakfast at the hotel

I ate two sausages, a biscuit with syrup, a banana, and cranberry juice.

Buc ee's Royse City, Texas

We stopped at Buc ee's for lunch. I got a soft chicken fajita taco and a diet soda.

We listened to music and watched a Comedy show 

Mrs. Roberison.

We departed for Austin, TX. 

We stopped for lunch, and everyone paid for their meal.

We arrived at Luby's Restaurant around 4:45 P.M., where everyone enjoyed a prepaid meal from the Senior LuAnn menu. 

It is a buffet meal where I get boiled cabbage, a sweet potato, fried fish, and carrot cake. 

We departed for San Antonio, TX, around 6:15 P.M.

We arrived at the Pear Tree Inn-San Antonio Airport, located at 143 Northeast Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, around 7:45 P.M. (17-21) Room R225

5878-5883 View from Hotel Texarkana, AL 6:44 A.M.

5885 Breakfast at the hotel 7:37 A.M.

5886-5890 Traveling Texarkana 9:06–09 A.M.

5891-5895 Campbell, AR 10:39-42 AM

5896-5901 Bucc-ees Royse City, TX 11:19–11:27 A.M.

5902—5909 Rockwell, TX, Lake Ray Hubbard 12:18–8 P.M.

5910-5911 Rowlett, TX 12:20 P.M.

5912-5922 Mesquite, TX 12:28-29 PM

5923 Dallas, TX 12:34 P.M.

5924-29 Mesquite, TX 12:37-44 PM

5930  Red Oak, TX 1:04 P.M.

5924 -29 Mesquite, TX 12:37-44 PM

5931 Waco, TX 2:06 P.M.

5932-37 Robinson, TX 2:09 P.M.

5938-46 We stopped at Pilot Robinson, TX 2:12-36 PM 

5947-52 Temple Wildcat Stadium 3:00–1 P.M. 

5953-58 Jarrell, TX 3:23–24 P.M.

5959-64 Georgetown, TX 3:35-38 PM

5966-68 Round Rock, TX 3:43-47 PM

5972-85 Austin, TX 3:49–4:05 P.M.

5986-88 Luby's Restaurant Austin, TX 3:49–4:05 P.M.

5989-6012 Austin, TX 5:31–5:44 P.M.

6022-6023 San Marcos, TX 6:15 P.M.

6025 New Braunfels, TX 6:22 P.M.

6026-27 San Antonio, TX 7:40 P.M.

Zone 11 miles, 1.66, cal 1,404, Steps 4,442

Day 3: Tuesday, Feb 18,

We enjoyed a continental breakfast at the hotel.

I ate gravy and biscuits with sausage and juice. 

We board the bus around 8:30 and depart for River Center Mall, located at 849 E. Commerce Drive, San Antonio, arriving around 9:00 A.M.

Here, we pick up our guide between the Margarita Vall store and Yard House.  

On a mission to the Mission, we watched a film about Mission San Jose, known as the "Queen of the Missions."

San Antonio Mission 
Mesquite 
Well adapted to an arid climate, this native tree has a long taproot that 
reaches far underground for moisture. The bean can be ground into flour to make a flatbread. 
One of the primary Indigenous food sources.

We arrived at the Mission San Jose Visitor Center around 9:30 A.M.

We were given the Mission. We rode by Mission Conception, which was under construction, so we didn't stop. 

We walked down the 400-500 block of King William Street in the Historic District and saw many historic homes. Then, we walked across the Riverwalk back to the bus. 

Our next stop was the San Fernando Cathedral and the Bexar Courthouse. 

We stopped at River Center Mall for lunch.

Margaritaville San Antonio 

Hubby and I eat at Margaritaville, where we split coconut shrimp with creamed potatoes and order a Diet Coke. 

After Lunch, everyone enjoyed an IMAX movie about the Alamo... The Prince of Freedom.

We left around 3:00 P.M. for a self-guided tour of the Alamo, the church, and the gift shop.

My cell phone battery ran down, and I forgot to bring my big camera, so I didn't get many photos at the Alamo. 

I pay eleven dollars to walk through the Ralston Family Museum. 

There were many people inside, making it impossible to see anything. 

The Alamo was located in a one-room building undergoing repairs.  

It was also crowded. 

We are back on the bus, headed for dinner and entertainment around 5:00. P.M. 

We arrived at the Old San Francisco Steakhouse, located at 10223 Sahara St, San Antonio, TX, around 5:30 P.M.

I ordered Taipei's fish, creamed potatoes, squash, zucchini, and cherry-crusted pie with pineapple. 

The food and servers were good, and a DJ played music throughout the event. 

We departed for the hotel around 7:30 P.M. 

6028 Receipts at Hotel 7:08 A.M.

6030 Breakfast at the hotel 7:25 A.M.

6032-37 San Antonio, TX 8:59–9:02 A.M.

6038-44 Mission San Jose 9:38–9:51 P.M. 

6045 -51 Mission San Jose 10:17–10:21 A.M. 

6052-58 San Antonio King Williams Riverwalk 11:37–11:44 A.M.

6059-63 Traveling 11:51 A.M. 

6064-65 San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio, 12:05–06 P.M.

6066-69 Bexar County Courthouse 12:10–12 P.M.

6070-77 Margaritaville San Antonio 12:48–1:34 P.M.

6078-84 AMC Theatre 1:49–2:55 P.M.

6085-93 The Alamo  2:50-3:22 

6094 River Walk 3:54 P.M.

6095-6103 Traveling 4:53–4:58 P.M.

6104-08 Dinner at Old San Francisco Steakhouse 5:18–5:43 P.M.

Zone 137 Miles 4.45 cal 1799, steps 12,099

Day 4: Wednesday, Feb 19, 

We enjoyed a continental breakfast at the hotel.

I ate gravy, sausage, and biscuits with apple juice 

Everyone loaded onto the bus, and we departed for Rim Shopping Center at 8:30, arriving around 9:00.

We made a surprise stop at Lukenbach. 

We picked up our guide near Best Buy, located at 17414 La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio, and headed for Fredericksburg, often referred to as the "Jewel of the Texas Hill Country."

We arrived at the National Museum of the Pacific War, 340 East Main St, Fredericksburg, around 10:15. 

We were divided into two groups for the museum tour. 

When we finished, we walked a couple of blocks up the street. It was bitterly cold, and the wind was blowing. 

We stopped at the Old General Drug Store, where we spent $20.00 on a steak sandwich and a bottle of Diet Coke.

We walked up one side of the town and down the other, stopping to take photos along the way. 

We walked to the visitor Center, where Hubby stayed while I returned to the WWII museum. Outside the museum, there were hundreds of war memorials. 

The bus arrived around 2:00 P.M.; we departed for Lyndon B. Johnson Historic Park in Stonewall, TX. 

We made a quick stop in Luckenbach, TX, a neat little hole-in-the-wall community. 

We stopped at the Johnson Cemetery, and several of us got off the bus to take photos.

We saw several wineries on our way to Johnson City, TX.

Everyone enjoyed browsing the visitor center in Johnson City, which was full of memorabilia about former President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson. 

LBJ Visitor Center 

We arrived for dinner at County Line, located at 4334 Hyatt Place Drive in San Antonio, off Interstate 10. 

We were served BBQ brisket, chicken, Pinto beans, potato salad, slaw, and peach cobbler. 

Around 7:30 P.M., we headed back to our hotel. 

Photos:

6109 Breakfast at the hotel 7:30 A.M. 

6110-65 Fredericksburg, TX 9:52–10:05 A.M.

6166-85 National Museum of the Pacific War 10:07–11 A.M.

6186-6200 Fredericksburg, TX 12:14–2:11 P.M. 

6201-6229 Luckenbuch, TX 2:18–2:30 P.M.

6230-46 Fredericksburg, TX 2:45–2:51 P.M.

6247-65 LBJ National Park 2:56–3:17 P.M. 

6266-73 Hyde/Johnson City 3:50–4 P.M.

6274-6317 Visitor Center Johnson City, TX 4:05–4:50 P.M.

6318-19 Johnson City 4:50-51 PM

6322-25 County Line Restaurant San Antonio, TX 6:16–6:55 P.M.

Zone 176 miles, 3.5 cal, 1,723 steps, 9,331

Day 5:Thursday, Feb 20,

We enjoyed a continental breakfast at the hotel.

I ate gravy, biscuits, potatoes, sausage, and apple juice.

Everyone loaded onto the bus around 8:30, departing for River Center Mall and arriving around 9:00 A.M. 

We picked up our guide and headed to Mission Conception, where we rang the mission bell and sang Amazing Grace. 

SAS General Store 

Next, we rode to the SAS General store, where we bought two syrup bottles, a peach cobbler bottle, and a Blueberry bottle.

Hubby and I both bought a pair of compression socks. 

I walked outside to take pictures of the old cars, trucks, Hurst & other vehicles.

We rode to the Historic Market Square, where we took a leisurely walk around.

We ate lunch at Mi Tierra Café, ordering the Corrida lunch special.

The Corrida is $14.95 and includes your choice of Aguas Frescas, a cup of soup, an entreé, and a mini dessert.

The Comida Corrida, also known as the menu del día, has been a staple in fondas across Mexico, particularly in Mexico City, since the late 1800s. Our modern take on this classic features a prix-fixe three-course meal, including a soup, arroz or pasta, an entrée, a dessert, and an Auga Fressca as a pilo'n. 

Around 1:00 P.M., we rode back to the San Fernando Cathedral because they were having a service that day, so we did not go inside.

Our next stop was the Japanese Tea Garden, where we stayed for about 30 minutes. 

Japanese Tea Garden

Our next stop was the Witte Museum, which is located at 3801 Broadway in San Antonio. 

We were dropped off at the Riverwalk around 3:30 P.M., where we boarded the Go Rio Cruise at 202 E. Nueva St., San Antonio.

We enjoyed a cruise along the River Walk (Paseo del Rio)

It was very cold and windy; everyone was bundled up against the elements.

This spring-fed part of the Edwards Aquifer, an underground lake, was discovered in 1691. 

We departed for dinner around 4:45 P.M. at the Lone Star Café, located at 237 Losoya, San Antonio.

I was served catfish, French fries, salad, bread, and apple cobbler with ice cream. This was a delightful meal. 

Hubby was served Steak, potatoes, veggies, salad, and apple cobbler with ice cream. 

We departed for our hotel around 8:00 P.M. 

Photos

6326 Breakfast 7:31 A.M.

6327-30 Traveling San Antonio 8:40–8:52 A.M.

I'm ringing the bell at Mission Conception

6331-49 Mission Conception 9:07–9:31 A.M.

6350-84 SAS General Store 9:45–10:36 A.M.

6385-87 Historic Market Square 11:15–17 A.M.

6388-92 Mi Tierra Café San Antonio 11:19–12:13 P.M.

6393-98 Historic Market Square 12:32-42 PM

6399-6413 Main Plaza San Fernando Cathedral 

6414-15 Bexar County Courthouse 1:11 P.M.

6416 -25 The Japanese Tea Garden 1:31-35 PM

6426-6518 The Witte Museum 1:55–2:43 P.M.

Riverwalk Cruise 

6519-6576 Riverwalk Cruise 3:30–3:59 P.M.

6577-87 The Alamo 4:27-37 PM

6588-91 Dinner Lone Star Café 4:45–5:34 P.M.

Zone 59, Miles 3.82 cal 1,724, steps 10,060 

Day 6: Friday, Feb 21,

We enjoyed a continental breakfast at the hotel, where I ate a cup of yogurt and drank juice. 

We met a couple from Wisconsin who were staying for two weeks. We told them about the SAS General Store, where they could get great shoes and tour the store and factory.

Everyone loaded onto the bus with our luggage and departed for Waco, TX, around 8:30 A.M. 

We stopped at a Rest Stop in Salado, Texas. At 10:42 A.M., they had the remains of a Grist Mill inside.

We arrive at the Magnolia Market at the Silos, 601 Webster Ave, Waco, TX. Magnolia Market is a two-block area offering an endless array of shopping and dining options. 

We ordered Chicken quesadillas and a salad from Backyard Bar, Stage & Grill for lunch. 

After lunch, we walked through the Magnolia Market. We didn't buy anything but took lots of photos. 

Statues of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig 

Standing on third base

Everyone loaded back onto the bus around 2:15 P.M. We headed to Texarkana, Arkansas.

We stopped at Love's for a restroom break at 3:59 P.M. in Rockwall, TX. 

We stopped at Texas Roadhouse for dinner around 7:50 P.M. Hubby and I shared Steak, shrimp, Sweet potato, baked potato, rolls, and iced tea. 

We arrived at the Best Western Plus Inn and Suites, located at 5219 Crossroads Parkway, Texarkana, AR, around 8:30 P.M. (21-22)Room R127

Photos

6592-6613 Receipts 7:13 A.M.

6614-42 Traveling Austin, TX 9:52–9:59 A.M. 

6643-56 Rest Stop Salado, TX 10:42-1052 AM

6657-62 Backyard Hamburgers, Seafood, Bar & Grill Waco, TX 12:10–12:44 P.M.

6663-6702 Magnolia Market Waco, TX 12:48–2:06 P.M. 

6703-04 Leaving Waco 3:43 P.M.

6705-06 Loves Rockwall, TX 3:50 P.M. 

6708-09 Texas Roadhouse Texarkana, AR 7:50 P.M.

Zone 95, miles 3.34, Cal. 1,658, steps 8994

Day 7: Saturday, Feb 22, 

We enjoyed a continental breakfast at the Best Western Inn, where I ate link sausage, biscuits, honey, and cream cheese.

Everyone loaded onto the bus with all their luggage, and we headed home around 8:30 A.M. 

We took several restroom breaks.

We stopped for lunch, and everyone paid for their meal.

We should arrive back at the Club around 5:30 P.M. 

Photos

6710 breakfast 7:04 A.M.

6711-13 Loves North Little Rock, AR 10:37-38AM

6714 Lunch at IHOP, West Memphis, AR 1:39 P.M.

6715-16 Passing Bass Pro Shop Memphis, TN. 2:14 P.M. 

Zone 33, miles 1.97, cal 1,418, steps 5,200

End of another good trip 

FIRST Class Charters #J330 Prevost Drive: Matthew