ROAD TRIP 09..Tampa to Lafayette, Louisiana

May 8, 2009. After almost a year of planning, I kicked off my epic journey. The first leg, from Tampa to Lafayette Louisiana was uneventful. The drive out of Florida is actually pretty interesting; there are a lot of cool bridges and overwater causeways that traverse swampland out in Louisiana and Mississippi.

The first night I stayed at a KOA in Lafayette, Louisiana. There are actually TWO KOA's in Lafayette, but one says it's in Lafayette even though it really isn't...they say it's because noone knows where the other city is (actually a suburb of Lafayette). So naturally, I programmed the wrong KOA into my GPS. 30 miles out of the way, I realized the error of my ways and got back on track. If you have never stayed at a KOA before, do yourself a favor and DON'T. This was quite possibly the WORST experience I ever had camping. First of all, this KOA was right off the interstate...I mean, I could have chucked a feather and hit it from where my site was. Secondly, it seems like the SCUM OF THE EARTH stay at these places. My tent site was right near the office, amongst their Kabins and some other tenters. I set up and immediately knew I made a mistake booking this place. Kids running around, people drinking and acting loud, and to top it all off, the sound of the freeway above the din.

I slept all but 3 hours (maybe 4...can't remember for sure) between the sound of the trucks using their engine brakes to exit the interstate, and the jackoff next to me who drank way too much and proceeded to puke his guts out on the side of the Kabin next to me. This ass clown was drinking his beer WHILE he was vomiting. Talk about your true alcoholic. He woke me up both times, once at 2:00 am and another at 3:30 am. Loser. I could not wait for this night to be over-I knew I would have a nice hotel in Amarillo the next night, and I was anxious to get on the road.