stepping off the edge

As usual coming into Louisiana we were inundated with horrendous storms. Not you usual, “Oh the sun will be out soon, let’s just keep going,” rather the “Holy shit we are going to die” sort of storm. We had to exit off Interstate 10 three times because the visibility was about 6 feet, and that is the distance I had to keep so I could see the vehicle in front of me to continue safely. The last time we turned off we waited at a gas station for an hour and a half while the storm stalled over our location. By the time the rain let up there were many cars stranded on the streets due to the high water. For some reason, and this is not throwing shade on this particular car (actually one of my personal favorites), but most of them were Challengers. Street in front of the gas station seemed to be relatively dry so, what the hell, off we go. The locals recommended going into Lafayette by way of Highway 90 and not the interstate. Now you have to believe the locals, right? There was one caution that I missed. They said 90 never floods, but getting to it was not a sure thing. Not a sure thing was deep south for “Boy, you’re going to feel some pain.”

Well, that we did. Two blocks from our start the water got deep. Not puddle deep but to the top of the wheels deep. Nowhere to turn off meant barging through until I could find an escape route. Fortunately, I was behind a good ol’ boy with a jacked up pick up that made a pretty sizable wake in front of me that most likely reduced the depth to 12″ on our car. Eventually we saw a relatively dry side street that we turned onto and wove our way to Highway 90. Now for the interesting part, never having driven through deep water in an electric car and having a keen respect for electricity due to being an electrician for over 50 years, I was ignorant of what might happen. Would I short out the over 400 volt dc power plant? Would I water log some pretty expensive motors? Would I burst into flames?

None of that happened. The car just kept driving! Now there was a somewhat disconcerting sloshing sound coming from somewhere but it was not wet inside or in the front trunk or rear trunk or even the middle trunk (yes, there are three trunks, weird).

After landing safely in Lafayette and I texted Tesla service, which by the way is the only means in which these people will communicate with you. I have owned Tesla for five years and never spoken to a human ever. Not buying or servicing them! I was informed that unless I received a warning message on the screen there was no problem with the motor boating incident. The sloshing noise? Well, that took my old friend YouTube. It was water that had entered the door panels through the drain holes on the bottom. The water drained out and the strange slosh disappeared.

OK, that it all for these two first worlders harrowing adventures in parts unknown.

Let’s move on to the food and music, both amazing and unmatched anywhere, except perhaps New Orleans.

A favorite place for us to stop is Kirk’s, You-Need-A-Butcher. Yup, that’s the name. A quick bag of chicken cracklings. Mrs. T is disgusted by this little delicacy but I will tell you what (that is a decidedly Southern term which means, what I am about to tell you is important!), they are delicious. This picture is all that is left after I devoured the entire grease soaked sack of them.

Things you see on the streets…

In the South speed bumps become speed lumps…

And my Jewish brothers and sisters invite you to come on in and set a spell…

Speaking of food, there is a place that will feed you until you burst. Whenever you are there and are a bit low on your yearly dose of fried everything, stop on by the Prejean’s.

Last food related item, how about boudin benedict? Or perhaps a slab of ham on one of the best biscuits you’ve ever eaten… this place.

Music you say? Can we talk Rock N Bowl? A bowling alley and a concert venue with a huge dance floor all in one.

Nothing like hearing the great Geno DeLafose and his Cajun boys rocking the house down while 30 lanes of bowling is taking place! Quite the combo.

Ok friends, strap in, tomorrow New Orleans!