I picked up the reefer from NOLA and headed towards Pensacola via Biloxi Beach. Instead of stopping at the Reef, this time, I decided to go somewhere else – Treasure Bay.

Yes the Gulf Coast Casinos are back and people, local and from afar are flocking back in droves.- just in time for Memorial Day! This is fantastic news especially since the state’s casino business with over 10,000 employees generates more than $1 billion annually, making it one of Mississippi’s top economic generator.

I parked my truck at the old Treasure Bay casino pier – a pirate-themed casino barge was docked at the pier until the 135 mph winds from Katrina broke its moorings and Jolly Roger came to rest about 100 yards away.

High insurance cost prevented them from rebuilding so they moved the casino across the main thoroughfare. Today there are plans to rebuild the pier and boat launch. Meanwhile they don’t care if we park our trucks here so that’s a blessing.

In the Coronavirus era, they take your temperature when you enter. There’s slot machines and table games with plexiglass panels installed at baccarat tables. (with slots for cards and chips). Must be a good time to be in the plexiglass business. Almost everyone are wearing face masks and there’s gallons of hand sanitizers everywhere.

I’m happy to see this and hopefully most casino worker jobs will be saved.

The king crab legs at Infinity Buffet were amazing and with the garlic butter, just melted in my mouth. I have a deep appreciation for King crab – fishermen risked their lives to make this catch, so it’s really special.

It’s good to know that COVID-19 hasn’t killed the buffet yet. There’s still all the wonderful choices of the old buffet without the self service. And quite frankly, I’m totally fine having my food served to me – I never was a big fan of touching serving utensils after tons of people licked their hands eating fried chicken.

What was actually more mouth watering than the Snow Crab legs and Dungeness crabs was the dirty rice with andouille sausage and chicken liver- so flavorful and spicy, and the red beans and rice – so full of zest.

I also enjoyed the collard greens, the mac & cheese and the carrot souffle and the crawfish boulette – fatty crawfish tails minced up with Creole seasoning and cornbread and deep fried until golden brown.

And yes I loved eating crawfish the down and dirty way –  pinching their tails and chewing on the tiny morsels of meat. But my favorite is sucking the juice out of the head – that’s the true essence of eating mud bugs.

I would rest well tonight under a full moon with gentle waves from the Biloxi Bay lapping the crystal white shores

So will be leaving Biloxi now and heading back north – need to check my mail and do laundry. But hope to back to this side of Mississippi for the Blessing of the Fleet the first week of June.