Louisiana Residents Use Cruisin' to Spend Time Together

GULFPORT -- The 2013 Cruisin' the Coast kicked off on Sunday following rains from Tropical Storm Karen, which had turned fallen apart and returned to a tropical depression by the time it hit Florida.

The weather system had put South Mississippi residents and emergency management personnel on edge for a few days as the storm system threatened to turn into at least a Category 1 hurricane that had been expected to hit somewhere between Grand Isle, La., and Indian Pass, Fla.

Tropical Storm Karen Doesn't Scare Cruisers (Sun Herald)

Cruisers were unfazed and arrived for the annual fall cruisin event headquarted in Gulfport but featuring events in several cities. Some put off their arrival about a day, but that was about the most effect on the event.

 Blaine and Tanya Covington of Walker, La., drove their 1950 Ford F1 to Cruisin' the Coast. They and his parents, Marion and Joanne Covington, took time for breakfast at McDonald's on Thursday.

A 1954 Chevrolet pickup owned by Marion and Joanne Covington of Denham, La., is among the classic vehicles during the 2013 Cruisin' the Coast in Gulfport and other cities of South Mississippi.

Joanne Covington proudly shows off her Chevrolet pickup. Cruisin' is family vacation time.
"That's our only once a year get-away," she said. "It's just fun. It's something we can all get together and do."

Justin McNamee of Shivers, Miss., just north of Hattiesburg, and his daughter Shelby along with his wife (not pictured) are enjoying their first Cruisin' the Coast this year.

"My work schedule doesn't let me come every year, but I'm gonna start coming every year," he said, while showing off his Camaro 327.