Humbled on the Bayou

The weather was beautiful yesterday so we decided to head out to the Sabine National Wildlife Area south of Lake Charles. This area is the largest refuge in Louisiana. At the southern end is the Gulf of Mexico. We drove the Creole Nature Trail south and got to Holly Beach on the Gulf, we were shocked at how high the homes are built - made of cement pilons and they were about 3 stories up at the base of the home. And these homes were not cheap! Looked like haciendas of Mexico. Stucco, cement, very pleasing to the eye. But of course, the rest of the town was pure devistation from all the hurricanes. Mostly Katrina, but others that have come through. All you see are foundations of homes or homes totally destroyed and off foundations, extremely large fishing vessels swept up on land and at the ports. We have heard about how bad this area gets with hurricane destruction, but to see it after so many years - amazing. If there is a home now, it's built up on stilts and made of cement. And, there is ALWAYS a large 5th wheel RV and a doulie (double tires in the back) truck sitting at the home. This is for - hitch up the RV, get your stuff in the RV, and get they heck out when a hurricane is approaching. If you look closely at the picture on the left you will see a huge fishing vessel on it's side at the port. We saw this same size ship way up on land as we were driving around. Were very surprised when the road we were traveling suddenly ended and you had to take a ferry across to pick up the road and continue. We think that due to hurricanes a bridge could not withstand the power of nature, therefore you had to be ferried across the river and this river empties to the Gulf about a mile down. First time we got a ferry ride for free. Lasted about 3 minutes once the ferry left one side and coasted across. Saw some huge ocean going vessells there in Cameron, and this river is part of the Intercoastal Waterway.


We got to Fausta's Cajun Restaurant for dinner and it was super. I guess I can't eat that kind of food - my stomach rebelled almost immediately. Today we will do some things around the RV, going to have some champaign tonite for the New Years, then tomorrow again sit - supposed to be severe thunderstorms coming in - don't want to stray too far. Temp in the 70's and very humid. Think Sunday we will head to Lafayette to do some touring. Happy New Year everyone!

Moving Day and Rain!

We pulled out of Sweetwater RV Campground by 9:30am today, trying to get ahead of rain coming in by mid afternoon where we were going. Made it to our new destination, Quiet Oaks RV Campground in Kinder, LA by 1pm and in very light rain. If the crow flew straight from here, we would be 20 miles from Texas, but alas, Interstate 10 meanders and it's about 40 miles south and west.Within a half an hour of setting up it was pouring rain really hard. And is still pouring (now 5pm). Supposed to have thunderstorms tonight, something we haven't experienced since our trip to Florida last March. Everything is running fine, it's even 60 out. And that's the low for tonight. Cats are handling the time in the truck - we road on a horsy road (bumpity, bumpity, bump) for about 40 miles today and Chip really let us know he did not like that. Can't blame him - we hated it too. Can't drive the speed limit of 70 because we would have bounced all over the road. Just turtle along at 62, nice and fine. Tomorrow 74 and sunny. We are going to try to get to some of the wildlife refugee places here along the Gulf Coast for birding/photography/hiking and then take in a cajun seafood restaurant. Friday we think we'll head to Lafayette to the Jean Lafitte National Park to the Acadian Cultural Center. And of course to MacIlhenry (Avery Island) where they make Tabasco.

We plan to go visit the Coushatte Indian Casino down the road either Saturday or Sunday. By Wednesday we have reservations at a campground in Clear Lake, south of Houston, on Galveston Bay and will move on. Can't complain about this weather - we don't have to shovel snow, we don't have coats on (light jackets or sweatshirts instead) and no set agenda to get somewhere or back. Beginning to settle into living in the RV - I am making peace with the things I don't like or can't change.

Rural Life Museum and Mississippi

Yesterday was our 'touring' day and decided to go into Baton Rouge (French for red stick - early settlers came to a place on the Mississippi where there was a bloody stick in the ground - Indians did this to mark the area) and visit the Rural Life Museum and then we went into the city and walked on the pier/boardwalk along the Mississippi. I was more impressed with the river, and the reason was that we were spoiled with the Frontier Cultural Museum in Virginia this past September. LSU has done a nice job - still needs some work, we did find that there is alot yet to be displayed but in all, everything was well marked. The silliest thing was a gray and white cat who was so friendly and escorted us around the outdoor museum. The Rural Life Museum depicts life on plantation in the early 1800's and 1900's and the amazing part - some of the buildings that were relocated to this place were used by common folk up till the 1960's. Some of the more 'oh my gosh' things was they had 3 funeral bairs made out of iron and lead, body put inside this wagon and this is how they moved the body to it's final resting place. Made the body mummified - so airtight. Also, people could see into it (alittle morbid). President Lincoln was put in one of these (without the wheels) when his body was moved back to Illinios for burial on the train. Other neat things were lots of antique sewing machines, dolls, quilts, fishing equipment for snagging shrimp, farm implements, furniture, items from slavery - what they used.

We drove then to the city proper and parked near one of the casinos and walked to the riverwalk/boardwalk. They have 3 casinos on river boats along the levees of the Mississippi, very similar to the casinos on the Ohio River. Watched the barges and tugs moving up and down the river then headed back to the campground. I pointed out to Dave the route we are taking tomorrow over the iron bridge of the Mississippi. He's a tad nervous about that - but it's the only way to our next campground. Still unseasonably chilly - was 49 yesterday. Typically it's supposed to be in the 60's this time of year. Last night - again, hard freeze but we survived. I am waiting for it to warm up a little before heading to do laundry near the office. We leave tomorrow for Kinder, LA - about 190 miles west of here, 15 miles north of Lake Charles. Will stay through the holiday and I have asked for a reservation near Clear Lake (south east of Houston, Texas) on Galvaston Bay for the following week. I just want warmer weather (it's a tad chilly taking showers in the morning!)

Frozen water hoses

They said we were to have a "hard freeze" last night - and I said, what's a hard freeze? Well, we found out. Not only did everything look like it had snowed - so very white! - but the truck looked like galvanized steel (my former steel life came out) - kinda burnished buff looking ice on the windshield - the ice was so thick! Dave had disconnected the water hose and filter and put it away the night before. We lived out of a bucket of water again - dipping into the bucket to get a cup or two of water to put into the toilet to flush. Using bottled water to brush our teeth, etc. Since we are both morning shower kind of people, we felt that after the sun had come up and Dave hooked up the water again, all would be fine. Dah. Not so. Dave should have put the hoses and filter inside the RV - in the shower - to keep warm, not stored inside the truck.

The hoses and the water filter had also frozen up. Once the sun came up and Dave was able to put the hoses and filter in the sun to warm, and once he got the water spigot going - it also being frozen - it was kinda funny to see and watch the ice come shooting out of the end of hoses when water started running. We had planned to be on the road by 9 am to go into Baton Rouge to do sightseeing, but didn't get out of here until almost 11.

So, tonight, another "hard freeze" warning and we are doing things differently. Dave filled up the water tank to about 1/3 full which is about 20 gallons of water. The tanks are inside the belly of the RV, well protected. And the hoses are also disconnected, inside the belly, with the heater on it and also on the water tanks. We will use normal pressurized water during the night, and can heat up this water we brought on to take showers in the morning. Fortunately, we think this is the last night of cold - 27 is supposed to be the lowest. Tomorrow supposed to be near 60 and Wednesday in the low 70's. Finally. We have been running the 2 space heaters only at night and not using the furnace, the space heaters keep it to about 55, and since we are in bed, under covers, no big deal. As soon as the sun comes up, it warms nice inside to 75 and we have to open the vents to let in fresh air. Lessons learned.

Louisiana Bayou

Yesterday, December 25, we decided to go to the Bayou and walk the nature trail near Lake Ponchatrain. After it had rained during the night, the wind was quite strong and the temp had dropped to about 46. Normally we would have been sniveling about how cold it was but after hearing how nasty the Christmas storm is reaking havoc on Tennessee, Alabama, Carolinas and up the coast - we have nothing to complain about. There is a hard freeze warning for tonight so we will have to disconnect the water from the RV, store the hoses inside, and Dave will have to put on the light underneath where the water valves are. There is enough heat emitted from a 60 watt bulb to make sure our water system doesn't freeze up. But, that means we will have to live with a bucket of water in the bathroom to flush the toilet. In the morning he'll rehook up the water, then we can heat the hot water tank - and life will be good. A little inconvenience, but not bad.
We were sorely disappointed with the Joyce Wildlife area walk. When we camped last winter in Old Town, FL the campground was located on the Suwanee River and they had built a boardwalk to the river. Alligators and all. This boardwalk was okay - but very slippery from the rain - was afraid I'd slip and fall right into the bayou. From there we drove towards Slidell, the town that also got wiped out from Katrina but there is Big Bend Marsh Wildlife area, so we thought we'd continue our walk and go for it. Again, sorely disappointed, but glad we did go, saw so much devastation and so much poor, and I do mean dirt poor, homes. All up on stilts and people still living in homes that were half demolished. Makes you so humble and grateful for what you have. Got back to the RV about 4pm and the sun came out - go figure. Made a nice warm dinner and Chip decided he wanted to eat at the table with us - here's a pic of him staring at Dave's glass of wine - waiting for dinner. He likes Merlot. Tomorrow we will head into Baton Rouge and visit a Rural Farmland that is sponsored for LSU. And the weather should be greatly improved, otherwise we'd go today.

Blue Sky Christmas, yes ma'm

No - Elvis isn't here. This is the first time I have been 'gone' from home for Christmas. And never have spent it in warm weather, strange. Blue skies abound and RVs decorated with their Christmas lights. Funny to see. But I like this better than snow any day. Folks here are very friendly, and when you talk with them, they all say, Yes Mam, No Mam, Yes sir, no sir! Very polite. Makes me feel like a grinch - I need to be more polite and friendly to people.

Just had a chat with the owner - she and her husband bought this place 6 months before Katrina hit - and they had plans to renovate this campground and after Katrina - lots more to do. She was begging us to stay on through New Years - they will have a 10 story high bonfire, at least 40 more RV's coming in starting on Monday, DJ and live band, fireworks, restaurant will be open, saltwater pool (I don't get that) open, etc. We will have to think about it - I am really itching to get to Texas. Dave is busy with his to-do list, by the time I came up here to do laundry, he had finished 2 of them. Guess I'll have to think up some more things for him to do.

Tomorrow we plan to go to a wildlife preserve - hike their trails. She said it was lovely but. Supposed to rain tonight, but clearing my mid day. Merry Chrismas everyone! We will talk in a couple of days. Stay warm.

Loooooosiana

We are now is a small town called Loranger, Louisiana - about 30 miles north of Baton Rouge and when we arrived it was a balmy 76 and crickets singing in the fields about 2 hours ago. This is a horse campground where kids come to adopt a horse for a week and learn how to care for one and also the campground hosts many rodeos, one of which will be New Years' Day - but we'll move before that. There are no horses now but you can see the barns and stalls and such, plus a good size arena when there is a rodeo. There are about a dozen full-timers here, and some just passing through. All in all - for $16.30 a night - we love it. And very very quiet. When we talked to the manager, she and her husband bought property 6 years ago right near here - right before Katrina. Price per acre was $6000 and right after Katrina she said that prices were $15000 per acre - everyone getting away from New Orleans. She also said the worst of Katrina was some downed trees here. But. 2 years ago they had 9 inches of snow in one day and said there was more damage from that than Katrina!

Seems lately I have been chosing campgrounds near railroad tracks, thank goodness not this one. To get you caught up to here - we left Vermilion to Walton Kentucky - 13 degrees. On to Cornersville Tennesse where it was 32. Monday and Tuesday we were in Meridian Mississippi and when we left there this morning it was 64. So - 76 and sunny and about 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico - great. We will sit here until next Wednesday and move on to Texas - probably Beaumont or Port Arthur, beginning to move down the Gulf Coast south of Houston. There is some sight-seeing things we can do here and we plan to just warm up and enjoy not wearing coats or jackets. I am even barefoot and Dave is outside in shirt sleeves. Life is good.

Texas bound

We made it out of Vermilion, OH yesterday morning in 17 degrees and some snow on the ground. Fortunately it was sunny all the way down I75 into Kentucky, specifically Walton, where we spent the night last night. Got to 13 during the night but we had the furnace on and two space heaters going and it was nice and toasty inside - about 64 degrees. When we opened up the windows this morning to get things packed up, almost all the windows were iced over. And, they have lots more snow in Walton than we did in Vermilion. Living inside not using water yet - things are still frozen from the past couple of months. We will wait until we get to Alabama to start up water inside. Instead, we shower in their bathhouse-very nice and warm and clean. This morning we headed into Louisville, KY and picked up I65 south towards Nashville. When we left it was 17 degrees and by the time we got to Nashville it had warmed up to 38. Walton got this snow 2 days ago and when we got into Nashville - boy did they have ice! Glad we avoided that. We are now in Cornersville, Tennessee for the night, which is 27 miles north of the border of Alabama and Tennessee. Not bad out - was 45 when we pulled in about 2:30pm. Supposed to get down to 28 tonight, but glad the worst is past us. Chip and Grace (our cats) are amazing - they settled down about 1/2 hour after start up and today - not a peep. Truck running fine, RV is doing great, we will head to Meridian. Alabama for 2 nights tomorrow, then head to Lake Charles, Louisiana until after Christmas. Then head down south of Houston for the New Year and possibly stay for a couple of weeks. Won't write again until we get to Lake Charles. Here's a picture of the RV last night with all the snow. Notice our new graphic on the back? Yep, we are slow going down the highway, hence the turtle.