We’re In The Deep South Now

Cajun Country

The Louisiana Welcome Center was beautiful.  It was on a river and had a walkway that took you out over the bayou.  Dragonflies were everywhere.  They seemed to follow us as we walked. 

We picked up a brochure for the Creole Nature trail.  It’s a scenic byway known as the Louisiana Outback. We decided to check it out.   We stopped at the information center at the start of the trail.  The ladies there were very helpful and informative.  They gave us information about where to stop and what to see. 

And, of course, what to eat.  They suggested that we stop first from some boudin.  It’s like a sausage stuffed with a rice and meat mixture.  They also suggested stopping at a food cart in Cameron after we got off the ferry.  The ferry crosses the Calcasieu ship channel from Holly Beach to Cameron. 

The boudin (pronounced boo-dan) was not our favorite.  The shrimp at the food cart, however, was divine.

This was an interesting concept. Drive through Daiquiries. What could possibly go wrong with that idea?

Holly Beach

Here comes the ferry

We have a front row ferry seat.

The food cart in Cameron

The drive took us about 4 hours.  We then headed to a little state park that the ladies at the welcome center had recommended.  It was called Lorrain State Park.  It wasn’t listed on the state parks map.  I guess it was a secret.  It was perfect for us though.  Best of all, it was only $12.  We got to see some gators up about as close and as personal as I care to get.

Not The 10

The next day, we continued on the 90.  We enjoyed seeing all the little towns that you miss when you speed through on the 10.  Of course, it means that what normally takes 4 ½ hours (275 mi.) took us 2 ½ days.  We enjoyed the trip though.

The Survivor Oak

On the way to Lafayette, we stopped to see the survivor oak.  The story goes that the tree was blown over in a hurricane.  It was uprooted in the early 1900’s.  It miraculously survived and found a way to continue to grow.  It is now a huge, majestic oak.  The plaque at it’s base dedicates it to all survivors.

Sing The River Sculpture

We stopped briefly in Baton Rouge to see a sculpture that sits on the bank of the Mississippi River.  It has sensors that cause it to sing in response to the change in river levels.  It also lights up at night.  Unfortunately, we neither heard it sing nor did we see the lights.  I blame it on the fact that Maria forgot her cleats.  (that’s an inside joke that you’ll have to ask her about!).

Best Rest Stop Ever

Then there was Mississippi.  Exit 2 off the I10 eastbound is the nicest rest stop I’ve ever been in.  It’s the welcome center.  It has pullout spots for RV’s and a free dump station.  It is also adjacent to the Infinity science center.  The whole area is part of NASA.

Longest 77-miles

The I10 has a 77-mile section in Mississippi.  It should take a little over an hour to get from Louisiana to Alabama across Mississippi.  We, however, did not take the I10.  We got back on the 90 and drove along the gulf coast. 

Bay Saint Louis

One of the last stops before we crossed into Alabama from Mississippi was Bay Saint Louis. It’s a cool little beach town. There’s a train trestle that crosses over the bay. I’ve never seen a train cross over that much water before.

There is a carving near the pier called the angel tree. The story goes that this oak tree was saved by a woman in the early 1900’s. In August of 2005, this same tree saved the lives of 2 people and a dog during hurricane Katrina. It was carved with angels and placed in a prominent location in town.

It took us all day to travel 77 miles.  We spent the night in the last state park in Mississippi before the Alabama state line.  It’s called Shepard State Park.

Bama Bound

The section of I10 that cuts across Alabama is 66 miles.  Let’s see how many days that takes us.