LouTex Day 8

March 2, 2014

Biked 7 miles

Another sunny start to the day. We hung out at the camp site and talked with a couple from Sarnia, Ontario (the State Parks are good to us Canadians, putting us in good spots). This is their first trip to Texas, so we offered some recommendations.

After lunch, we rode some more of the bike trails. There are 35 miles of hiking and biking trails in this park, all flat and picturesque: my favourite kind of biking.

There are signs everywhere that say, “Alligators-Caution-Stay on Path”. We thought that they were warning US to stay on the paths until we had to give THIS BIG guy (maybe 12 feet) a wide berth:

The birds and turtles were pretty again, a fitting end to our two days here:

It remained about 75 F until 5:30 when the temperature dropped about 40 degrees in two minutes. Brrr….

Here’s a view from my chair before the cold front blew in:

LouTex Day 7

March 1, 2014

Biked 7 miles (finally!)

It was a gorgeous morning. Sunny, bright and warming. We took the short ferry hop and drove along the Gulf towards Port Arthur, Texas. There is still much evidence of Hurricane Rita (which totally demolished this area in 2005). A year later, we still saw many trailers replacing homes but some new building right in the footprints of the fallen houses (money must be coming through).

• Saw a cemetery right behind a Rural Healthcare Clinic

We found a lovely “Safety Rest Stop” on Highway 10 at Exit 813. It’d be a great place to stay for a night. We hit Houston and some traffic, but it only took about 20 minutes to get through.

• Southfork Drive, but we were in Houston!

We got to Brazos Bend State Park and snagged a water and electric site in the Overflow Camping area (Site OE 18, $15). It’s worth asking for since it’s away from most other campers.

We ate a quick lunch and got on the bikes and rode two of the many hiking/biking trails, IN SHORTS:

There were lots of people, especially families, enjoying the birds and Alligators (we saw AT LEAST 30!). I even touched a teeny one in the Visitors Centre. Here are a few of the birds, gators and turtles we saw:

We’re here for another night so will relax a bit. The Cat’s Eye View is her little hidey hole under the driver’s seat. A little Black Forest Ham can coax her out:

Here’s a real view from my chair, complete with bare legs, Valentine’s Day pedicure and my own Live Oak Tree:

LouTex Day 6

February 28, 2014

It was a noisy sleep with a train in our backyard, blowing its whistle all night long! Oh, and here’s yesterday`s view from my chair (sort of):

Today was a nostalgic tour of the Creole Nature Trail we liked so much last year. We started with a visit to the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Centre. It’s a little haven of information and birds, especially the Common Moorhens, American Coots, the beautiful Black-necked Stilt, and the nesting colony of Roseate Spoonbills:

We next drove the Pintail Wildlife Drive and saw only three geese, many White-faced and White Ibises, Snowy and Great Egrets and, count them, FOUR alligators:

After,we took the Ranger’s advice and drove (too far) to the Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge. Kind of a waste of time and gas. So we returned to the Pintail for lunch and another circuit and were rewarded with FOURTEEN Alligators, including this cute pair:

…and a huge flock of geese: Snow, Ross’s and Greater White-fronted:

We decided to stay at the Jetty RV Park in Cameron ($25 for Electric, Water and two passes for the Fishing Pier). At last, the Gulf! And some relative warmth. We beachcombed a bit (don’t let the toque and headband fool you; it was just windy):

It was a good day ending with this sunset:

Here’s a view of me and our site. That’s me in my Pink in the Rink on Power in Pink Friday:

LouTex Day 5

February 27, 2014

This was more of a touristy day, and it was warmer (up to 65 degrees) with blue skies. And we had a great sleep. I walked the ponds and we got a great shot of this guys fishing near us:

We headed to the Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site not far away in St.Martinville. I had read good reviews on TripAdvisor. And it was lovely. I don’t think I read the poem (but will when I get home). The name for the park is a bit of a misnomer. What it really is is a celebration of Creole and Cajun culture from the area.

After a movie, the Creole side tour guide took our small group (us, a couple from Scotland and a couple in their 80’s celebrating their 7th anniversary). The Creole (descendants of Europeans born in Louisiana) side featured the “cottage” of an affluent local Creole family (this was original) and the Cajun (descendant of the original Acadians from Canada) side depicted a typical modest farm on the shores of Bayou Teche. This side had recreations with some artifacts on display. Here are some comparative shots:

The houses:

…the dining areas:

The bedroom in the Creole house had a beautiful “Rolling Pin Bed”. The decoration between the posts at the head detaches and is used to fluff and roll the mattress!

It was beautiful and interesting. Much to think about in terms of Creoles and Cajuns, slavery, and the preservation of the past (real or imagined). The Cajun tour guide was outspoken about many things. Very thought-provoking.

We drove into St. Martinville and visited the above-ground graveyard with the oldest crypt we saw from the 1770’s:

and the contemporary mausoleum:

The town has the Live Oak from the Evangeline story:

…and the Evangeline statue:

This statue was interesting:

…particularly when you read the inscription (yes, that says “Roving Savage Tribe” and was dedicated in 1961:

The St. Martin de Tours Church was beautiful:

and the town was like a modest New Orleans French Quarter (we even bought some freshly-made beignets):

We decided against a trip around Lake Martin, recommended for birding, and headed to Lake Charles for our return visit to the Creole Nature Trail tomorrow. When we stopped for gas, I noticed a sign to an RV park ($10 to park-$25 for full service). We’re here for the night along with workers in travel trailers and others in the trailer park. Oh, and there’s a train!

I’ll post a view from my chair tomorrow!

LouTex Day 4

February 26, 2014

It stormed all night, and we woke to more rain! But we headed out around 9:30 for our next adventure.

This park would be a good place if you were visiting New Orleans (and had a car). It’s about 20 minutes from The French Quarter. It’s also close to Madisonville, a quaint little marina town on the river which flows into Lake Pontchartrain. You could ride bicycles there to restaurants, etc. And it has a Piggly Wiggly!

We saw a field full of FEMA trailers, abandoned and likely never to be used again. Evidence of Katrina and Rita persists. We also saw our first Border Patrol of the trip.

We drove to Poche’s Fish ‘N RV Park (Passport America $20-great deal) near Breaux Bridge. It’s quite lovely: big sites on some man-made ponds that are stocked with fish. It was pretty cold (45 degrees) so no one was fishing, but you can imagine what it would be like. We just snoozed, read and listened to great Cajun music on “Bayou 106.7, The Sound of Acadiana”. Oh, we also watched American Idol!

Here’s today’s “Cat’s Eye View”:

…a view of from our site (81):

…and a couple of views from my inside chair (there were quite a few birds including the Mallards, two Shrikes, Cormorants, Fox Sparrows, Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons: