normally we're pretty antsy and excited on the day of departure, but leaving home
on a spring road trip in 45 degree cloudy, windy and cool weather just
didn't have us as fired up as normal. we knew it'd be fun once we got
started, but we weren't all that pressed to get on the road this day...our
house was warm and we were out of the wind.
we
finally pulled out of our drive about 10.30am heading to east Texas to
visit friends before crossing our 1st border into Louisiana. we've
almost taken every 2 lane highway we know of in and out of our neck of
the woods, so the 1st leg of our journey was heading southeast on a road
we've traveled numerous times with a thrilling book on tape and the
heater on.
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| roadside Texas bluebonnets and paintbrush |
we
made our 1st destination in an army corps park, Granger Lake, about 35
miles northeast of Austin. if you've never been to an army corps park
and if you're considered a senior citizen by USG standards, you've
gotta stop. prices are 1/2 price normal adult rates and they are
usually located near water (hence the army corps of engineers
management).
we
found ourselves at Granger Lake, a
beautiful lake in much greener rolling countryside but still with
chilly air. we hooked up, settled in, ate an early dinner and grabbed our
coats and hats and headed out on a 3+ mile walk down by the swim beach
and the boat docks. gravy loved the running and we enjoyed stretching
our legs.
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| Granger Lake campground |
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| an entrance to an East Texas ranch--?!!? |
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| ranching in East Texas! |
our 1st night out, we froze a bit as we never dreamed we'd need our down
sleeping bag for warmth--i mean really...one normally doesn't plan on
taking a down sleeping bag when heading to the Gulf coast in spring, but
we sure could have used one this eve...
we
awoke to a clear crisp morning with blue sky and windy air. after our
morning walk and a quick breakfast, we pushed on south and eastward, in
search of not only friends, but warmer weather. we arrived in
Woodville, about 4pm, home to Ruth and Mike, longtime friends of ours.
if you're watching American Idol this season, you'll recognize the name
Woodville as Kree Harrison hails from here and the yard signs and
storefront marquee's show their support.
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| a lovely East Texas home of friends |
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| Sana, Mike, Kemo and Ruth--long time friends of ours |
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| Woodville supporting their American Idol, Kree |
we had a lovely weekend with friends, and Sunday, we pushed on towards Lake Charles, Louisiana. the weather has warmed up and the scenery has changed from tree lined roads into marshy, swampy lagoons. we camped in a state park campground, just north of Lake Charles, Sam Houston Jones State Park.
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| Louisiana tree lined road |
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| swampy lagoon |
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| yikes...beware! |
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| walking bridge over the swamps |
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| a marshy part of the park |
from the swamps and the marshes to the Louisiana Gulf coast via the Creole Nature Trail (a recommended scenic route), almost the southernmost road in Louisiana skirting the gulf with numerous small communities on stilts.
and more swampy, marshy roads and look at what we saw along the road, literally along the road...
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| sunning himself waiting for lunch |
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| gator territory |
after leaving the coast, we jogged a bit north, still on back roads, winding our way to Avery Island where the McIlhenny family started making Tabasco pepper sauce just after the civil war in 1865. we stopped by for a quick tour and some pepper sauce samplings.
from the Tabasco factory, we found another State Park, Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, just outside of St Martinville, the 3rd oldest city in Louisiana. the area is full of Antebellum style plantation homes, with finely manicured grounds. we assume the short kept grasses, not only around the mansions, but around the single and double wides as well, is for spotting gators if they happen to find their way up on your property.
we're slowly working our way to New Orleans, but 1st wanted to once more make it to the Gulf to camp in one of the southern most state parks of Louisiana, Grand Isle. a lovely 4+ hour drive south and across the nearly 10 mile long Grand Isle bridge and we made it to our destination.
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| a $3 toll for nearly 10 miles of bridge |
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| scenes from the bridge--no wonder why they built the bridge |
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| we made it |
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| the town on stilts |
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| a fishing pier |
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| our campground |
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| the gulf from the view tower at the campground |
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| the end of a good week |
we're off to New Orleans tomorrow, preparing to bike some of the Mississippi River Trail through the city, eat some good southern food, cruise through the French Quarter and hopefully listen to some live music...we'll see what adventures we can share with you then...stay tuned....
