Just back last night from my South Louisiana cruise with my daughter. A little saddle sore but very happy from a good trip.
Day One
Started out of Houston to Beaumont down 90 and then I-10 to Vidor where I took TX-12 into Louisiana and DeQuincy. Met up with a friend of mine in Eunice and then finished the day crossing the Mississippi River into Baton Rouge. Had a starter meltdown (no relay in the driving lights) at my first gas stop but wasn't going to let that stop the trip. Push started Dixie all day. My friend rides a Road Star 1700. He hadn't seen Dixie yet until today. First comment was, "Wow". About 266 miles today.
Veteran's Memorial in Elton, LA
Dixie, proud to support those that gave some and those that gave all.
Day 2
Spent the morning getting Dixie to the mechanic and getting the headlight and starter working again. Definitely a temporary fix on the starter. Was nice to have lights again, just for safety sake. Also got a relay on the driving lights so that issue is alleviated now. My friend said it definitely gave the bike a different profile. After a late start, we crossed back over the Mississippi and then down LA-1 through Port Allen and across I-10. First stop was Nottoway Plantation in White Castle. We then doubled back up the River Road to check out the Madonna Chapel. It's noted as the "Smallest Church in the World". At that point I split up with my friend, he headed back to Baton Rouge while I made a u-turn and proceeded to twist and burn down the River Road down to Vacherie and then headed west to overnight at the Days Inn in Thibodaux. The night clerk was real nice and let me park Dixie right up by the front door under the overhang. Not a ton of miles today with the delay getting started. Ended up being right around 111 miles but all two-lane back roads and mostly <45mph on the speedo.
Front entrance, from the Miss. River side, to Nottoway.
A side shot of the plantation. This side is oval, while the opposite side is "squared off".
My daughter, Anastasia, flexing her muscles to keep the live oak tree from falling.
Shot of Anna and Ryann (my friends daughter) on the garden bridge/island at Nottoway.
A quick jog across the River Road and to the top of the levee for a shot of America's Highway, the Mississippi River (the Army Corp of Engineers built these levees statewide in the early 1930's after the flood of '27.
Front shot of Madonna Chapel. My friend's daughter Ryann in the foreground.
The alter inside the chapel.
For scale, my daughter Anna inside the chapel. I am standing outside the front door for this picture. Maybe five or six people can fit inside.
Day Three
We headed back up to Vacherie and then down the River Road again to Evergreen Plantation. A few recent movies have been filmed here. I'd never toured this home before as it didn't start allowing tours until about 12 years ago...right before we moved to Texas. It has 37 historical buildings still on the grounds including 22 slave quarters cabins. We spent the time to tour the house and grounds here. We then headed back up to Donaldsonville back up the River Road for the twisties. We took 70 and headed westward and then angled south down to Morgan City. Stopped for a few photo shots including my favorite picture of the trip. From Morgan City, we took LA-182 over through "Acadiana Alley" from Franklin to New Iberia and then cut down to Delcambre (my families homestead) and then ended the day up in Lafayette at my parents for the night. About 190 miles on this day. Sure did discover it takes longer on a bike to travel than in a cage...lol.
Just a house we passed between Thibodeux and Vacherie.
Evergreen Plantation.
Anna on the porch at Evergreen, enjoying a moment of shade.
Evergreen slave cabin. 12x24, two families split each cabin.
Inside slave cabin. Each family got one room this size, 12x12.
Oak Alley down through the slave quarters. Alleys of trees were common in France and used extensively in South Louisiana. Not the "most famous" alley as that would be at 'the' Oak Alley Plantation farther north on the River Road.
Dixie on the Dock. Boat landing into one of the numerous bayous.
St. Joseph's Plantation. Didn't time to tour this one, just a passing shot.
My Money Shot for the trip. Stevensville Road, just outside Morgan City. Pulled down just to enjoy some shade and some off the beaten path beauty.
Home in the Franklin, LA area going down the Acadiana Trail (LA-182).
A typical cemetery in south Louisiana with the semi-above ground tombs. Due to the high water table thoughout south Louisiana. In floods, it's not uncommon for "below ground" caskets to pop out from the water pressure.
The Steamboat House in New Iberia. A private residence. The current owner (the wife) grew up in New Iberia and as a child always loved this house. She moved away, married and then moved back to New Iberia. She told her husband of her love of the house and although the home was not for sale, the husband walked up, knocked on the door and made the owners an offer they couldn't refuse. They live in the house still today, about 30 years later. A modern day Cajun love story.
Day Four
The final day of the trip was mostly uneventful. We left Lafayette, traveled down to Abbeville and then west to Kaplan where we veered south towards the Creole Trail. The Trail winds through Pecan Island and then westward through Cameron, across the Cameron Ferry, and finally into the Port Arthur TX area. We stayed on the back roads to Winnie before heading north, back across I-10 to Nome and then picked up Hwy 90 for the final run back into North Houston. Right at 300 miles for the final leg. Last stretch in Louisiana was right on the Gulf of Mexico.
Photo op in front of tarpon statue (local High School)
Anna loves her seafood...and the pot certainly speaks the truth. She always does "Stir the Pot".
Astride Dixie on the ferry crossing in Cameron.
Dixie takes a break to enjoy some ocean breeze off the Gulf just behind us.
All told, just short of 900 miles. My first bike mishap with Dixie. Thanks to Marcus (here at VRCC in Houston) and Tom (SCRC State President in Louisiana) for their help getting me some good info and a mechanic...as well as Trout for reaching out to volunteer (here at VRCC). No other problems once that was behind us. Even managed to give the bike a name finally...fitting for a Ragin Cajun from South Louisiana I suppose.
