Our second night at Fairview Riverside State Park….
The rains came in the night. All of a sudden the silence of the night interrupted with squalls of rain hitting the roof of the RV. Silence, pounding rain, silence, pounding rain, all night long. Common, these seasonal rains in the south, some violent with their arrival.
We woke to flooded roads, the river overflowing its bank. We have been at Fairview before and experienced the same seasonal rains and flooding roads.
This road leads to a second campground closer to the river. We walk this road all the time.
Not long after the rain stopped, the water receded leaving debris behind, rain drops dripped from tree leaves, and the grass remained marsh like, which deterred us from walking on it.
We were at Fairview for three nights and the sun never fully showed itself, always hiding behind gray clouds.
We still enjoyed our stay, visited with friends, ate seafood, had coffee and beignets, and shopped at our favorite grocery store for Louisiana foods to take with us.
Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans cafe known for cafe au laits, chicory coffee and beignets since 1862.
Our journey continues bringing us to a favorite place…
A place that brings smiles, makes my heart sing with happiness, and one where loved ones are waiting to embrace us in hugs. A peaceful place with lots of birds, beautiful trees and scrubs, acres of green fields, ponds, and sounds of pounding hoofs racing to relieve their curiosity over whom has come to visit.
Our favorite camping spotAn early morning visitor
There is also sadness with this visit, two hearts no longer with us. Remember Annie, the border collie and Socks the barn cat, sadly not here. I know they are here in spirit walking with us, side by side through these green fields, just as they always did.
Annie. Sweet girl we miss you so much.Socks. Pretty eyes we miss you. I miss seeing you follow my brother around like a dog.
Our view out the dining room window of the coach
Our visit is short, but memories are being created that will last forever. We will return in March with plans to stay longer.
Canada Geese enjoying the front pondAn old barn sits out in the country
My brother thinks this barn is over 100 years old. Coming to visit grandparents when I was little, from home in New Orleans, I remember seeing this barn. A left turn at the intersection where the old barn sits leads to Granddaddy’s farm. The roof has recently been repaired.
Knowing there are fun times ahead, we still leave our favorite spot with heavy hearts. With one last embrace that has to last until we return, our journey continues. On Tuesday we head east.
If you are ever traveling down Highway 49 near Alexandria, Louisiana, consider stopping at River Cities RV Park in Boyce, LA. It is new, it is nice and clean, it is convenient. Notice the security gate in and out.
River Cities RV Park, Boyce, LA (Sie 20)The only building on the property, laundry, restroom/shoewer.River Cities RV Park, Boyce, LA
After leaving Boyce, Louisiana we traveled Highway 49 to I10 heading toward Madisonville, Louisiana (all interstate travel today) .
We crossed the Atchafalaya Basin, traveling on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. A little information about this unique area taken from the web.
The Atchafalaya Basin, or Atchafalaya Swamp, is the largest wetland and swamp in the United States. Located in south central Louisiana, it is a combination of wetlands and river delta area where the Atchafalaya River and the Gulf of Mexico converge. The river stretches from near Simmesport in the north through parts of eight parishes to the Morgan City area in the south. The Atchafalaya is unique among Louisiana basins because it has a growing delta system with nearly stable wetlands. The basin contains about 70% forest habitat and about 30% marsh and open water. It contains the largest contiguous block of forested wetlands remaining in the lower Mississippi River valley and the largest block of floodplain forest in the United States. Best known for its iconic cypress-tupelo swamps, at 260,000 acres, this block of forest represents the largest remaining contiguous tract of coastal cypress in the US.
The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, also known as the Louisiana Airborne Memorial Bridge, is a pair of parallel bridges in the U.S. state of Louisiana between Baton Rouge and Lafayette which carries Interstate 10 over the Atchafalaya Basin. With a total length of 96,095 feet or 18.2 miles, it is the second-longest bridge in the US and fourteenth-longest in the world by total length.
A few photos, I took, out the window of the RV….
Atchafalaya Basin
Atchafalaya Basin
After exiting the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge we crossed the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Bridge over Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, LAPort of Baton Rouge, Mississippi River in the backgroundTug Boat on the Mississippi River
We arrived this afternoon, under cloudy skies, at Fairview Riverside State Park in Madisonville, LA. We have enjoyed visiting this state park many times. Here is our site for the next three nights.
Site 41, Fairview Riverside State Parl. Madisonville, LA
The Tchefuncte River is high, flowing into the state park.
Fairview Riverside State Park, Madisonville, LA
Beautiful old, Oak Tree
Howard and I enjoyed a late lunch today at a New Orleans style restaurant here in Madisonville. Howard had a Shrimp Po-Boy and I enjoyed what is called a Southern Thing, which includes green-fried tomatoes, shrimp and coleslaw with special sauce, all on french bread (a Po-Boy). Yummy!
Southern Thing from New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Company
You just have to go with what you are given and that is what we did, several walks around Copper Breaks State Park with the doggies for a total of 4.5 miles.
During our walks we saw some interesting sights….
It was early evening when we saw this fellow hunting bugs in the grass.
Roadrunner – Beep, Beep
A Texas Longhorn from the herd at Copper Breaks.
Texas Longhorn
Perhaps it is the vintage look of these Windmills that I like so much.
Windmill Pump
Well past its blooming season, but still lovely with a splash of color.
Dry arid land
It is always interesting to walk along a river bank. The Pease River, a tributary of the Red River which runs through West Texas, meanders its way through Copper Breaks State Park.
Pease River in Copper Breaks State Park
Tall reeds, protection for wildlife.
Grasses surrounding a pond
One of the small ponds in the park.
A small pond
Now for the fun part ` seeing the Texas Longhorns at Copper Breaks.
A little Texas Longhorn
If you are interested you may read about these handsome fellows by clicking on this link Longhorns
“What you looking at sister?”
The end of our day, enjoyed and treasured.
Looking forward to what tomorrow will bring. We will be on our way to Cooper Lakes State Park.
How many country and western songs would you guess have been written about Amarillo? I don’t know, but there are several. One of the most famous is Amarillo by Morning, which has been recorded by many artists including George Strait. And, why is it stuck in my head? Read these lyrics and it will be stuck in yours!
Amarillo by Morning
By George Strait
Amarillo by mornin’
Up from San Antone
Everything that I got
Is just what I’ve got on
When that sun is high in that Texas sky
I’ll be buckin’ at the county fair
Amarillo by mornin’
Amarillo, I’ll be there
They took my saddle in Houston
Broke my leg in Santa Fe
I lost my wife and a girlfriend
Somewhere along the way
But I’ll be lookin’ for 8 when they pull that gate
And I hope that judge ain’t blind
Amarillo by mornin’
Amarillo’s on my mind
Amarillo by mornin’
Up from San Antone
Everything that I got
Is just what I’ve got on
I ain’t got a dime but what I got is mine
I ain’t rich but Lord I’m free
Amarillo by mornin’
Amarillo’s where I’ll be
Amarillo by mornin’
Amarillo’s where I’ll be
Thursday evening we receive a phone call from the Ford Dealership in Canyon, TX letting us know our car is ready. Just like that our plans change; we will have to visit the Amarillo Botanical Gardens and see the Christmas lights another time.
Friday morning was hectic, up early, on the road to Canyon with the rental car to pick up our car, back to Amarillo to drop off the rental car, and then back to the RV Park to get the coach ready to pull out before eleven o’clock. We made it!
We decided to travel to Copper Breaks State Park in Quanta, TX and stay Friday and Saturday night. We visited this park once before and enjoyed staying here. We arrived at Copper Breaks early in the afternoon and after getting settled in our site we enjoyed a walk and a sunset.
Copper Breaks State ParkSun starting to set
The sounds of Amarillo…..trains, planes, helicopters and eighteen wheelers, were becoming unpleasant. All sounds we could hear from our site at Amarillo Ranch RV Park.
Perhaps this is why so many country songs have been written about Amarillo, to simply drown out the noise with music.
Or it could be Amarillo rhymes with a lot of words!
Today was peaceful, quite, un-crowded, with dark (I mean dark) skies.
The Valley looks and feels peaceful after a busy tourist season
Big Horn Sheep
A Bull Elk spends his days alone, after the rut. A broken antler is his battle scar
A Mom and her baby,; spring and summer have come to an end
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A late autumn sceneA beautiful sight as you drive up toward Estes ParkThe green grasses of summer have turned goldenA Photographer trying to capture this serene scene.
I have more photos to share with you tomorrow. Until then enjoy your day.
Trying to talk me into a morsel.“No food, no more photos for you.”
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