Well we are now officially on the luxury leg of our trip. No more camping. We are thoroughly enjoying the air conditioning and lack of mosquitoes in the evenings. We are getting a good nights sleep and some fine vittles. Last we night we ate at "This ain't your Mama's Cafe" they did serve alligator but we declined and went for the poboy sandwiches. They were huge!
We woke in Livonia, LA this morning well rested. Terry snuck out the door early and headed down the road alone once again. Dave and I lagged behind to do our chores and have breakfast at Penny's Diner. Then off to chase Terry down. As we drove through the Louisiana back country I was so mad at myself that I didn't rise early and ride with him as the scenery was something to behold. Tree lined windy roads along waterways, old lift bridges, a tree house the size of a small garage built in a big old tree, charming small towns and lets not forget to mention the fabulously newly paved roads.
We also passed Madonna Chapel. It is the smallest chapel in the world. They have one service every year on Aug. 15th to celebrate the assumption of the Blessed Mother. If you should find it locked when you want to visit the key is in the mailbox.
He had ridden approximately 52 miles before we caught up with him. He was having trouble with the air leaking out of his back tire. So he was in need of a new wheel. We ran into some road construction but it was short lived. I then decided I would join him and see if I could take in some scenery too.
Our lunch spot was in Donaldsonville a small town along a little waterway. We parked in the lot of a restaurant that happened to be closed at the time, but had outdoor seating overlooking the waterway in the back. Terry went to checkout the waterway when he yells come quick. So I rush over to see that he is pointing at an alligator gliding down the waterway with the current. Kind of creepy!!!
We passed The Nottoway Plantation which is the largest Antebellum plantation still in existence. It is open for tours and is also a bed and breakfast. We met a nice couple visiting from Germany here. They are touring the US for a month.
The Oak Alley Plantation was a spectacular site also. The front entrance was lined with Live Oak that were 100 years old when the plantation was built so they guestimate the trees to be over 200 years old. We had seen many of these large oak trees along the way but now thanks to Chris & Joe Trabeaux we know they are called Live Oaks. Thanks for helping us out!!
The people you see walking down the lane in the Oak Alley Plantation photo we joked might be the owners of the plantation, but we soon discovered they were touring here from Orlando.
Traveling further south we were to cross on the ferry or the bridge. Dave and I decided we would take the bridge and head to check in at the hotel while Terry continued on to catch the Ferry. When he got there the gal told him it had closed down in July due to lack of funding. The landing was by a post office where Terry struck up a conversation with a gentlemen with a truck asking him for a ride back 8 miles to the bridge. He politely agreed so they loaded up his bike and off they went. By the time they had gotten to the BIG bridge where he was to cross the gentlemen was generous enough to deliver Terry right to the hotel. They unloaded his bike and we continued the conversation for 15 or 20 minutes more. Sharing information and teaching us of the landscape here in Louisiana. His Name is Dap. Which stands for David Allen Powell. We salute you!!!!!
Shortly after arriving at the hotel Terry gets a call from Mike Ankenny, Jon Erichson, Ernie Hammero, & a friend from Kansas, They are down here gator hunting and stopped in to visit with us. They are hunting just down the road about 25 miles from us.
Then we decided we needed to order in pizza as time was running thin. We still had laundry, blogging, airing out the damp tents that have been up in the car top carrier for 4 or 5 days now,(probably getting moldy), and showers.
Back to the days of late night blogging.
Terry,Dave & Julie
Well, you're entering the home stretch ... It's been quite a journey. Good to hear you're going the motel route - hot nights in a tent don't sound like something to look forward to. Dave, I'm sorry to hear the knee won't carry you on, but you've had quite a ride up until now. What I can't figure out is no news of DQ's. Don't they have them down there? Have a good ride/drive to the end. Hope you post your reflections on the trip once it's over. I love your pix and comments each day.
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