The clouds looked threatening when Edith peeked out of the van at 5:40 am. Yesterday the winds were westerly, but this time it was easterly. Pleasant temp in 70's.
Edith was determined to get to the beach before the sunrise started at 6:18 am. She wanted to have sunrise pictures in each state, but has not gotten any when we were in other states we visited. To Edith's disappointment there were just too much cloud cover.
It was so very quiet on the beach! Actually not so quiet, waves were crashing, sea gulls cawing BUT remember Edith is deaf so it was quiet for her! Edith got few sunrise pictures, but nothing was so spectacular.
When Edith was walking back to the beach she was irked to find somebody pitch a pup tent right on the restricted area for least tern nesting site. Of course, it was reported to the rangers.
Erwin got up an hour later. Edith decided to fix fruit smoothie and Erwin wanted a bowl of cereal with lots of fruits.
Got on Hwy 1, detoured to Elmer's Island hoping to see spoonbills. The road is hard packed and not too narrow, but difficult to turn around.
Got to the point where the sand became soft, so we turned around. No sight of spoonbills ;-( Saw some ducks, barnswallows, red wing blackbirds, cattle egrets.
Crossed the bridge 8.5 mile long.
We continued driving on Hwy 1 North to Houma, LA. Nice view of the canal along the side of the highway. Lots of tugboats and shrimp trawlers.
Again, we spotted locquat trees loaded with Japense plums on the side near the canal in Cutoff, LA. Of course, we stopped, went and picked them. Got a half bag full.
Video of Erwin picking Japenese plums
This is LaCrosse bridge.
Crossed Intracoatal Waterway bridge, but we missed a turn to Hwy 24, so crossed the bridge again
Now on Hwy 24 toward Bourg, LA (scenic highway) for 14 miles.
Stopped at Roland's Klondyke Mini Mart again, so EH can get a cup of coffee, but the power was out.. So no coffee and no meat pie for him :-(
Continued on Hwy 24 in Bourg.
Stopped in Houma to get gas. Been using GasBuddy app to find lowest gas prices. Love this app!
Already 1,086 miles from home!
We stopped at Dantin Chevrolet dealer in Thidodaux, LA to see if they can do oil change but they don't have appointments available, so we went elsewhere.
In Thibadaux there is St. Joseph Co-Cathedral Catholic church and Edith wanted to take pictures of the exterior
, but as she was ready to head back to the van she decided to check to see if the church was open, and it was. She took a peek and saw how beautiful it was. She called Erwin out of the van, and we went inside and appreciated the fine work done. Beautiful altar, stained glasss, nave, etc.
Getting on Hwy 18 in Vacherie, LA to visit Oak Alley Plantation.
Arrived the plantation site at 1:15 pm, went straight to the restaurant. I had four cheese pasta with grilled shrimp with 2 garlic toasts and EH had blackened chicken sandwich with steak fries and a cup of gumbo soup. EH ordered mint julep, which is famous. Very strong, but did not taste so minty. He finished his drink ($7). I got Oak Alley's famous creme brulee and EH got pecan pie., Everything was scrumptious.
Walked around the plantation, went inside the house, on guided tour which lasted about 35 mins . Checked out antique cars stored inside a garage.
Walked down the alley, which is 1/4 mile long. Beautiful oak trees lined up. Nbr 9 tree is the biggest. All trees are Virginia Live Oak trees that are over 400 years old.
Hwy 18 then LA 70E crossing Mississippi River
We decided to try camping overnight at either one of Super Walmarts in Gonzales and Praireville, but saw 'No Overnight Parking signs. Ok...ok, we are going to try one in Praireville. Well, no overnight parking. Hmmm...let's try another elsewhere. Strike 3 and you are out!
Giving up in trying to find another Super Walmert we decided to stay at Flying J/Pilot in Denham Springs (Exit 10) off I-12E. Not a problem, we told ourselves and off to bed we went.
I loved the plantations. I miss it. We always had a school field trip, we got stoked (especially me - out of classes and no homework) but I was always fascinated with trees at what you took, that was exactly where I was mesmerized by it. The last picture of the pier, it was beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteEdith wanted to make sure that Erwin get to visit Oak Alley Plantation because she remembered how beautiful it was when she visited it in 2004.
ReplyDelete