Missouri to Louisiana Nov.17-20

Nov. 17th

After eight days of great shows and an enjoyable time we left Branson to head south to Louisiana. We drove through the Ozark Mountains passing small villages on very winding roads ,up and down the mountains to Little Rock, Arkansas.

Six hours later we were in Texarkana (a city on the state line of Arkansas and Texas). We had a pizza delivered to our KOA campsite. Warm,sunny day 24 Deg.C. Finally we are far enough south to get good weather.

Nov. 18th HAPPY 65th BIRTHDAY,GRAHAM

Sunshine-on the road to Lafayette Louisiana, straight through downtown Shreveport/LA and all the overpasses. We arrived at 2 P.M. at the Lafayette KOA. Our 5th wheel is under an old oak tree overlooking the lake.So nice!

We visited our friends John and Sherryl Couvillion-great to see them again. Sherryl cooked a delicious dinner of sausage and chicken gumbo and sweet potatoes. The pumpkin and apple cakes were yummy too. The Couvillions' made up a beautiful Christmas basket for us with all things Cajun. They are very generous.Thank you!

Nov. 19th

We drove over to John and Sherryl's in the morning. We stopped at John's new Shelter Insurance building and met their son Bryan.

The four of us drove to Avery Island and toured the McIlhenny Company Tabasco factory-the only place where the famous pepper sauce is made and bottled for the world.Quite a process!

We drove through the Jungle Garden with marshland,swamps, and bayou--giant oaks hanging with Spanish moss,bamboo,palm and cypress trees--alligators,snowy egerts,blue herron,turtles etc. Beautiful serene setting!

In the evening we enjoyed Cajun food and music at Prejean's Restaurant.

Nov. 20th

Hot day 26 Deg. C. We went with John and Sherryl to Vermillionville Historical State Park-the history of the Nova Scotia Acadians deportation to Louisiana. John is of Acadian ancestry.

We then had lunch at Pat's Restaurant. Good Cajun food. We went to see a 600 year old live oak tree. It was massive! Next to the Oak was a Roman Catholic Cathedral and Cemetery--all above ground burial plots because Lafayette is only 2-4 feet above sea level.

We came back to our campsite for a rest. We are going to the Couvillion's for dinner--crawfish Etouffee(like a little lobster). We know it will be tasty as Sherryl is a great cook.