Day 19 - Travel Day to Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Submitted by:  Harvey and Laura Turner #20

Our day started with French toast breakfast by the leaders that everyone enjoyed.  There was Cajun music supplied by Chris Muench that some really got into.  We had a grab bag drawing with gifts donated by the Tabasco Factory and the Konriko Rice Company store.  

To end the morning, Pat read, in Cajun,   “The Night Before a Cajun Christmas” that was really enjoyed by all.

We hit the road and crossed the Mississippi again on the way to the Farr Equestrian Park campground.  That evening Joe Risley and Ray Dorris prepared a hot dog dinner for all.  Vicky Huntley passed FOXY on to Carolyn Thiessen before we all started eating again.  We ended the evening with a serenade by Pat and Skeeter Craig for Vicky Huntley’s belated birthday.  

Day 18 - more Touring of Lafayette, Louisiana

Submitted by:  Bob and Carolyn Thiessen #19 It is Thursday, April 3, 2014. We depart Bayou Wilderness RV Resort at 8:10 AM by bus with a full itinerary and our step-on guide, Ginger. Joe provided many laughs with his joke of the day to get things “rolling”. Our first stop is the Tabasco Factory where capsicum peppers are grown and processed into a pepper sauce known around the world. Surprisingly, the sauce is aged in oak barrels for 3 years before it is bottled.

We tried the ice cream and after we got over the “heat”, it was good. The factory is located on Avery Island on top of a salt dome.  Above the surface is The Jungle Gardens and Bird City. The Wysteria Arbor was in full bloom.  Entering through the red gate we see a Buddha enclosed in its own house for security.  The bridge appeared serene, and azaleas were gorgeous. Bird City was full of birds.

Then we were off to the Rip Van Winkle Gardens and lunch at the Jefferson Cafe. We passed by the Jefferson mansion built in 1870 with its 4th story cupola. Lunch was delicious and enjoyed by all. Dinner was not needed as we brought half of it home to be enjoyed a second time.

A windshield tour of New Iberia Historic District had us viewing many old mansions, old churches, and narrow streets with a talented bus driver negotiating sharp turns.

Upon arrival at the 1912 Conrad Rice Mill we watched a video of ‘Cajun’ culture. The mill is located in the original building and is free of debt. It was not “in-op”, wrong season. Many rice products are produced here.

The last stop was St Martinville, the home of Evangeline. A visit to the Acadian Museum gave us a look at a large mural that came to life with deportation stories of the Acadians. A Meditation Garden on the Bayou Teche was the backdrop for the Eternal Flame, and held a life size replica of the Deportation Cross and mosaics of Acadian family Coats of Arms. St Martinville was the Birthplace of Acadiana and made famous for the Evangeline Oak Tree that inspired Longfellow’s poem.

Another long day and looking forward to a good night’s sleep. Lots of laughs and good company!!

Day 17 - Tour of Lafayette, Louisiana

Submitted by:  Chuck & Nancy Stivers  #18

We are staying at a beautiful RV park called “Bayou Wilderness RV Resort.  It has its own pond with the interesting cypress trees and their knees.  

  

We started out at “Jean Lafitte Acadian Cultural Center” with a film about Acadia and what happened to the people here.  We were then able to explore the museum and learn more about the Louisiana Mississippi River Delta.

We then headed out to the Vermillionville Cajun/Creole Heritage & Folk Life Park.  We were able to explore the living history of the Acadian, Native American and Creole cultures.  It was very enjoyable walking around to all the homes and watching the people at their work.  

Then had a yummy lunch of bread, roast beef, gumbo, corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, and bread pudding.  We found that some of our men are wimps when it comes to spicy foods.  

Back on the bus for a city tour – saw an incredible 500 year old oak tree which was next to a beautiful Historic Church called “the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist”.  There was also a wonderful above ground Cemetery. 

We were then on to McGee’s Landing for a Swamp boat tour of Atchafalaya National Heritage Basin.  Saw many birds and a couple of gators.  The captain was quite a character and very funny.  

Our last stop was the World Famous Accordion Workshop tour with Cajun Entertainment presented by the Martin Family.  It was truly entertaining and informative.  The Cajun Accordions are so different from the keyboard accordions I was used to growing up with.  I (Nancy) played an accordion for 7 years from when I was 6, and I would never be able to play these Cajun ones.  It was a really a good show.  

It was a great day!!!   
Oh, and we also became honorary Cajuns!   How’s that for one day.

Day 16 - Travel Day to Lafayette, Louisiana

Submitted by:  Sharlet and Jim Seale #17

This morning before our travel day began, we were treated to a pancake and sausage breakfast by the staff. 

10 people from the Adventure Caravans group met at Tallgrass Farm with Burt Tietje the owner of large rice and crawfish farms.  Very informative about farming crawfish.

They drain fields in July to harvest rice in August. Crawfish burrow in mud between 18 to 36 inches deep to stay cool. They will mate during this period. The field will be flooded in October, then crawfish surface with the female carrying under her tail 2 to 3 hundred eggs. If the farmer should lose their crawfish due to weather,  predators or anything else, it takes 30 lbs. of crawfish per acre to replant their field.

 

 

Tallgrass Farms has 65 acres now in crawfish with 12 traps per acre, so he cleans between 700 to 800 traps per day. This environment attracts many predators like birds, snakes, turtles and raccoons. Raccoons being the worst for they also love feasting on crawfish.

Between the two parishes in south west Louisiana 12 to 15 million lbs. of crawfish are produced every year. Great stop. !!! This was a travel day and thanks to Mike Ashley for making the arrangement we all enjoyed this outing.