CHEMIN-A-HAUT - DAY TWO

This morning after breakfast, Xi Shi and I took a walk to the cabin area in search of Bayou Bartholomew.  We found the cabins at the end of a dead end road.  They were very nice cabins which sat along the water's edge with little piers behind each cabin.  However, the cabins are not along the bayou but along Big Slough Lake.  So... where is the bayou?

Well, according to the map, the bayou is where we were yesterday near the playground.  All I saw when I was there was a fence behind the playground.  Perhaps it is beyond the fence.  Will check it out when we leave tomorrow.  We also did not find the Equine trails which may be there as well.  It was such a long walk that I didn't really check it out all the way to the end.

According to the map, there are no fishing piers in the park and the boat launch is closed.  We did see the pool area yesterday but it is closed, also.

Big Slough Lake

Nice cabins facing water.

Almost in the lake.

Cypress in the lake.

Crooked stream running through the forest.

Back to our campsite.

Placed a Peace Rock.  We're leaving in the morning.


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Life lately (through Instagram) #2

A couple of weekends ago I went to visit my parents in their new home as my Sister was home from the Isle of Man for a couple of days and Jonathan was away in Belfast watching ice hockey. As my Mum and Dad were heading back to the Isle of Man with my Sister on the Sunday we all had an early Mothers Day tea on Friday night. Their new house is great with lots of character and a couple of ponies that peer into their windows (they're owned by a lady in the cottage at the end of the lane).

After a good fattening up by my Mum on the Saturday I headed home and spent the rest of the weekend on my own catching up on some blogs and relaxing with L&L.

I'm really into cross stitching again at the moment. I go through phases where I don't do any but then I find a pattern I love and I catch the stitching bug! I usually get my patterns from Cross Stitcher magazine but I've ordered a couple of books from Amazon today so I'm hoping they will give me some inspiration (I love Etsy for PDF patterns too!)


Can you believe the weather we've been having? At the weekend I was taking pictures of horrible misty mornings, and on Saturday night (well, more like the early hours of Sunday morning...) we had a rather terrifying taxi journey home where nothing was visible around us and we ended up going up roads the wrong way!

Fast forward to this week and it is just glorious. I could get used to getting home from work at 5.30-6.00pm and sitting out in the garden in the sunshine. Our back garden is a sun trap so I'm looking forward to the months ahead if this week is anything to go by. Everything is much better when the sun is shining isn't it?!

(greedy Lola with cream on her face!)

Jonathan and I have got 2 days holiday left to use before the end of March so, as it's his birthday on Thursday, we have got Thursday and Friday off work. I'm looking forward to some lovely weather, spoiling Jonathan and spending some time at home with Lily and Lola. We also might venture out for a walk in the countryside somewhere and more than likely end up in a pub for a beer. Well, it is for a special occasion after all. It would be rude not to! :)

I hope you're all enjoying the sunshine (if you've got some!)
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CHEMIN-A-HAUT STATE PARK - BASTROP, LA

Left Poverty Point State Park around 10:00 this morning and drove around trying to find the beach.  I took the road that was supposed to lead me there which is out of the campground itself, but it led me to a dead end.  Turned around and headed for our next park.

Arrived in Bastrop around noon and found a Walmart Pharmacy.  I needed to have my meds refilled.  So I shopped while waiting.  Bought some groceries and also a cute red blouse to cheer me up.

Got to the park and checked in for 2 nights.  No RV sites near water so took #1.  Walked the dog and tried to find the Bayou that is supposed to be here.  We walked a mile or so and still no water so returned to the campsite.  Tomorrow I'll walk down to the cabins which appear to be near water on the map.  If it's too far, I'll just wait till I leave and ride around in the coach.


See where my picnic table is?  Way behind the rear of my coach.  Not good.

Nice playground for kids.


 Chemin-A-Haut is French for "High Road," which describes an old trail used by Native Americans for their seasonal migrations.    Their brochure states that there are 12 miles of Equine trails along the Bayou Bartholomew.  Ok... so the horses get to enjoy the water views.

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POVERTY POINT STATE PARK - DAY THREE

Tried to go down another hiking trail today but found more big, muddy holes so turned around and came back up.



On our walk down to the fishing pier this morning we met up with two stray dogs.  They weren't wearing collars so I assumed they were strays.  The first one to approach us was the larger of the two and a very friendly female.  I was a little afraid at first but Xi Shi kept pulling me towards her and so I got close and the two of them sniffed noses.   Once close enough to take a photo I noticed the dog's eyes.  They were the most beautiful light blue color... I just couldn't believe how blue they were.  She didn't look like a pure breed of dog so I'm guessing this is a rare occurence.




Beautiful blue eyes.

Xi Shi found her fascinating.  She followed her around and pranced and asked her to play, however, the stray sat there looking at her and not responding to her requests.


We crossed over the highway to the lake and there was the other dog coming at us.  Xi Shi sat down in her docile mode and I put my hand out to the dog and she licked it.  Then they sniffed noses and went their seperate ways.  No one seemed to be the owner of these dogs as they walked the pier being friendly to everyone.  Very sweet animals.



Not as many people on the pier today.  We walked closer to the water and spoke to a couple of people fishing.



Xi Shi walked very near the edge of the lake but didn't go in.  I'm surprised.  It is so pretty under the trees that we stayed there a good while.  There were cars parked mere feet from the fishing area and some people had chairs and ice chests with them.  If I had a car, that is where I'd spend the day.


We took the other walking trail back to our campsite.

Rode my bike, read my book, played fetch with the dog, ate lunch, searched the Internet for the nearest Walmart, and placed a Peace Rock.   We're leaving in the morning - a day before our time is up but I'm bored so it's time to move on.  


I've decided not to book for longer than 2 days from now on.  This changes my itenerary drastically but I think I'd like to get back home in a few weeks as opposed to a few months.  I can still visit all of the state parks as planned but won't be attending the festivals along the way.  I think it would be better if I made a special trip to the individual festivals instead of trying to fit them into my itenerary. 

It's lonely traveling solo.  I have gone days without speaking to a single person.  Everywhere I look there are couples and families with children having fun.  I have not run into any solo travelers and sometimes it appears that I am looked at as an oddity.  Whether or not that is the case, I feel like an outsider.  I like my alone time but also need some socializing from time to time.  That's not going to happen on this trip.  If I eventually consider doing more types of trips like this one I would definitely have to have a tow car to get around in.  Right now, I just can't afford it.
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In case of emergency....

How awesome is this "in case of emergency" framed sign complete with Monopoly pieces and money. I came across Yana's shop on Etsy and had been tempted by this one but unfortunately it can't be shipped internationally. However, when I saw the Monopoly sign pop up in my "new items" feed I had to buy it! Jonathan loves Monopoly and I knew he would love this (and he does!)


It arrived really quickly from the USA and was well packaged. Unfortunately a couple of pieces hadn't made it in transit but this was fine because Yana left the box unglued so all I had to do was get my double sided sticky tape out and secure the pieces back down. I'm not surprised this happened as my parcel went to the Sorting Office for me to collect so no doubt it was bounced around a little.

There are quite a few different designs to choose from and you can also change the colour of the frame if you like, or buy an empty frame to put your own things inside. It would be great to customise one for a friend as a gift as I'm sure they would love the amount of thought put into it.


We have hung ours in our hall and it looks great! I'm sure it will attract a lot of comments as I've never seen anything like it anywhere else.

Which design do you like best?
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