We went to Coles Creek Campground at Carlyle Lake in Southern Illinois for a Gathering of Aframes Rally. After four nights there, we headed south for the Aliner Owners Club North American Rally at Cajun Palms RV Resort in Breaux Bridge, LA. We stopped overnight at Persimmon Hill Campground at Enid Lake, MS on the way.
The Gathering at Coles Creek was the typical, laid back get-together that we often enjoy with this group. Cheryl announced that she would be serving biscuits and gravy for breakfast on our first morning there. It was delicious!
On Sunday morning, we were on the road early for the trip to Breaux Bridge, LA, with an overnight stop at Enid Lake. It's a Corps of Engineers lake with concrete camping pads and air conditioned shower houses. Because we have our Lifetime Federal Recreation Lands Senior Pass, the fee was just ten bucks! What a deal!
The next morning, we hit the road and arrived at Cajun Palms RV Resort after a 356 mile drive. The resort was really nice. I heard several people say that it was one of the top venues they've ever had for an AOC national rally. The club house, where we had meals and other indoor activities was air conditioned which was welcomed in the 95 degree heat! The pool, where Marsha and I spent a couple of afternoons with friends, was great! The staff, especially Riva, were very friendly and accommodating. We had a great time.
I was sorry to learn that my favorite Cajun restaurant, Mulatte's in Breaux Bridge, had been sold and is now Pont Breaux's, which is Breaux Bridge in French. Marsha, Loretta and I slipped out of the rally after the door prize drawing on Wednesday night and had dinner there. It was good, but it wasn't Mulatte's! BTW, Marsha and I have been to Breaux Bridge several times during our motorcycling years for the annual Crawfish Festival, so we're fairly familiar with the territory.
On Thursday, Marsha & I went to see if we could find our old friends, Tony and Carolyn Courville who live in Breaux Bridge. They moved since we saw them last, probably twenty years ago, so we weren't sure where they live now. We found the house, but no one was home, so I left a card in hopes they would contact me because we didn't have their phone number.
On the way back to the rally, we stopped into a little hole-in-the-wall combination convenience store and Cajun restaurant that was discovered by one of our rally friends. I had a small bowl of crawfish etouffee, my favorite Cajun dish. It was wonderful!
That evening, Carolyn called me, but it was too late to go for a visit and we were leaving in the morning. We did a quick catch-up on each other's families and promised to touch vase with each other more often. Tony is now the head high school football coach, so he was at the football field helping to prepare it for the first game of the season. Hope they won!
Friday morning, we were on the road by 7:30 and ended up driving 822 miles, straight through, and got home at 11:00 that night. It was a good time. I'd like to go down there again and spend more time at Cajun Palms and visit with Tony and Carolyn.
Welcome to the McCrays' blog. The purpose of this blog is to share our activities and travels with our friends and family. Be sure to stop by often. Click on a photo to enlarge it (most times).
Monday, September 25, 2017
Monday, September 11, 2017
2017 Sep 06-09 - Tear Jerkers gathering at Lowden State Park, Oregon, IL
We had never heard of Lowden State Park before the Land of Lincoln Tear Jerkers announced that there was going to be a gathering there. It's a nice little park. Maybe one of our other camping groups will have an event there.
The weather was absolutely perfect. Mid 70's during the day and 50's at night. Just look at the sky in some of the pictures.
The weather was absolutely perfect. Mid 70's during the day and 50's at night. Just look at the sky in some of the pictures.
It was 'cooks night out' on Thursday, so we ate at the Roadhouse. They are normally only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but they opened up just for us on Thursday. Good food! We had snacks at the meet & greet on Friday. Then a breakfast potluck, a boat ride, and an evening potluck on Saturday.
Other than that, Marsha and I walked around the park a couple of times and spent a lot of time visiting with the people who sleep in those little trailers that you can't stand up in.
The drive home on Sunday was great. Sunny blue sky all the way!