Along the Gulf Coast and on to San Antonio
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We barreled across the Gulf Coast states on I-10. Mobile, Biloxi, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge all whizzed by in a blur. We stopped at each state’s Welcome Center for a few moments to stretch our legs and pick up state road maps (just in case), and by design, avoided stops in the big cities. Oil rigs appeared off the coast and refineries sprawled and belched along the shores. The temperatures remained cold and now snow threatened even these southern climes.
Billboards changed as we sped along through each state. Political signs and ads for lawyers, realtors, car dealerships, and, where applicable, casinos bombarded us constantly. We knew we’d reached Louisiana when names like Laplace, LaSalle, Napoleonville, Evangeline, and LeJeune became prevalent. Parishes and bayou names were duly noted. Local billboards touted ‘boudain’, a pork and rice Cajun sausage. Being from a French-Canadian heritage, I grew up with the expression ‘If you’re going to sulk, go to the cellar and make boudain.’ I knew exactly what they meant, but never considered the elders were hoping I’d make sausage. We ended up in Lafayette, Louisiana for the night… in the heart of boudain country. I did not, however, try any boudain… nor did I sulk while there.
David sussed out a morning walk at the Acadiana Park Nature Station. We weren’t expecting too much and we were, therefore, very impressed and pleasantly surprised when we set out on the trail. This park is a gem! As stated on their website, ‘Our sole mission is to reacclimate humans to nature and encourage personal responsibility in conserving our native plants, animals, and habitats.’
Though it wasn’t open when we were there, the Nature Station offers all sorts of educational activities for children and adults and encourages conservation.
A new boardwalk was just completed in December 2021 and traversed the François Coulee, a small tributary of the Vermilion River.
The trail meandered through dense foliage and led first to the Nature Station and then, via a nearly mile-long boardwalk, across the François Coulee. Once across the coulee, we followed a dirt road for a short distance and then entered the forest. There are all sorts of native animals in the area… Louisiana black bear, poisonous snakes, armadillos… the list goes on. We heard rustling in the underbrush a few times and heard squirrels chattering overhead, but saw nary another critter.
There were all sorts of interesting sights to see along our path despite the lack of animals.
Back at the Nature Station, we read more about the area and its admirable efforts to conserve local nature.
Our walk concluded and step goal met, we headed over the state line into Texas. At the Texas Welcome Station, we met a giant bullfrog that had hopped into harm’s way and was rescued by a friendly attendant. Everything grows big in Texas.
Still on I-10, we skirted around Lake Charles, zipped past Beaumont and Houston. and finally reached our destination: San Antonio, Texas. We’d explored San Antonio with the kids many years ago and had also spent time here for conventions in the past, but it had been decades since our last visit and we were looking forward to it. I’d done some research and discovered that the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park connected four historic Spanish colonial missions plus the Alamo via a paved riverwalk along the San Antonio River. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site In 2015, we were interested in walking the 10-mile Riverwalk and exploring each of the missions.
Mission Concepcion, one of four Spanish colonial missions to explore in San Antonio
Join us next time as we spend three days in San Antonio walking and riding on the San Antonio Riverwalk. We’ll also visit the Alamo and the market. You won’t even have to wear your walking shoes. We’ll do all the legwork!