On the last page we were near the settlement of Lewisburg. The station and warehouse there are unbelievable relics. I wasn't going to post a picture because it's been shown here many times and it makes me sad to see it slipping away. I know, I'm so sentimental.
I was now at La.358, I decided to go west. I've done this
route a million times and felt my interest drained. I stopped
my westward trek at La. 35 and turned south thinking
I'd ride it to the last highway before you slide into the coastal
marsh. Then I saw a road turning back east that interested me.
Of course that brought me back to the "rails".
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On the last page I promised that this one would have some
"old rail ties in a ditch" pictures. I am not one to disappoint.
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These two locations can be seen as no. 11 and no. 12 on
your map (above). Come on, did you really look? You
must be a die hard rail nut.
The road that connected them is this one.
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Yea, and I'll ride down anything to see historical trash.
I then ended up here. I was back on La.357 going toward
Church Point. If there hadn't been a sign and I didn't have
a GPS, I would have gone the wrong way and not be here,
today. Maybe it was La. 178? I really haven't a clue.
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Oops, wrong way, here ya go.
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Next up was this Smithsonian level relic. You think I'm
being sarcastic? Have you seen the junk they collect?
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I entered Church Point. The rail route through town is a
scenic one. The businesses are well kept and clean. These
historic buildings religiously retain their railroad days look .
First stop was this construction supply company at the end of
a dead end road. The road was public but I knew I was going
to get approached. True enough, when I turned around to leave,
an obvious worker and a person looking "management" waited
for me in the road. I pulled up to them and stopped. The
management guy said that his employee had said I was taking
pictures of his place of business and he wondered why.
I turned the wheel of the bike so he could see the GPS with the
old rails showing next to his store. I told him I collected pictures of
businesses that were serviced by railroads, mostly historic railroads.
I have learned not to mention "website" or "internet". "Pictures"
are accepted technology. Tourist are welcomed. Bill Gates isn't.
They both laughed as if relieved I was not with some agency or
worse. I now realize they were laughing at me, wondering what
kind of nut just fell off the tree. He told me that indeed he'd
unloaded many a box car. I asked him about what date the
tracks were pulled up but he couldn't place the date and seemed
be tiring of the moment. I told them thanks and they could rest
assured I was not with the CIA which brought a hardy laugh.
Here's his place. No, honestly I should have gotten the loading side
that was next to the tracks and I'll just let it go. The next two
exhibit that feature.
First, here's the old Texas & Pacific/ Opelousas, Gulf and
North East route through town. The old elevated warning
signals are still in place on the main drag (La.35) right in
front of the depot.
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You see how neat!.
Next up is the depot.
And, you will have to click this explanation to read it.
Sliding out of town I took a couple of shots of interesting places.
One was probably a hometown landmark, the Ideal Garage.
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And you know there had to be a fuel depot, "bulk plant".
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I rode down to Branch. I decided to call the rail hunt
off as below Branch the rails ride the side of the road all the
way to Rayne and there's nothing more of interest and besides,
I'd been workin' on the railroad,
All the live long day.
I'd been workin' on the railroad,
Just to pass the time away.
Don't you hear the whistle blowing?
Rise up so early in the morn.
Don't you hear the captain shouting
"Dinah, blow your horn?"
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow your horn?
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow your horn?
Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah.
Someone's in the kitchen, I know.
Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah
Strumming on the old banjo.
Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o.
Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o-o-o-o.
Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o.
Strumming on the old banjo.
So, I took off on the next pretty road east.
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Yea! It's La.1101.
Actually, it's as straight as an arrow after the sign thing.
Which let me look up.
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No doubt it was "Led Zeppelin On Tour". Wait, we have
to sing "Communication Breakdown" as it's this site's anthem.
Hey, girl, stop what you're doin!
Hey, girl, youll drive me to ruin.
I don't know what it is that I like about you,
But I like it a lot.
Won't let me hold you,
Let me feel your lovin charms.
Communication breakdown,
It's always the same,
I'm having a nervous breakdown,
Drive me insane!
Hey, girl, I got something I think you ought to know.
Hey, babe, I wanna tell you that I love you so.
I wanna hold you in my arms, yeah!
I'm never gonna let you go,
cause I like your charms.
Whoa. "Felt a tingle up my leg", quoting Chris Mathews,
MSNBC, describing his feelings for Obama. I wonder
if Obama gets tingles for Chris? Maybe?
Closing in on home, October 1, 2009, the season starts.
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"I don't care about pollution, I'm an air-conditioned gypsy
When I'm mobile, the world's my home....", The Who.
Or:
"Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies.
Have a great Monday humming that one.
Forget humming, write down the lyrics and bring
them with you, make copies and everyone
can sing along. Kick out the jam on a
Monday morning. We use to have singalongs
at the bike shop. But, that was usually late in
the day. I don't believe we ever sang
"Sugar Sugar"?
Sugar, ah honey honey
You are my candy girl
And you've got me wanting you.
Honey, ah sugar sugar
You are my candy girl
And you've got me wanting you.
I just can't believe the loveliness of loving you
(I just can't believe it's true)
I just can't believe the one to love this feeling to.
(I just can't believe it's true)
Ah sugar, ah honey honey
You are my candy girl
And you've got me wanting you.
Ah honey, ah sugar sugar
You are my candy girl
And you've got me wanting you.
When I kissed you, girl, I knew how sweet a kiss could be
(I know how sweet a kiss can be)
Like the summer sunshine pour your sweetness over me
(Pour your sweetness over me)
Sugar, pour a little sugar on it honey,
Pour a little sugar on it baby
I'm gonna make your life so sweet, yeah yeah yeah
Pour a little sugar on it oh yeah
Pour a little sugar on it honey,
Pour a little sugar on it baby
I'm gonna make your life so sweet, yeah yeah yeah
Pour a little sugar on it honey,
Ah sugar, ah honey honey
You are my candy girl
And you've got me wanting you.
Oh honey, honey, sugar sugar ..
You are my candy girl ..
That's it.
On the next page we'll visit Rayne.
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
Nothin' seems to fit
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'
So I just did me some talkin' to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way he got things done
Sleepin' on the job
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'
But there's one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me won't defeat me
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothin's worryin' me
[trumpet]
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothin's worryin' me
By B.J. Thomas.
Later gator.