Done 2 HH One More Run on the OG Page ALL

Noon was upon me and I knew that Friday and the weekend would be rainy. It was the first day of October and our Fall weather pattern was beginning. No matter what kind of weather you want during this period, we have it. If it's nasty, we either deal with it or wait a day for perfection. The only factor the weather would play in Thursday's ride was a fine backdrop for the outing. The recent cool front was being washed out by a light southerly breeze. The sky was blue, the warm Sun allowing for another Walmart t-shirt clad adventure.

Perfection.




I stopped by Al's to see if he wanted to come but he
was in the middle of a home schooling session with his
son Alonzo. It was obviously not going well.

I left knowing Al's pain. When the green rimmed sun
glasses start appearing, it means trouble.

Clearing my head of his problems, I zoomed off to
the land on railroad mysteries, Opelousas.

My wife has recently taken to reading my ride reports.
Why the sudden interest? With my new reader came
her opinion. She does not stab with a powerful thrust
but hesitantly twists the blade with a halting push. She
starts a statement and then backs off and makes me beg
to know her cruel and cutting observation of my offerings.
Then, graveling at her feet, she lets it go, "I lose it trying
to get through all that railroad stuff. That's probably why
no one reads your website anymore. And who can relate
to a thousand pictures of overgrown fields, bumps
in a pasture and shots of rusting rails stuck in cement in
some industrial wasteland or inner city street?
No one relates to that".

As usual, she's probably right. Wanting to keep every
reader, including even her, I'll try to do better and not
share my emotional moments of discovery with you, my
fleeing and fleeting readership.

This is a vacant lot on Convent Street, once Onnibane's
Grocery. Convent Street is without a doubt the route of
the OG through Opelousas.

Is that better dear? I was thinking of you while I took it.
In the foreground is Convent Street. The cracks in the
concrete run laterally with the street. I feel the cement
was laid over the rails as patches. Convent was the OG.



I didn't get a shot down Convent, I know that is troubling.
I rode around to Railroad Ave. and entered Louana's
parking lot and went to the place the GPS pointed to
where Convent would have continued if it had not
stopped. A new link in the mystery chain had been solved,
at least in my mind. From that point to where the OG's
route crossed the Southern Pacific's and the Missouri
Pacific's Rails is still an unknown, but I think I have an idea.
What three great minds have deduced is this, the rails ran
on Convent Street and crossed the small bayou at its dead
end and continued, skirting or running through where LouAna
Foods now sits.

Looking through the trees at the end of Convent Street
from the Railroad St. side.



Here's a map:



You can see W.Convent at the top of the red "Y".
That's the OG. I think it came down and and joined the
loop under Louana Foods which was built by the T&P
as an exchange to its Ville Platte route that went to the
west side of the "Y". My configuration also allows for
a connection between the the Melville Route, Convent
Street, and the Church Point route, the bottom of the
"Y". Looking closely at the Google Earth view, bare
or lighter coloring seems to support that thesis. There
even seems to be a cut in the back of the power station
to facilitate its passage. (that may be imagined)

That's it for the page. My dog's hungry, I'm hungry and
even this page is boring me. We move out into the country
on the next page. There will be country scenes, a great
riding route, old homes, pretty roads and one or two
ditches with rotting railroad ties to enjoy.


I was retracing Mark's father's route which he had
retraced. I was retracing it in an attempt to mop up
a little more. I did not go where Mark had been verbally
attacked because my mop is useless is such circumstances.

The orange line is how I feel the Opelousas Gulf and North
East Railroad passed through Opelousas. The yellow route
is my path on Thursday. The map, like all the other images
expands when clicked.



On the previous page I promised that we were finished
with this urban part of the ride. Well almost. I send these
pages out one at a time these days because I'm old and I
never know if I will finish a whole ride report, much less a ride.

That aside, I sent out the last page and immediately got
five responses saying how much they enjoyed just what my
wife doesn't. To them I say, you live with her. Just kidding,
of course. But, they did ask if I had some good ones and to please
post them. So, I will and just not tell my wife about this page.

I had found the location of the Texas & Pacific/OG Railroad depot
listed in an old book. It was in western Opelousas on US 190
West. I looked on my GPS and saw where those rails, sitting
atop their high fill, exited Opelousas to the south, headed for
Church Point.

I was now on a mission to shoot all the rail related and dependent
buildings along the T&P/OG as it went south. Above the depot
was this beauty, still in use.



Just gorgeous, seriously. Those are rail loading doors where
the truck is. There was probably a siding for the business.

Next I went below 190.
Here come the distasteful to some shots. This is one block
south of the depot looking back at it.



This is looking the opposite direction, south.



I was using my "cow catcher" lens for this
shot.

This was in the road. It is now at my house. The place
where I found it is marked on the map above. That
also gives you an idea of where we are thus bringing life
to the whole experience.



It's a rail plate. They are used to distribute the rail's weight
onto the rail tie. The rail sits on it, it sits on the cross tie.
The spikes are driven into it with the tang coming down
on the rail. Done. This one has one guide ridge and the spike
slots on the non ridged side allows for adjustment so the
plate can be used with rails of slightly different base width. I found
a book on rail plates, unbelievable. If insomnia is your problem,
I'll lend it to you.

Two blocks away from the depot were these shots.
Again, looking back at the depot.



And another railroad related business.



I'd say it's oil field related also. Mark's dad knows.

Next, going south and approaching La. 357, the tracks crossed
a large field. In the place of those pictures I'll show the lake
that I couldn't show in the last write because it would disclose
our location. I can show you now because you are too lazy to
look back at the last write and frankly could care less.



Here's looking south from the last "in town" location.



South of town I did this. Yellow is me. The rails are "++++".



At the first crossing I saw Mr. Goodwin had named the OG/T&P's
route after himself with absolutely no acknowledgment to
how it actually came into being. How self gratifying is that?



Here come some non-RR pictures I took trying to get back
to 357 where I could continue south and find other crossings.
You see, following these old rr's leads to places I'd never
go, otherwise. I used bayous and rivers for a while, then ran
out. I'm nearing running out of rr's that actually have visible
remains.



Sometimes these roads peter out. This one made it all the
way to the highway. You would never know it was there.

These next two were in the "community" of Dufilho. I bet
it was a flag stop.



See the cracks in the cement. Looking back toward Opelousas,
below.



I went back east a bit because I saw a road named Sugar Mill.
I'd check it out as it would bring me back to 357.



You don't get more pastoral.









The next road was tempting but it went away from the tracks.
I'll never find it again.





I was now running with 357 toward Lewisburg. The raised
rail bed is very visible, and in fact, I dismounted and stood
in the high grass looking down it several times. I looked both
ways just in case.



Nearby, I saw this place. This older couple was out cleaning
the yard and burning the twigs and such in a small fire. I
guess they were celebrating Fall even if it was in the 80's.
Simple pleasures.

In a curve above La.358 and Lewisburg was this old gas pump
which identified the concrete slab as a filling station.



Its back was on the railroad. I'm wondering if it was a Canal
or Spur type station whose supply came by rail?



After Lewisburg, I really went into an unchartered area.
Again, I would have never explored there unless led by
the railroad. They are great teachers, along with bayous
and rivers.

More between Lewisburg and Church Point later.

For the last 2 days I've been teleconferencing with the highest authorities concerning a nine mile stretch of railroad that dropped below Rayne and turned due west to intersect with Crowley. I was dealing with only a drawn depiction of this route from a 105 year old document. I had no idea how far it had dropped and if it even penetrated into southern Crowley. That story is for the next page.

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".



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.





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.


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.



Oops, wrong way, here ya go.



Next up was this Smithsonian level relic. You think I'm
being sarcastic? Have you seen the junk they collect?



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.









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.



And you know there had to be a fuel depot, "bulk plant".



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.



Yea! It's La.1101.
Actually, it's as straight as an arrow after the sign thing.

Which let me look up.



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.





"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.