HISTORY HUNTS WAREHOUSE: 2007 Lafourche Long Ways Down to Grand Isle

I just finished watching the made for TV series, "Long Ways Round".

In it a couple of guys ride around the world, well, almost.

I hadn't finished the Bayou Lafourche Series because I had lost interest and was disillusioned by the lack of response, appreciation, and adulation. We gifted artist types are very sensitive.

While you are reading this, enthralled in the adventurous narrative and beautiful, skillfully taken photographs, you can thank the semi-circumnavigators that took that global ride. They were the required motivation needed to get me off my butt and do this one.

This rewrite is the product of being the last in a series of rewrites on Bayou Lafourche.

I am competitive, even with myself. Often my "Get it done" self competes with my

self.

You might also thank Al if he is approachable. He replied to my pathetic question,

"Who cares about these things, anyhow"?

With a vindictive thrashing he replied, "I do", as he waved his gun around.

Al is a man of few words which makes him even more ponderous.

My first thought was, "OK, Puddin',

I'll spend 9 hours in the saddle and 9 hours writing this thing just for you, Cupcakes.

Then I remembered that he packs and has a nasty attitude when called

"Puddin" or "Cupcakes" by anyone other than Tilly.

Nope, reconsidering the motivational factors more thoroughly,

Al, I'm sorry. It was only the "Long Way Round" guys.

So here we go.

This time it will be "A Long Ways Down" not "Around".

We're going down to the end of the road and civilization in Lafourche Parish.

Now a little personal rant to get this thing started.

It is the price you must pay for admission being that there will probably be

no response, appreciation, or adulation.

Of all the places I've lived in Louisiana, the area I think I like the most is the southern bayou country. Yes, Bobby Hebert Country. There's something about riding roads with boat parking that makes me smile. I spent three of my younger years south of Houma.

New Orleans, at first, was fascinating. Later, being there was like living in a sewer with sewer rats which I attribute to its public school system which took good kids from good homes and introduced them to the products of the lower end of humanity. I suppose that taught a lesson of sorts or in fact, or probably a sordid lesson. I was glad to escape but Lafayette was no better, only the accents changed.

It was all part of "growing up",

I know, but that's life, sadly.

Good memories were collected on the bayou.

Back to the Long Ride Down

Riding east from my home base on US 90, I passed up all of the Houma exits. I saw that the Bayou Blue Road, La.24, which went way down into the swamps to LaRose. La.24 was my ticket to continue the Bayou Lafourche Ride south from LaRose on famous La.1. I don't know which highway was more important, the bayou or the road? They are almost one.

There are 37 pictures of draw bridges in this ride report.

For those looking for the Biloxi Belle, I found her at a dock in LaRose.

Guide Notes:

Going to LaRose I exited US 90 and took La.316 to La.57 to La.24 into LaRose on La.1.

That bypassed Houma.

Don't go to Houma unless it is a destination. It is the clogged artery of all clogged arteries.

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A broad smile crossed my face as I turned off of La.24 onto La.1. With the help of my expensive talking winch GPS, I went north instead of the required south. Carl and I had done the same thing when we rode bikes over there to buy shrimp but had no way to bring them home, so we ate them. There is something about that intersection in LaRose which is completely mind altering, possibly physics altering, also. I knew the Intracoastal Waterway had been to my left which was north. I knew I didn't want to cross it to continue my ride south (to my right). Why did I do it?

Then I had to wait for a boat to go through to accomplish the mistake.

Entering town, a few bikers had motioned me to take an alternate route. I knew it was a bypass and thought, "those guys are missing so much going that way". But, maybe, it was not " the bypass" they were concerned about. Maybe, it was the Intersection Zone they feared. If you take the trip , fight your instincts and go against the pull. Be strong, don't take the bypass.

Here I was sitting on the Intracoastal Canal Bridge in LaRose going north.

This was not what I considered a smooth start to a long hard ride.

I was now in boat parking land. Shrimp boats, houseboats, tugs and who knows whats lined the banks for miles. I think I was on what is locally lauded as the "World's Longest Street".

The boast should include "with boat parking".

I remember that I was a little tired so early in this ride. I flashed on those guys crossing Siberia and immediately my back straightened as I leaned into the wind.

This is lift bridge picture No.2 There will be more.

I shot this boat because it and the barge it is pushing create a picture that is as

common as vehicle traffic at rush time.

I believe that I would see him again as he was headed south as was I.

{remember this is a 2013 rewrite and I'm recollecting as I write}

Next up or rather down was ...

I had written that Galliano is not a new subdivision.

The real importance of the church picture is to make another point, one that I've made before but you might have forgotten. Churches in Catholic Louisiana were and still are in many cases, the center of the community. Voodoo had mentioned the neat historical markers featured in this write. Most were not easily seen from the road. I found this one when I pulled in to take the church picture. It was between the road and the parking lot, better seen from the church side.

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As I was riding along, I was thinking that there was a shortage of old buildings in such an old area. Hurricanes, DUH. Then I spied this huge old wooden framed building between the road and the bayou.

I found this while doing the latest on Thibodaux.

Seems like we chose the same perspective. The brick building was new.

This fella was working across the street. I yelled at him. I'm sure he appreciated that.
I asked him, between passing cars what the old building had been. He spewed forth 20 businesses and public functions. All I remember is, "barbershop" and the fact that it had been moved across the road. Look at that. It is huge. The process must have been tedious. I now reflect that if the building could have been moved across the road why couldn't I have gone over there and talked to him? I amaze myself.

What the fella was doing was pulling up that boat, furthest back on the right.
He was doing it with this very old looking wench. I was going to stay and watch, but, as the process seemed to be taking forever, I moved on south.

I included this picture in gratitude for the help the gentleman gave me. If in need of boat work in the area, or general machinist assistance, contact Mikron, Inc. Cut Off, LA.
Phone 632 4172. I couldn't quite read the fax number.

Back to the old dance hall barber shop whatever.

I rode down the road a little to take a look at the building for evidence of what he'd said, only remembering "barber". Sure enough, the old "barber pole" was there. How many people remember barber poles?

I haven't been to a barber in forty years.

Another old building was across the street. It had a store front and barn doors.
Perplexing.

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I don't know what to think. The Masons must be a funny group.

Honestly, the building looks like something you'd see in black Africa.

I have never seen architecture like that before. I like it.

Perpendicular Parking

There's the tug again. They are tortoises, but they get there.

A better picture could have been taken, if I'd crossed the road.

Just like I remember them from Houma. Such fine old boats.

You may see "new", but I see "old". Suddenly, I flashed on a Beatles' song.

I would be right. I wonder who those politicians were / are?

Evidently I'd looked up "politicians from Golden Meadow", who knows, I was inquisitive back then.

Dufrene, Paul R. — of Golden Meadow, Lafourche Parish, La. Democrat.

Member of Louisiana state house of representatives, 1950.
Still living as of 1950.
That's one. Wait, he was alive in 1950 being still a representative. That's not recent news.

I feel like I've stepped into a "Way Back" machine.
Speedy Long married a lady from Golden Meadow.

His relative, Huey P. married a lady from Thibodaux.

Possibly the Longs needed to go out of their parish

to find a place where their reputations had not preceded them.

Just my theory.

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This over the old bridge.

I was now in Water World.

At Golden Meadow, La.308, the road on the other side of Bayou Lafourche, ends.
There is nothing but marsh (no trees) on the opposite bank and to the west. The slender natural levee is all that remains to support land born life. The view was pretty dramatic for an acrophobia land lover.
And by the way, I've been taking National Geographic narrative lessons.