Hot and tasty time in Cajun country

Wednesday, January 23
Another week gone, must be time to move on, but not too far. We had more of Louisiana to explore. I managed to get the trailer nearly ready for departure from Abita Springs when the rain came. It rained hard for about an hour and then slowed down just enough to finish hooking up. The forecast was for rain most of the day but the system was heading East and we were heading West so we thought we would drive through it and land in drier weather. That is mostly what happened. We drove through heavy rain, then light, then heavy.....all day. It actually quit raining just as we pulled into the campground so I got to set up in dry weather!

We're staying at the A+ Motel and Campground in Sulphur, LA just a few miles west of Lake Charles. Don't be fooled by the name. The A+ facility is top rate. New, clean, meticulously maintained and close to a lot of what we wanted to see. Downsides are the tight turns with big rocks on the corners and the large number of workers living in the park. There is so much construction going on in the petro-chemical industry that housing is tight so many folks stay in their RV's in the local campgrounds. It's not a bad thing really, just the trucks starting early in the morning and multiple vehicles parked around each unit. It's a bit expensive, but otherwise this campground is highly recommended.

Do these geese know about the rain we are about to receive?

A rainy drive down the interstate.

They've had a lot of rain in this area lately. lakes and streams are very high.

The A+ Motel and Campground in Sulphur, LA.

Nice stocked fish pond.

A busy place.

Our drive-thru site.

Thursday, January 24
We backtracked east down Interstate 10 to Lafayette. It was nice to see the landscape without peering through driving rain. We turned south and headed toward Avery Island. Although not really an island in the true sense of the word, it does have some unique geology. It does rise above the surrounding countryside by a few feet and it is surrounded by water channels and bayous.  Its major geological feature is the huge salt mound that exists below the surface. It is still being mined. But the reason we are here to visit is two-fold. One is to tour the Tabasco factory and the second is to tour the Jungle Gardens on the grounds of Avery Island.

The bottling plant.

Sample oak barrels.

The peppers are ground and vinegar is added. The mash is placed in the oak barrels and then sealed. They spread a layer of salt on the top to keep them sealed.

The mixing tanks before the barreling process.

The mash is stored for three to five years before bottling.

The bottling line.

Green sauce bottling.

They currently bottle seven varieties.

They have a great store where they sell.....Tobasco sauce!

The tasting bar. Try as much as you like.

The Jungle Gardens drive.

Beautiful Live Oak trees on the grounds. Covered in Spanish Moss and Resurrection Vines.

Neatly trimmed Bamboo.

Ponds covered in floating plants.

Cypress trees next to the ponds.

A couple of turtles sunning.

Holly hedges

Budha

Interesting story on the Budha. 

Bamboo

These gorgeous Camellias were in full bloom.

Edward McIlhenny loved growing Camellias.

We headed back to Sulphur using the back roads and byways. Touring more of the beautiful Cajun country.

Hard to see here but these tractors are towing a leveling implement over the flooded fields. They will plant rice in the fields.

We saw thousands of birds in this area. Ducks, geese, and others shorebirds.

A lovely calm bayou.

A very interesting area to drive through.

.....and that was Our View From Here!