The Party Is Over and We Have Moved On

Sorry I have taken so long to update the Blog but there has simply been no time.
Thursday we were off to tour the Tabasco Plant on Avery Island. Who knew, before they went on the tour, that Tabasco ages their sauce 3 years in reconditioned bourbon barrels? Me either! Their product line seems endless. They have Tabasco Teryaki sauce, Tabasco Worcestershire sauce, and they have now introduced Chipotle Tabasco sauce. These are only a few of their products.

Next we toured and had lunch at the Rip Van Winkle House and Gardens which was fascinating. There are 5 underground salt "hills". One on Avery Island that Tabasco mines and uses to seal the barrels for the aging of the Tabasco sauce. The salt actually turns to cement over the period of time to age the sauce.

Another is under a lake where the Rip Van Winkle House and Gardens is located. In November, 1980, the salt mine collapsed under the lake and a huge vortex was created and the lake was sucked into the salt mine. The Bayous moved backwards into the lake and vortex and shrimp boats were left high and dry. The devastation caused by the event was significant and yet most of the Sisters, including me, do not recall hearing of this event.

The cause was never determined it was suspected that they were drilling for oil adjacent to the salt mines and either punched through a chamber and weakened a chamber wall.

The gardens at Rip Van Winkle were beautiful. There was an Asian influence to these gardens. Large stand of clumping bamboo that were as big as the manor house and Buddhas were the main garden statuary.

Next we visited the Konriko Rice Mill and on to a tour and wine reception at the antebellum Shadows on the Teche. It was also a beautiful and gardens on the Teche River.

Dinner was at the great Cajun restaurant in Lafayette known as Mulate's. A great band played Zydeco and the night was danced away by Sisters and restaurant customers.

We had left in the morning at 8 a.m. and it was after 11 p.m. when returned to Morgan City. A big full day but not like we were going to have the next day - Friday.

HELLO NOLA!! 50 of us were off to a great cooking class at The New Orleans School of Cooking in the French Quarter. We had a great instructor who gave us the overview of just how the food culture of New Orleans and Louisiana came to be. Wonderful history lesson.

Corn and Crab Bisque, Shrimp Creole, Banana's Foster recipes were passed and their preparation was demonstrated by a very knowledgeable and witty instruction. If only I could remember the women's name. I was too in grossed in the process and eating this fabulous food. Finally, we learned the correct way to make Pralines. Did you know that from the moment they are dropped on the parchment paper or wax paper to set up, they are going back to being granulated. That is why they need to be eaten fairly soon.

The Sisters who did not attend the cooking class were free to have coffee and benigets at Le Cafe Dumond, sight see, shop, etc. As for me, after the cooking class I headed to the Garden District. Of all the times I have been in NO, I had never been to the beautiful Garden District which was not damaged by Katrina. The homes were breathtaking and particularly since it is spring and all the magnificent azaleas and dogwoods were blooming.

I returned to the French Quarter and walked along the Mississippi, ate benigets, shopped. There was an art festival going on and the French Quarter was jumping with great music and alot of people. It was a fun place for people watching and browsing through the wonderful art in Jackson Square.

The Sisters came together at Muriel's on Jackson Square. Unfortunately, there was a snafu in the arrangements on the part of Muriel's and we were either had to eat out of the balcony with a huge refer truck generator making so much noise, it was not pleasant or we ate in shifts at the too few tables and chairs.

We made the most of it and had a good time anyway. Got back to Morgan City around 11 p.m. dead tired.

Saturday was a free day if you had gone on the Swamp Tour already. Otherwise, the remainder of the Sisters went with Cajun Jack to see all the Swamp has to offer.

Some Sisters left Saturday because they had very long drives ahead of them. Those left were packing up and getting ready to leave on Sunday. But there was more event - Voodoo Party.

Great costumes, again from very creative Sisters. The dinner was catered and was craw fish boil. For many of us it was the first time eating craw fish and many of us mastered the art of twisting the head from the tail and getting that sweet succulent meat out.

Once again, the Sisters danced the night away to a great band who were so impressed with how we partied, late sent us an email saying they would be our band anytime anywhere. They felt like they were a part of the party and not just getting paid to be the band. A great compliment!

Sisters were caravaning out early Sunday morning and by Sunday night, I was pretty much all alone.

All in all a great time was had by all who attended. Next Giddy UP will be Chicago. And to those Sisters who are hosting, you have very big shoes to fill, not that I think Anita and Karen have big feet -LOL- but they were simply the best. Good you Midwest Sisters. We are looking forward to a great time next.

I will continue the blog but it will be all about Bob and my adventures on the road to Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and may Yellowstone. Everyone is more than welcome to follow us.

Catching Up

As I had warned y'all, I was out of commission for updating the blog the past two nights due to the activities and being pooped by the time the evenings were over. Nothing has changed. I am tired from the "free time" I had today. More about this later.

The Miss Scarlett Night, Monday night was the best, most outrageous, dancing non-stop I do believe I have ever had. The costumes were so fun and creative and colorful. There were not only Miss Scarletts but we had Rhett there and he was dancing the night away with all the beautiful women. There was a woman who brought her horse Z(in costume) and galloped the whole night through. No, it was not a real horse but she made cleverly made a costume so that it appeared she was in riding habit and mounted on her horse. Okay, you had to be there.

After the great Cajun dinner and lots of daquiries, the music and dancing began. The Zydeco band was great and they band did not stop until 10:30 p.m.

The next morning, Tuesday, were on the buses and out the gate at 8 a.m. touring plantations. The first plantation, Nottoway, the largest remaining antebellum mansion in the US and us 150.

Next, we stopped at Madewood which is still owner occupied. No, not by the original owner but a family that bought the plantation in 1953. We had lunch and toured the gardens.

Finally, we visited Laura Plantation which was Creole and quiet different from the first Planations. It was strictly a business plantation raising and selling sugar cane. They did not entertain at Laura but rather at one of their 7 townhouses in New Orleans. The history of this particular plantation is fascinating. You can go online and order the Memoirs of Laura for whom the Plantation was named. I will add the website link in the next update.

Finally, dinner at The Cabin where the chicken was succulent and the catfish fried!

A sleepy bus load of women arrived back at camp by 10. Not everyone went straight to bed. I understand the party broke up around 1:30 a.m.

The Swamp Tours begain at 8:30 a.m. this morning. Cajun Jack was a great guide and had some very interesting information to share such as 5 of the 6 deadilest snakes are found in the Bayou. This was a little unsettling when he pointed out they were in the trees above us!!! But, luckily, it is too early for the snakes to be out. Whew.......
This afternoon we had our Open House when we could tour each other's trailers. There are just so many extremely creative and talented women in SOTF. The tour was followed by parties and BBQs and much laughter.

The photos are of some of the Miss Scarlett costumes. The author of this blog is wearing Miss Scarlett's underwear because the damn Yankees stole my drapes and left me with an old lace table cloth. Of course, y'all know that you can't make a proper ball gown out of no old lace table cloth!

We are off tomorrow morning early to tour Konriko Rice Mill and the Tabasco Sauce plant on Avery Island. Also Rip Van Winkle House and Gardens for lunch and Shadows on the Teche for wine reception and Mulate's for supper and dancing.

You will not probably here from me until Saturday morning.

We have FINALLY arrived!!!!!!

These photos illustrate that "it takes a village". The left photo shows the caravan of 6 stopping in the charming town of Patterson, LA trying to figure out how the GPSs have go wrong and where we need to really be. Next photo is Sherry and a helpful stranger trying to figure out just what has gone wrong with her vehicle. The photo of the rigs along side the road are all the Sisters in caravan stopping to give Sherry support. It does take a Village of Sisters!

Sherry's vehicle stopped working just west of Orange, TX, pretty close to the Louisiana boarder. At this writing I don't what her status is. Will let you know in the next posting.

Update on Janet from Long Beach. Larry has arrived and they will be talking to the repair people in Lordsburg, NM tomorrow morning and then they are expected to arrive by rental car here on Wednesday. He will stay at a nearby hotel and Janet will bunk with Kaaren.

The good news that we 3 California Sisters met up with Michele and her mom before at the Cracker Barrel in Beaumont. And is was very much by accident. They were looking for a restroom and pulled into the parking lot just as we were getting ready to leave. So, there 4 of us stopping by to check out what was going on with Sherry. Maurrie, Maizie and Chris were already there. Now, there would be 6 of us caravaning the rest of the way to Lakes End RV Park in Morgan City.

We arrived before 8 p.m. tonight and are so glad to be here.

Tomorrow is a free day and the "Gone With The Wind" party is tomorrow (Monday) night. A lot of us will be wearing Miss Scarlet costumes.

Because of the party tomorrow night and the 8 a.m. departure for tours, etc. on Tuesday, the posts will be when I can get time to do them. But know that I will do my best to do them on a daily basis.

A brief aside for all my gardening buddies in CA, you would not believe the azaleas in the beautiful little town of Patterson, LA. They are the size of Volkswagens. I have never see such large bushes. I will photograph them and sent to y'all.

Future Sisters On The Fly - Carmine/Round Top

What a great day! First, we were not pulling trailers down the road hell bent for leather (where did that phrase come from?). Secondly, it was shopping day in one of the most fun places... 10 miles of "if they don't have it - you don't need it". Antiques, junk and more junk. Great food, the best lemonade I have ever had, great clothes from the 60s, 70s, rusted farm equipment, cowhides in all forms, French antique furniture, linens, etc., etc., and etc........... We supported the local economy and every other economy as well. Actually, Kaaren, Kris and I were on sensory overload.

News about our California Sisters bringing up the rear. Janet had repairs to her vehicle completed today and was on her way from Tucson when just across the New Mexico border, she again broke down. It is dark and she is alone and not happy. Janet called AAA and they are on their way to tow her to an RV Park in Lordsburg, NM. Please don't call her but you can email her as she has her iPhone on. It is my understanding that her husband will hopefully be able to fly to Tucson, rent a car and then drive Janet to Morgan City. What a guy!!!

Janet, when you read this blog someday, you will know that you were in all our thoughts for a good and safe rest of your trip to the Giddy UP.

In the meantime, everyone is in San Antonio now and will be proceeding east tomorrow as we all will.

We leave from Carmine tomorrow with an added Sister, Sharon who recommended that we stay here and told us about Round Top almost 2 months ago. She will be caravaning with us to our final destination - Morgan City, LA.

Junction and Carmine, TX

Sorry there was no blog update last night. There was no service at the South Llano River State Park where we were staying. By the way, Tink, Kris just came over to my trailer to make sure I let you know we are in great shape and why there was no blog last night. Thanks for checking up on us.

So, I will quickly catch y'all up (we are in Texas now) on the trip from Las Cruces to Junction. We left at 9:20 a.m. Thursday and arrived after 9 a.m. in Junction and the very nice State Park.

We were so grateful to get out of the high winds of the Desert Southwest. It was also fun to see the topography change so quickly from desert to green rolling hills of TX.

It was decided this morning that since we were only a little over 4 hours drive to Carmine, we would have lunch in the old German town - Fredricksburg. Fortunately, a good friend lives in Allen TX and had told me about this delightful town sometime ago. I called her and told we were stopping there and she called the Chamber of Commerce to ask where in town we could easily park our rigs. This is a tourist town with lots of restaurants and shopping so we knew parking might be a problem. Sure enough it was made easy for us with just a phone call. Thanks Lauren.....

Now for an update on the rest of our California Sisters. Remember that originally there were 6 of us all meeting in Blythe. Then there was a Sister I didn't realize was also coming so that made 7. But, as it turned out, 4 of the 7 were leaving a day or so later for a variety or reasons. Kaaren, Kris and I left on Monday/Tuesday and we are the 3 that are in Carmine at this time.

Janet from Long Beach had her truck breakdown south of Tucson and they would not have the part needed for repaired until the next day - Thursday. And then, as it turned out would not be sent to the dealership until MONDAY!!!!! Not acceptable. Janet's husband was overnighting the part from Long Beach. After much discussion and wine among these 4 Sisters, Janet insisted they get on the road and she would follow as soon as possible.

Katie, Anita and Michele were arriving at the KOA in Van Horn (I think it is in TX) tonight. Maurrie, Maizie and Kris are in Las Cruces tonight and hope to meet up at some point with these 3. All are to arrive in Morgan City on Sunday or Monday. I will a confirmation of their arrival for those interested.

Tomorrow we are hitting the Junk/Flea/Antique markets of the Round Top area. Let the shopping begin!

The photo is of Kaaren shopping for a great hat which she did purchase in Fredricksburg. Just doing her part to keep the economy going.....

Pulling Light Weight Trailers in BIIIG Winds!

It was difficult to leave Maurrie's this a.m. Her home is beautiful and unique. I guess if I had to label it I would call it Wild West/Native American Eclectic. It could easily qualify the beautiful homes magazines and was actually in "Country Living".

We finally had to leave and at 9:15 a.m. we bid Maurrie, Mazie, the dogs, horses, chickens, ducks, geese farewell. The above photo was taken in front of Maurrie's home and the Sisters from left to right are Kaaren, Maurrie with her adorable Pug, Maizie and Kris.

Continuing on I-10 East to Tuscon proved to be a white knuckle driving experience. The wind was howling and not only were our trailers moving around every once in a while so were the big rigs that we were passing or were passing us. Lots of chatting on the walkie talkies to try to quell each others nerves.

Sister Karen and her husband, Roy (Ting), who live in Dragoon Arizona had made arrangements with Kris to meet us at "The Thing" close to their home way east of Tuscon. As we exited the freeway we were surprised to see a man and a woman photographing us. We had a fast lunch at Dairy Queen, which is hawking some ice cream concoction called "The Thing". Karen and Roy were great to talk with and Karen only wished she could have joined us. We would loved to have had her come along. I would have included Roy's photo of our coming up the off ramp but had trouble copying and pasting it here. If anyone wants to see these photos, email me and I will send.

We arrived in Las Cruces New Mexico and pulled into a recommended RV named Hacienda. It is very nice and arriving around 7 p.m. gave us some time to throw together dinner just from the food supplies we had in the trucks for stacking. Kaaren saved the day. She had a Costco Chinese Chicken Salad and it was delicious.

You may be wondering how come there are several paragraphs each night rather than my original thought of only a brief paragraph. Well, there is just too much to write about. This is a wonderful adventure.

A quick update, we understand the 4 other California Sisters that were going to make this trip with the 3 of us are now in motion and they should all be Blythe at the RV Park for the night. We were thinking that it might be possible for them to catch up with us depending on how long they want to drive each day. Will keep you posted on their progress.

Wind warnings in this area have been cancelled so while we will have an 8 to 10 hour tomorrow to Junction, TX we are hoping the winds will not give the thrill we had today.

What a time we are having getting there.......................

Visalia to Phoenix in 12 hours!!

The scent of orange and grapefruit blossoms is wafting through the evening air here at Maurrie's home in Phoenix. I can't wait to go to bed in The Double Bar O and drift into sleep smelling that sweet air!

The trip over the Tehachapies and the desert to Phoenix was beautiful thanks to all the rain they have had this past winter. The wildflowers are in full bloom and there is a lush carpet of green velvet over the desert. The mountains, and there are many different ranges, are snow capped and pristine.

The drive was uneventful with one minor exception. Kaarin went into a right lane to connect to 10 East but I went straight - to Mexico I guess. With the help of walkie talkies and cell phones we found each in short order and were once again head to Phoenix by way of Blythe.

By the way, I paid $3.19 a gallon for gas in Aldenta(?) and $2.77 a gallon at the Flying J Truck Stop (what is that I love truck stops?) just as we crossed over the Colorado River at Blythe into Arizona. All those taxes we pay in California...........

The photo today is of our three trailers leaving Kaarin's in Visalia this morning. Oh, by the way, it was 87 degrees upon arrival at 7 p.m. tonight in Phoenix. Positively balmy.....