Sunday June 9th A surprise at Cane Creole!

As planned, we headed out from Lafayette this morning at about 0810, and made the 90 or so miles up to Alexandria La Wal Mart by about 11.  Another short traveling day- about 90 miles up to Alexandria, then about a 100 round trip up to Natchitoches and back

Nice big roomy Wal Mart, quiet, no body around, only thing is it's getting really hot, so we have to run the generator most all day. 

The heat index is supposed to be near a hundred today. 

After we got settled, I headed about 50 miles or so up the road for a planned visit to the Natichoches La area to visit three locations for the Cane River Creole NHP and as well, the Cane River Creole NHA. 

The first location was the Visitor's Center for the Cane River NHA which was located in downtown Natchitoches.  Found it and got the three stamps that were there. 

Then, I headed to the next unit, which was the Oakland Plantation.  There were supposed to be two locations for stamps here, a pavilion and a store.  When I got there, the pavilion was deserted, as well as the store!  A first for me, visiting an unmanned national park.  I know there is a sequestration going on, but geesh!!

Nobody home at the Pavilion......

The store building, creepy, no one home here either. 

No body home here, either....

The plantation house is privately owned, and not part of the park. 

Fortunately, the three stamps that were supposed to be there were there-  and I got some Civil War trading cards, but the gift store was locked, so I failed to get any pins, hiking medallions, or postcards for this park. 

Next, I headed on over to the next unit, the Magnolia Plantation

Same deal here,  totally unmanned.  The stamps were out, but no Civil War cards, no gift store.

Did get three stamps here.

I also got stamps for the El Camino de los Tejas NHT from this park, surprisingly enough. 

There were other locations for this trail in the area, but none of them were open, and one is closed temporarily due to budget cuts.  Also, the Park HQ building was closed, since it was a Sunday.  Have to catch all these the next time I'm through here. 

Got back to the coach around 115, will take the rest of the day off, and try to keep cool. 

Tomorrow is a short run over to one spot for a last Atchafalaya Stamp, then over to Natchez Miss, to get the Natchez National Park, which will be a new one for me, then we will start our partial journey up the Natchez Trace Parkway, on up as far as Jackson, Miss.