Big difference from one side of the river to the other. For some reason, and I have no idea why, the Mississippi side looks like the elegant old South, while the Louisiana side just looks poor. There was also a big change in agriculture. We saw one small cotton field earlier, Tennessee I think, but now there was cotton everywhere. Not only in the fields, but beside the road in huge bales waiting to be hauled off. And little puffs of the stuff all over.
Seventy-four miles down the road we rolled into Alexandria, Louisiana, and found a Starbucks. Located in an Albertsons, we had both coffee and a convenient rest stop. As we were walking toward the back of the store I spied some gallon sized jars, which looked like they were filled with crayfish. Turned out they were pickled pig’s lips. Quite popular in the South.
Not much to comment on for the rest of the drive. We passed near Fort Polk, the Army’s Joint Readiness Training Center, and shortly thereafter crossed the Sabine River entering into Texas. Jasper offered a chance to split a sandwich and stretch a little. I’m getting a little tired of driving. After lunch did a two mile drive across Lake Steinhagen and spent a little time in the Sam Houston National Forest. Just before getting to Conroe we passed through Cut and Shoot, Texas. Being the curious type I checked out the name. According to one legend, it all had to do with a church dispute; it was either the design of a new steeple, who would be allowed to preach or land claims among church members. Other than the name, the town’s claim to fame is boxer Roy Harris, who fought Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight title in 1958.
Very nice motel in the middle of freeway construction. It took two passes before we found our way in. Dinner was Mexican and very good. Tomorrow we head to San Antonio for two nights. Up to 9,250 miles and 30 states. Really starting to think about getting back home. 346 miles today.
Spanish Moss
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