Acadiana Louisiana

   I learned a lot about the deep South during the few days we spent at Pioneer Acadia RV Park in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.  This region is home to a large French-speaking population known as Acadiana, and holds the title of the Crawfish Capital of the World.

The architecture was fascinating!

   We decided to stop here after a drive across the 18-mile "Swamp  Expressway" 28 feet above the water in the Atchafalaya Basin.  They estimate approximately 22 million pounds of crawfish (freshwater crustaceans) are harvested from the basin annually.

Our site at Pioneer Acadia RV Park in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

   The park itself was managed by a woman named Jennifer, who inherited the park from her father, and whom we found delightful to work with during our reservation process.  Signage to the park from I-10 was very clear and there was a note on the door of the office at the security gate asking us to call so she could meet us.  

Everything at this park was immaculate and beautifully decorated.

   We were escorted to our site and found everything in the park was immaculate.  In the bath house was a coin-operated laundry, as well as a sitting room with a nice array of magazines, a book exchange and television.  The Shelties enjoyed a good run in the fenced off-leash dog area.  There were many nearby restaurants, and Walmart was only a couple of blocks away.  There was highway noise in the background, which we did not find all that bothersome, even with the bedroom window open at night.

Such interesting shops in downtown Breaux Bridge!

St. Bernard Church

   Although the population of the town is just under 9,000, there were plenty of choices for catholic church services.  We were especially impressed with St. Bernard Church, built in 1947.   I found the cemeteries intriguing, where the deceased are mostly entombed above the ground and locals double park along the streets after mass to visit the graves of their loved ones.

One of two cemeteries in Breaux Bridge

   We will definitely return to the area, since we were busy preparing for seminars, giving the dogs much needed baths, and generally just working way too much to enjoy this fascinating region.



   As we departed the park the air locking mechanism on the door of the Mandalay began losing a large amount of air.  This has occurred in the past, and although our air pressure indicators were still good, we could barely hear above the whooshing noise and I asked George to pull into the Travel America Truck Stop at the next exit in Lafayette, so I could make a phone call in an attempt to find a repair facility.  George went in to speak to the service manager, and a technician was able to get the ruptured air line replaced and get us back on our way to Livingston, Texas.  Thank you, TA, for being there when we needed you!




   We stopped for fuel at the Flying J just outside of Beaumont and cleaned the windshield just before a torrential downpour.  We arrived in Livingston at the Rainbow's End RV Park, which is headquarters for the Escapees Club.  We arrived a little later than anticipated, but we expect our schedules will be quite busy for the next couple of weeks.

The Captain is not a fan of the bath!

    When next we return to this fascinating area, we hope to have more time to explore the foods, the shops, the zydeco (music), and generally "Laissez les bons temps rouler" -- or, in English, let the good times roll!