South Bound

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

We left De Queen this morning and headed south.  We're heading to Texarkana where we will spend a week with good friends, David and Becky.  I drove the 70 miles to Texarkana.  It's the first time I've driven any distance.  Accident and incident free!  It was a pretty easy drive, until I reached Texarkana; it's a confusing city.  With Ron's help I did just fine.

We're staying at Shady Pines RV. It's our second time staying here; we also stayed here this past December.

It's a nice park, with GRASS!! And the grass is nice grass, comfortable grass, Cooper's favorite kind of grass.  It's been so very dry; grass has been is short supply.  Cooper was a happy boy

Cooper was so happy to have grass

in front of Buffalo Wild Wings...YUM!!

Ron and David were able to get in a couple rounds of golf.  While they golfed, Becky and I had some great girl time and shopped...

Becky and I in front of The Yarn Garden - a great yarn

shop here in Texarkana

Becky and David took us to the Post Office, which straddles the state line. Of course we had to have our picture taken!!! Thanks Becky!

One of the things we miss about the Lansing (Michigan) area is McCallister's Deli.  Much to our surprise and delight, there is a McCallister's Deli (same chain) here in Texarkana!  David and Becky enjoyed it as well!

a couple of happy campers!

The weather was great while we were here.  Cooper thought it was great ice cream weather (when is it NOT great ice cream weather)?!!  Thanks "Aunt Becky" for giving him ice cream...

a touch of "puppy heaven"

Our week flew by (time really flies when you're having fun)...unfortunately it was time to leave.  On our last night here we went to the Ironwood Grill for dinner.  By far the best rib eye steak sandwich I've ever had.

Becky and David waiting for dinner

we're hungry, too!

Thursday, October 15

Goodbyes are always so difficult. Rather than saying "goodbye" we said "see ya down the road." After lots of hugs we said goodbye to David, Becky and Rocky (their great RV dog) and hit the road.

so hard to say goodbye to them. great friends!

gimme the keys and let's roll!

Thanks Becky for the Texarkana souvenir bag! Especially the map of Texarkana!! We'll be sure to use it the next time we come to Texarkana. No more getting turned around!! We'll put everything to good use and think of both you and David when we do. Coop is very appreciative of the treats!

It's a beautiful day to travel.  Sunny and clear skies. We're heading to Colfax, Louisiana where we will spend the night.

Colfax is about 200 miles south of Texarkana.  Along the way we saw quite a few cotton fields. Some of the fields had been picked, and a couple we were able to see them being picked.

Colfax is the parish seat of Grant Parish. The town, founded in 1869, is named for Schuyler M. Colfax, who served Vice President of the U.S. during Ulysses S. Grant's first term. Famous for Mudfest (Colfax is home to one of the largest mudding fields and wildest party in the South) Colfax is a small town with a population of less than 2,000.

Colfax was settled by European Americans as a Red River Port. Prior to the Civil War, Colfax was known as Calhoun's Landing, named for cotton and sugar planter Meredith Calhoun.

During the Reconstruction era, Colfax was the scene of the Colfax massacre on Easter, April 13, 1873. Three white men and about 150 African-Americans were killed in one of the most egregious acts of terrorism during reconstruction. The massacre arose from the disputed gubernatorial election held in 1872 (yes, the previous year). The event is significant because blacks, who comprised the majority in the parish, organized to defend themselves and their political rights.

While in Colfax, we'll stay at the Colfax Recreation Area on the Red River at Lock and Dam No. 3.

Dams are built on shallow rivers to hold back water and form deeper navigation "pools."  For safe navigation, most pools in the United States are maintained at a constant minimum water depth of 9 feet.  Dams make it necessary for river vessels to use a series of locks to "step" up or down the river from one water level to another.

Colfax Recreation Area, located on the "pool" is a beautiful area. The lock and dam are across the "pool" and are visible from all the campsites.

The campsites are long and spacious...

our site

with a beautiful boat launch on the "pool"...

boat launch on the "pool"

fishing on the dock.  the lock is in the background

water flower. the sun shone so brightly, the water looks black in this 
picture

couple of barges on the "pool"

down river (Red River) from the lock

control house. lock operation occurs in this building; located between the 
locks 

up river (Red River) from the lock

this is located near the boat launch. the Red River Campaign was the last

major Southern victory of the Civil War

Friday, October 17

After a quick, but very nice and educational visit to Colfax, we are back on the road.  It's another beautiful day for traveling.  Clear skies, warm and humid.  We're New Orleans bound...we can hear the music and food calling to us...

Til next time,

Dawn, Ron and Cooper, the RV dog