105-417-10_page

Here comes a little stress. If you flip back to the last page you will see that La. 10 can be taken in two directions. If you want to go to the ferry landing, slash, park, keep straight. Or, turn left if you are not afraid of a little gravel. You can ride the 7 miles of it to La.77 like I did. But, since you might be on a fat tired cruiser, I'd advise reversing after you went to see the park, slash, ferry landing which really has a great view that shouldn't be missed. Then, reverse course and ride back up a short ways to where 417 takes off to the northwest and hits 419 which takes you back to La.1 If you cross La.1 on 419 you can visit the Raccourci Old River levee and head back west to Simmesport via Claiborne Rd and La.418, featured in THIS ARTICLE. Or go right on La.1 and visit New Roads and St.Francisville across the Mississippi by FERRY. There is a lot of stuff to see and they are GREAT Rides.

Might as well do that because I'm going to show you all there is to see down La.10 going to La.77 on the gravel. The above shot is La.10 as it leaves the intersection. I believe this bridge is across Johnson Bayou, Ray.
Being Johnson Bayou, it is where Ray Daigle use to fish, but probably further north where it is accessible from 417 north of the Silver Gate Bridge, our version of that San Francisco to Muir County water mark. Unpictured. The Silver Gate is crossable above the Atchafalaya if you can jump a 12 foot razor wire topped fence and walk on the pipes which the suspension brdge supports across the river. If I was young......

I was getting a little stressed and decided to stop here and took the picture of my little cruiser, Mz Guzzi.

Next on the list of exciting views is the Stonehenge of the Cane Field, as Ray Daigle calls it. Actually, you must remember, you are in the Morganza Spillway, the dump the Corps of Engineers will use with Mississippi flood waters if the need comes to save New Orleans, hahahahahahahahah.
The road is not pavement because it would make no sense or this area actually does have its own self induced flooding due to its altitude. I've never seen it flooded.
Back to Stonehenge.

Remember that trian going over the underpass? It came this way. Stonehenge is a bridge over a perfectly dry cane field, for now. The railroad planned for this important route to remain open even if the Corps pulled the plug and opened the gates up on La.1 just west of the town of Morganza. You need to check out the Pointe Coupee writes, there is so much to see in that parish.

You will come to an intersection, go left.
Next you will come to a wheat field. No kidding, it was growing as far south as Arnaudville.

I got to La.77 and took a left to varify the location of the Battle of Sterling Plantation. I wanted to know where General Green had crossed the Atchafalaya to do battle with the yankees. I now know that Melville was the place.
He had come right down the road we have traveled because it is the only high ground bridging the back swamp to Sterlings. CLICK HERE for a discription of the battle. There is a historical marker on La.77 just north of the intersection with La.10. I crossed the road from the marker and this is what I saw. I can see the General coming with his Texans to run the Banks boys off. If correct, that route would have led to Palmetto and Washington, Opelousas and Texas.

I did a U-turn and headed south to Lottie on US 190. On the east side of the road I saw these mounds. Were they Indian mounds? Why not?

Getting into town I saw the old house off to my right. I U-turned and came back.

Then I saw the cemetery. It looked empty by local standards. Either the graves were ground level or they had been removed as graves are usually above ground around here. I think. I just zoomed the picture and there's something strange. I made out one headstone. and something else.
Can't say.

On that note, I say it's time to take it to the barn.
The barn is near Arnaudville, down the road a piece.

Home

   Ray added this after seeing his name in lights. I can usually get him to "cut loose" and add good stuff if I pay him enough. Ray, you don't get gas money for "cutting loose" when you don't go anywhre. I pay for petrol, only. Sorry about the inner office memos. Here is his report from an earlier life plus an offering of future projects.

      "No prob, my brother from another mother. I'd like to take a pond crawler (mini bass boat) and fish ole Johnsons Bayou again before I check out. I was a regular levee rider on that honda 50. I even found a trail just south of Melville between 105 and the river, Indy Jones type with <an> old direction sign (ala Mash) nailed in tree. Did you ever take gravel road to Bayou Current (not the paved one that comes out in Palmetto)? Real loose gravel caused me to flip and tatoo my leg with <the>hot muffler".
He adds:

" Couple of guys at work <are> doing the Blazing Bike "thang" next weekend to Duh Quincy (me: evidently there is a football rivalry story here), touted as the Woodsy Tour Thanks to Rita". I also heard there is a Dairy Barn off Cities Service Highway north (Maplewood) between Lake Chuck and Sulphur that has a working train set in the ceiling".

   See, I don't make up all this stuff. Ray and others offer up ideas, real or imagined. Finding out which category they represent is the challenge. For instance, I roamed Melville one weekend looking for the Catfish Festival.[Ray's Lead]
   I stopped the local law enforcement and made a less than smart remark, " Looks like a small festival this year". He looked at me and said, "It was last weekend". So much for my reputation in Melville. That is one reason I was amazed to see the Gratitudinul "S".

A while back I came up 77 from the Lottie area. I was working on a tour and got bogged down at the ferry landing. It shows you what is south of here and adds some info. CLICK HERE to check it out.(new window)

CLICK HERE to come up to the landing from Krotz Springs on the gravel road and cross the Melville Ferry. Might as well do it all. You won't lose your place because a new window will open.