Revisiting visions of the past becomes more important as those visions become more distant.
In my youth, my family had to travel the length of the state to see our relatives. I learned the roads:
US 61 from New Orleans to Baton Rouge,
US 190, from Baton Rouge to its intersection
with US71,west of Krotz Springs,
US 71, from 190 to Alexandria,
and La.1, or US 71, sometimes, from Alex
(La.shorthand) to Shreveport. Extreme
boredom would cause my father to alternate.
Between comic books and throwing up, I watched the sides of the roads, always wishing I could just get off this scar in my brain and explore. I knew adventure and treasure were out there. What I didn't know was how close to that worn route they would be.
The trips would only get interesting, to me, when we finally got into the hills of north La. We always lived on flat land. The hills were different and like that part of Shreveport where my grandmothers both lived. You could skate really fast on Wilkenson Street. Oops I'm drifting.
Now, I am roaming those once hated flat lands that Bayou Boeuf and Cocodrie tie together. US 71, south of Alexandria, once considered the endless stretch of the trip, La.29, south of Bunkie, and La.182, south of Whiteville to Washington where the Cocodrie and Boeuf join to form Bayou Courtableu. This area defines a distint region, from what I see. It is a region of transition. Homes define the culture and the style changes gradually along this route. It begins with very Central Louisiana American influenced farm houses, changing to the small Cajun cabins further south. Large Greek Revival plantations are scattered throughout.
So here I go again down 71. If you are reading this little tale in expectation of twisting, thrilling travel. Sorry. If you want to see what I consider those treasures, yes, a lot of rotting houses, slimy bayous, and graves, you're at the right place. I feel like I have to do it all before I can start on the hills. Things don't change. Those past visions do get much more interesting when revisited. And, those distant treasures weren't so distant after all. In many cases they lay just a few feet away from the "mother road". "Mother Road", I like that. |
