Road Trip – 2018/2019:
Dec. 1 to Dec. 7 (Brookeland, TX to Gautier, MS)
The Brookeland, TX area is beautiful. Forested with large pine and oak trees and two very large lakes. Unfortunately when it comes to timeshare, they aren’t all winners. We have been very lucky over the years. We have owned the timeshare for 28 years an only once before did we refuse to stay in an exchange. The second time was earlier on this trip in Brownsville and now this one, the Rayburn Country Club. We stayed three nights and then decided to move on.
First we went to Vicksburg, MS. and stayed in an incredible 166 year old mansion (more on that later in the galleries), and then off to Baton Rouge (again, more on that later).
After a few days in Baton Rouge we headed to Gautier, Mississippi which is right on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
Click on the photo for each day to view that day's photos.
Day 33 - Dec. 1, 2018
Our first day in Brookeland, Texas. As expected, a beautiful area. We just spent the day driving around Sam Rayburn. It is a very large reservoir surrounded by older communities and beautiful homes.
East Texas - Brookeland
Day 34 - Dec. 2, 2018
Just a few miles to the east of Sam Rayburn is another very large reservoir, known as the Toledo Bend Reservoir. Again, surrounded by National Forest, old towns and lovely homes.
Toledo Bend Reservoir
Day 35 - Dec. 3, 2018
After three days in really bad accommodations we decided to move on. So I found a place for this night in Vicksburg, Mississippi. On the way we stopped for brief walk around in Natchitoches. Pronounce that one for me! Actually it is pronounced "Nack-a-tish" (don't ask). Anyway, very old and beautiful.
Then on to Vicksburg. Visckburg was the site of a major Civil War battle that was a turning point in the war. We stayed in the Cedar Grove Mansion. It was completed in 1852 and is in incredible condition right down to much of the original furniture. There is even a cannonball stuck in a wall from the battle in 1863. Simply incredible! I don't know how we lucked out, but we stayed in the owner's suite. So we took pictures (too many) this evening and more in the morning.
Brookeland, TX to Vicksbug, MS
Day 36 - Dec. 4, 2018
A few more shots of Cedar Grove Mansion and then off to Baton Rouge for the next three nights. First we stopped at the Grand Gulf Military State Park, the site of a couple Civil War battles.
For the first time ever, we tried VRBO (a type of Air BnB). We found a lovely home and booked it. We arrived, got settled in and then the owners arrived home form work! I guess unknowingly I had just rented a room. It turned out fine. The owners are a nice young couple (early thirties) and we shared their home for a few days.
Vicksburg, MS to Baton Rouge, LA
Day 37 - Dec. 5, 2018
With only two full days in Baton Rouge we needed to do a lot in a short time. First we stopped at an old plantation. The main house was built in 1791. There were other buildings as well, including the slave quarters (well one of them).
Then a tour of the U.S.S. Kidd, a WW II destroyer with quite a history and service record. It is worth a look up of the history. I don't think I could have done what that generation did.
Day 38 - Dec. 6 2018
Second day in Baton Rouge. First a walk around the Bluebonnet Swamp, then off to the Old Capitol Building. Louisiana has two capitol buildings. The old one was built in 1847 and is magnificent, as you will see.
In 1932 they opened a new one which is also very beautiful.
View from the Louisiana Capitol Building. Baton Rouge, LA
Day 39 - dec. 7, 2018
Moving day again. Today we are off to Brookeland, Texas. Not much to see except a quick stop at in the Davy Crockett National Forest.
Baton Rouge, LA to Gautier, MS