Woods and Waters

Mardi Gras (French meaning “Fat Tuesday”) is always 47 days before Easter. Each year, the actual date varies because of the lunar calendar – this year is comes early, February 17th. Regardless every year, the Monday (Lundi Gras) and Tuesday are State holidays and for Pants, that means I get a 4 ½ day weekend. I started watching the weather about a week out and quickly it became apparent that we were going to get terrific sunshine for at least Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. And of course, that’s plenty good enough for me. So I started making plans.

Everything was going pretty good until I realized that Saturday is Valentine’s Day. A member of the “Til Death Do Us Part” club for nearly 28 years, I’ve never been accused of being a hopeless romantic. However, it is Valentine’s Day, on a Saturday, and well … something just didn’t feel right about leaving She Of Queenly Stature (SOQS) home alone. So I rolled the dice and asked her if she’d like to go camping with me. Imagine my jubilation when without hesitation, she said “Yes”!

My plan was to go riding of course, but there’s no way I can pack everything for both of us on the bike. So I re-grouped and decided to put my bike in the back of my truck and we’d go that way. However, upon closer examination, I didn’t like the way I would have to strap my bike down, so we re-grouped yet again. I rode the bike, and SOQS drove the SUV with the load in tow.

We camped about 115 miles away at Lake Fullerton Recreational Area in the Vernon District of the Kistachie National Forest.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/kisatchie/null/recarea/?recid=34669&actid=42

I stumbled upon this place recently on a riding day trip and wanted to give camping there a try. In the early 20th century, this was an old sawmill town and the USFS did a great job of illustrating the history of this place. It’s perfect – well off the beaten path, very few people must camp there as evident by the fact that on this holiday weekend, we were joined by only one other family way on the other side of the park on night one, and we had the entire place to ourselves on night two. There are restrooms, but no showers and the primitive sites do have tent pads, a picnic table, a fire ring with a grill, and a light stand. At $5 bucks a night, this is now my favorite “in Louisiana” camping place – hands down.

The weather was wonderful. We were rainless all weekend with day break temps in the low to high 40s, and daytime highs around 70 degrees. The evening star gazing was tremendous considering our latitude. I hate our brutal summers, but the winter here is pretty darn good.

I rode a total of about 450 miles over the 2 ½ days – about half of that solo getting there and back, and the better half on Saturday with my girl sitting pillion. The bike ran smooth as silk and my fuel mileage was in the 45-46 mpg range – to be clear, this was not a peg scraping weekend. Rather, this was about taking it easy with my sweetheart – enjoying our time together.

So the kids are grown now – they are full tilt into Mardi Gras and all that goes with it. We were lucky to get the occasional text message from them, assuring us that at least for the time being, they were safe. Those days are long gone for Pants – my idea of a good Mardi Gras is to run to the Woods and Waters.

I hope you enjoy the pics.

Day 1, 115 miles, Lafayette, LA to Lake Fullerton Recreational Area

Ride Route: https://goo.gl/maps/FKuFp



I only work until 12:30 on Fridays, but I planned to leave around 10:30 am to get a jump start on the weekend. That was nixed when a key member of my staff called in with a sick kid. Oh well, good things come to those that wait and indeed, by 1 pm-ish, the Honda CR-V is packed to the gills.



The traffic in Lafayette was stupid, so I led us well on the outskirts of town in route of the Interstate. Since we are in separate vehicles, I decided to just ride it directly and quickly. The ride was pretty uneventful except when SOQS got stuck behind a couple of logging trucks on a 2-lane hwy. The CR-V doesn’t have the same kick as the FJR.

Regardless, about 4 pm, we made it to our weekend home.



We chose a site near the lakeshore and our first order of business is setting up the shower. Like most ladies, SOQS is fond of her personal hygiene and for $6 bucks (Academy Sports), we found a good solution to the lack of showers at the campground. Even in cool weather, after a few hours in the sunlight, the water was nice and warm.



My friend MikeP loaned me a larger tent for the weekend.



The small lake was originally formed by damming the West Fork of the Six Mile Creek to provide water flow for the saw mill.



Gathering firewood was a piece of cake as all kinds of wood is lying around very near by from the lack of camping pressure. I recently bought a Coughlin’s Camp Saw and was eager to try it out.



Soon the fire is started and we are enjoying the sunset on the lake.



SOQS wanted to try campfire baking for dessert and I was all over that idea. With a little day light left, we prepped the treats. She got this idea from something called Pintrest – whatever that is.



While SOQS mixed all of the ingredients….



… I cut the tops and hollowed out the “baking pans”. Then she filled them, and we wrapped them up for later.







After a couple of adult beverages, I cooked us dinner. The Bush’s “Grillin Beans” series are all great products and provide an easy no effort campfire side dish.



Good eats for us.



After dinner, we walked over to the lakeshore and lied down to watch the sky. Not 30 seconds later, a shooting star emerged – in my 49 years I have never seen that. Way cool!

Then it was dessert time. We placed the Orange Brownies in the fire.



And then we covered them with coals for about 25 minutes.



Most excellent job, SOQS!!!



After some conversation, we turned in around 10 pm.

Day 2, 230 miles, Loop near Lake Fullerton Recreational Area

Ride Route: https://goo.gl/maps/wQipK



I slept like a baby – SOQS, not so much. Day break temperature is about 40 degrees and dry. I put SOQS on my insulated air mattress, my zero-degree sleeping bag, loaned her a pair of my long handles, zipped her up like a mummy, and she was STILL cold. We will have to try something else tonight.

In the meantime, while SOQS sleeps in a bit, I took advantage of the morning light to walk around. The birds are singing songs of joy and the lake is very peaceful this morning.

Today is Valentine’s Day. Apparently you can take Pants out of the bedroom, but you can’t take the bedroom out of Pants!

(Bad Pants)



We enjoyed a simple breakfast while we warmed up by the fire.



Then we geared up and took off on the bike. I texted my friend John the evening before and he and his wife Connie decided to join us for a double date ride. We met at the Fort Polk Visitor’s center. I wanted to tour the museum there, but remembered that I was carrying my pistol and I’m told that the Fort Polk security peeps are kind of funny about that stuff, so we passed on the museum. No point in Pants going to jail on Valentine’s Day.



We rode through the piney woods of the Kistachie National Forest about 30 miles and stopped on the southern banks of the famous Toledo Bend Reservoir.



The Sabine River continues past the south end control structure. Even a hundred feet of elevation in Louisiana is mountainous!



Great day for us so far.



We crossed into Texas and turned north on Hwy 87. I’ve ridden this road quite a bit and each time it never disappoints. Usually I’m ripping those curves like I’m on a rail, but today, with valuable cargo aboard, I’m holding back quite a bit.

Right at noon, we roll into the map dot town of Milam, Tx just in time for lunch.



SOQS was not impressed that I picked this shack for our Valentine’s date lunch, but I know what I am doing.



This place has the BEST fried catfish and shrimp.



Connie and John ordered steak fries and a hamburger respectively. I forget the food porn shot. I did catch them enjoying a moment, though.



We are having a good time.



Dessert was included in our lunch. I choose the Red Velvet cake in honor of today’s celebration, while SOQS picked the chocolate cake. Neither of us was disappointed.



After lunch, we geared up for more riding. Connie and John are ready to go.



So is SOQS!



I took the gang about 60 miles to a “waterfall” that I know of on the Kistachie Bayou. Well, it is water and technically, it’s falling!



That’s sandstone in the bayou. The weather is absolutely perfect – man, I’m having a good time.



Come to think of it, we ALL are having fun.



Connie and John followed us South about 30 more miles before we Fist Pumped goodbye and rode our separate ways. We enjoyed being together and will most certainly do it again.

We arrived back at the camp about 4 pm and SOQS was one whooped puppy. She’s never ridden that far in one day, and I think I over pushed her. So I opened up the Kistachie Salon and Spa and got busy. First, I washed her hair under the warm water of the solar shower. Then I gave her a nice foot rub by the fire while we enjoyed some Happy Hour drinks and snacks.



The sun set on the lake is very romantic.



I grilled pig lips and turkey beaks and we ate our supper.



And then we had dessert.



SOQS spotted this HUGE beetle trying to warm itself up by the fire too.



We turned in kind of early around 9:30 pm. What a great Valentine Day for Pants and SOQS.

Day 3: 115 miles, Lake Fullerton Recreational Area to Lafayette, LA, same route as Day 1

SOQS slept much better last night. This time I put her on the Thermo-rest mattress, put pajamas over the long handles, 2 pairs of socks, and she was in good shape. The over night low was considerably warmer than our first night (perhaps 48), which also helped. A few high clouds moved in over night, keeping temperatures from falling too far.

I stoked up the fire and boiled some water.



Then SOQS decided to photograph me preparing scrambled eggs for breakfast. Apparently, I’m having a bad hair day.





As you can see, Pants takes his scrambled eggs very seriously.





Worst food porn ever, but the eggs were good none the less.



I packed up the tent and camp site and locked up the car. We have plenty of time today, so we decided to take a walk.



The 1.5 mile loop trail runs around the lake and into the woods.





These are ruins left over from the old sawmill.



The trail is very quaint and we enjoyed the walk.



SOQS found an old foundation base from the sawmill.





We spotted a large Barred Owl in a tree but I was too slow with the camera. I did catch this Pileated Woodpecker working for its breakfast.



We get 90% done with the trail and stumble upon a challenge. The bridge that goes across the lake back to the campground is being repaired.



We could either turn back and walk the 1.5 miles back the way we came, or improvise. I used a pole to carefully walk across the rip rap, but SOQS was not so sure.



I convinced her to give it a try. Steady as she goes….



You doing fine, keep going!

Success! SOQS was very proud of herself and so was I!



At the end of the trail, we noted a sign that showed us how the town looked back in the day.



At one point, this place must have been really hopping.



Back at the camp site, we finalized our packing and taxied out of the park. On the way out, we stopped at the old hotel and school house site.









There was even a swimming pool at this place.



I geared up and led SOQS south. We stopped about 20 miles from home in Rayne, LA (Frog City Capital, BTW) to eat at a restaurant we both wanted to try.



A “Mardi Gras” Tree? Never heard of that.



SOQS ordered crab cakes and fried eggplant fries – very good choice.



Pants picked stuffed catfish and onion rings. Holy smokes was that good.



We wobbled back to the vehicles and drove/rode to the house to unpack.

We had a great experience together, and plan to do it again soon. My wife recently made a decision to quit her job of teaching, something she did with passion for well over 20 years, but could not continue as the stress was overwhelming her. While she works through that issue, I’m very pleased to report that I’ve got my wife back. I do not intend to lose her again.

So Mardi Gras isn’t always about parades and shenanigans. For some, it’s about woods and waters.

Stay thirsty, my friends.

Awesome ride report! thanks for taking us along. I cold weather camp, but can never get the SO to go.

Very nicely done! I haven't tried moto camping with my sweetie, but I know she's up for it. We're actually doing a weeklong trip on the bike for Memorial Day week, (no camping, B&B's), so we'll see how that goes.

The stop at Fort Polk gave me a flashback. Years ago, when I was a broadcast engineer in Hammond, I worked for a guy that free-lanced to several places around LA and Mississippi. One of those was an AM/FM station in Leesville. Been there several times. never on base though.

Good Stuff 'Pants!

Way too cold for Mr. and Mrs. Redfish to be tent camping though. BRRR! Plus I still have Redfish Jr., he would love to be in on something like that. He got a new tent for Christmas and has been sleeping in it for over a month now. Of course it is set up in the middle of my living room in front of the fireplace...

I am happy to see that you and your wife are enjoying the bike together, Mrs. Redfish will NOT consider riding the motorcycle. Probably best that way.

Great trip report!!!

Well done 'pants...on all counts!

--G

Thanks for sharing, we are several weeks from even considering any motocamping.

You are the man of these quickie ride reports. So much substance out of a small weekend. Great work on all aspects of the weekend!!

Great report with wonderful pictures!!

Thanks for sharing with us!!

A well told picture narrative of a wonderful weekend, pants!

Nice job pm this. Once again, a great report from you.

Wife and I do similar thing. Only zero camping for us. I will leave early on a Sat morning, do a big ride, meet her at a pre-booked hotel. Usually a nice one, since she likes the luxury (who doesn't?)

Works out great for us. She just will not get on a bike. But is cool with me taking all day rides.

I do want to try this moto camping thing though.......

Excellent! How do you find the time to take all those photos? You took more in a weekend than I did in a month.

Thanks for sharing.

Well done, sir, as usual; Mrs. Pants looks like she enjoyed herself.

"Spizurinktom"?!!? (The high school's paper) There's got to be a good story there ....

Thank you for reading my ride report.

Wnyfjr - during both nights (coincidentally at about 3:00 am), we could hear the solders at Fort Polk shooting BIG guns, along with some smaller weapons. Thankfully, it only lasted a couple of minutes and was over.

Cav47 - I do try to cram in as much activity as I can. Perhaps too much this time. SOQS was whipped when we got home. Sunday night, she snored like a lumberjack.

BigDog - that's a good idea as well (ride to meet your SO at the hotel). SOQS and I are talking about taking the bike on a 3 day weekend and hoteling it. I think we could pack everything on the bike that way.

Gramps - What can I say? I always have the camera handy. I sit it on the picnic table and when the mood strikes me, I shoot a few. I think I shot 160 pictures on this trip, but only about 1/3 of those were anything even remotely decent. Guess I prefer the shotgun approach.

Uncle Hud - SOQS really did enjoy herself. We are talking about maybe borrowing or renting a couple of mountain bikes and trying that on another camping trip. So many activities, so little time.....