55Riding Courtableu

Gumbo Weather

   "Gumbo Weather" is a term which is almost a seasonal greeting around here. It's an observation that the cloudy, cold days of "winter" are upon us. Winter being whenever it drops below 65f, day time or 50f, night time.
     Saying, "Gumbo Weather??" to someone conveys, "don't you agree the cold is here?" The responce usually lights up a conversation.
    We have 5 seasons in Louisiana, "Gumbo Season" being the fifth.
    Maybe I should back up and explain to those who have no idea what I'm talking about (not uncommon). What is "Gumbo"? Gumbo is, no, I can't say "is". "Is" is too exact and limiting. I'll try again. Gumbo can be anything from a soup to a stew. It can contain almost anything. Basically, the ingrediants start with chicken. A special occasion could dictate seafood. Ocra is a common addition. Oops, there I go with my personal preferences. It's hot (requirment, physically and seasonally) and it is what you eat to sustain you in our humid, bone chilling cold. I will put up our 40f, 99% humidity, with a front wind blowing through you at 30 mph, against zero, anywhere.

    Back to Gumbo. The definition of what makes a good gumbo is as different as every small town in our part of Louisiana. As different as every family, as every cousin. Everyone has their recipe. There are Gumbo Cooking Contest to satisfy challenges and pride. Gumbo Eating Contest challenge the ability to consume. Prideful? Sure.
   It is a time for the family and/or friends to get together and celebrate the holidays. Gumbo is an important part of the holidays. Hot boudin, cracklin, and gumbo make up a 9 course meal. I will not elaborate on what constitutes the remaining six ingredients.
   Now, you have the menu for Gumbo Weather. The best place to enjoy this fine cuisine is at"The Camp".
   Now, I have to define "Camp". The definition of what constitutes a camp is as varied as the definition of gumbo. Some people have a brick building with an ac sticking in the window and a built in barbeque pit and kitchen, sitting in their backyard. That's their "camp". Some people have an old school bus pulled/dragged by the side of a remote bayou, the windows painted for privacy. That's their camp.
    Some are not that fancy.
    All are named. A list of names given to camps would be a hilarious book. This practice of camp naming is just another example of our humor and our ability to laugh at ourselves. Humor, oh yes, the camp is the place to have fun. It is away from the world, physically. But the real importance is that one is mentally lifted from the stresses of everyday life. Except for a few responcibilities. You have to keep the roof patched, keep the grass cut, or there will be snakes, keep enough wood for the fire, provide a place to keep the "parishables" cold, and make a good gumbo. That's it. The rest is up to "who comes".
    Got the picture?
    And, are all the pictures opened?
    We can get on with the ride.

This is a picture of Gumbo Weather in South Louisiana. It is what I saw as I departed on a "Gotta Get the Heck Out of Dodge Right Now"
outing. The walls were closing in and escape was the only answer. Come what may, it was better than "sittin".

I headed South, out of the driveway, towards Parks on La.347. I had heard that the new blacktopped road from Henderson, on I-10 to Lake Fausse Point State Park was open. It was, but not going South from Catahoula, where the line of cane wagons and the cut cane field pictures, above left. were taken. So, I rode North on the semi-completed blacktop to Henderson, where I took the picture, above right. That thing sticking out of the soon to be cut sugarcane is a "rocking horse" pump, pulling our $45/barrel oil out for your consumption. Thank you. Humbie? Anyone.

So, here I was at Henderson, it was getting a little lighter and the sun actually teased a bit. I never really saw it, but there were hints of blue sky. I headed north. I didn't want to go too far in case I got chilled. If that happened, it would last, no matter how many layers I added, and I was carrying some layers.
I headed up 347 to 743, to Port Barre. "What brought me here?" I asked. Then, click, I remembered that a visitor had suggested that I ride the north shore road along Bayou Courtableu. I thought I'd done that before and it had ended at an iron gate. No, wrong.
Just after you cross Bayou Courtableu in Port Barre, turn East. No, turns, just keep going. It is brand new blacktop for a long distance. Not a dead end and a great ride.
Thank you Sir.

You will pass through neighborhoods. Do not dispair, things will change. The road is great and
follows the bayou religiously. You can see the backs of the houses across the bayou. Again, true
entertainment seeing what people try to hide. What they can't throw away. It makes me feel better.
Then the new blacktop ends and the old paved road resumes, then it stops and gravel takes over. It has rained recently, and there was no problem, although, I wouldn't want to be on that road in the rain.
(I'm on two wheels, remember?)
Above could be a camp or someone's house. I liked the setting. I say camp. A nice one. I think I see an electric meter and a cistern for storing rain water collected from the roof.

The Visitor had mentioned the neat old wooden bridge It afforded these two shots, above left. I will have to check, but I don't think that this is Bayou Courtableu, it was to my right, south. I think it's another bayou which joins here. If you look at the tip of the tree line in the lower picure, you'll see a bridge. It is the new one on US 190. What a contrast. Busy, not busy. The World, Campland.

   Above are examples of a couple of really nice places. I should have gotten pictures of some of the "less developed". I'll have to go back. To leave those out is not telling the whole story.
    After crossing the bridge, US190, under constuction, forever, is nearby. When you get to it, be careful entering. You will be getting onto the raised portion of the road. Go west, to the right, toward Port Barre. You will go about a mile, looking for Bayou Road that intersects 190 right after a large bar. (well it does and is) It is gravel, too. It is in fine condition and turns into new blacktop soon enough. The two pictures on the right were taken going back into Port Barre. You will return to the Bridge which you crossed when you started this ride. Total milage, not too far, time required, as much as you want.
      Remember, this is Campland and Gumbo Weather, two factors which offer a lot of latitude.

Time to take it to the garage. If anyone out there in Visitor Land has ride ideas, please send them. I can't discover everything, though I'm trying.
Happy Trails.

Back Home, darn.

More of Port Barre and the surrounding area:
It gives a summertime perspetive to the area and to the south shore road I'd done before.