Checking Out Lafayette

After the drive from Austin to Lafayette, it was time to stay put for a little bit. My uncle was going to show me around the area. We started our morning with eggs, bacon, and sweet potato pancakes.

Breakfast plate with scrambled eggs and bacon strips on a decorative floral china plate French toast with butter on a floral china plate alongside scrambled eggs, partially eaten

The bacon was homemade by my uncle from venison that he hunted. It was very lean and meaty. It had a good flavor to it. The sweet potato pancakes were Bruce's. Bruce's is made around the corner in New Iberia, LA.

Box of Bruce's Complete Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix on a kitchen counter

After eating, we went outside to plan the day. The dogs ran around a little bit as we talked.

White poodle standing on a stone patio near a wooden deck post Cream-colored dog walking across a patchy grass lawn

The clouds looked kind of like there was supposed to be rain, but it cleared up fast.

Dramatic storm clouds building in the sky above a house roofline Scattered white and gray clouds against a blue sky

The weather itself was pretty nice!

Weather app screenshot showing Youngsville, Louisiana at 72°F with cloudy conditions

It was definitely warmer than Austin!

Weather app screenshot showing Austin, Texas at 53°F with cloudy conditions

My uncle and I soon hit the road. We drove down some of the narrow roads and took in the scenery.

Rural Louisiana road lined with bare trees viewed through a car windshield Gravel country road with athletic field fencing and pine trees on both sides Dirt road stretching ahead through rural farmland with open fields on the left Expansive field of dried golden grass under a cloudy sky in rural Louisiana Welcome to Youngsville water tower landmark along a rural road Tree-lined residential street in rural Louisiana viewed through car windshield Gravel driveway intersection in a residential area with bare trees Farm field with round hay bales and metal building under dramatic storm clouds Paved country road stretching ahead through farmland with bare trees Harvested sugarcane field with stubble rows and tree line on the horizon Roadside view of harvested crop field stubble with trees in the background Agricultural field showing partially harvested sugarcane with standing cane on the left and plowed rows on the right Multi-lane highway with elevated roadway viewed through car windshield under cloudy skies Sugar Mill Park entrance featuring large red and yellow decorative mill wheels with signage Colorful blue and yellow vintage sugar mill wheels displayed at roadside park Two-lane rural Louisiana road with bare trees lining the right side viewed through windshield Shaded country road with dense tree canopy creating a tunnel effect Tall wooden privacy fence with residential rooftops visible behind it under cloudy sky

All this driving made us thirsty. Our first stop of the day was Parish Brewing Company.

Parish Brewing Co. sign with red background and white lettering surrounded by pink flowering plants

I decided to get a Cane Brake. This was one of the best wheat beers I've had! I'm really hoping they bring it to Texas.

Pint glass of amber craft beer on wooden bar counter inside brewery taproom

After having a couple beers and touring the brewery, it was time to hit the road again. Our next stop was going to be Avery Island, the place where Tobasco is made. There were several billboards along the way advertising it.

Wide industrial street with commercial buildings under dramatic gray storm clouds Tree-lined two-lane road in residential area viewed through car windshield Straight rural Louisiana highway flanked by open fields under stormy sky Freshly plowed agricultural field with visible furrow rows and tree line in distance Narrow gravel country road with bare winter trees under overcast sky Two-lane highway through flat farmland with ominous dark storm clouds gathering Rural highway with roadside billboard and sparse development under cloudy conditions Tabasco "The Heat Is On" billboard against dramatic dark storm clouds Small town main road with businesses and residential areas under threatening weather Curving rural highway with drainage ditch and storm clouds approaching from above

Since it is on an island, it is prone to flooding. As we got closer to it, we saw a lot of houses on stilts.

Elevated mint green house on stilts with white RV parked underneath in yard White elevated house on stilts surrounded by large oak trees on spacious property Louisiana highway with canal running parallel under dramatic storm clouds viewed through windshield Roadside canal with marsh grasses and lone bare tree reflected in dark water Bridge approach crossing waterway with industrial area visible under threatening storm clouds Wooden fishing dock with person standing at water's edge viewed from roadside

We made it to the guard shack and then drove inside. We headed towards the plant so we could take a tour.

Small white toll gate booth with "Toll Gate Visitors" sign at gated entrance Rural road intersection under ominous dark clouds with dramatic weather conditions Distant Tabasco directional sign on gravel roadside with trees in background Jungle Gardens directional sign at road fork with vehicle passing by McIlhenny Tabasco Company entrance sign listing factory tours and country store with operating hours Tree-lined gravel driveway through Jungle Gardens on Avery Island Stand of bare cypress trees in flooded swamp area with palmetto understory Curving gravel road through Jungle Gardens with directional signage under stormy skies Gravel road with wooden fence alongside open field and scattered trees Plant Tours directional sign with arrow pointing ahead under dramatic cloudy sky Large green industrial storage tanks at Tabasco production facility Wide gravel road with utility poles crossing open grounds of industrial complex Tan commercial office buildings with gravel parking area viewed through windshield Employee parking lot with cars in front of Tabasco Company office buildings Tabasco Country Store building with visitors gathered outside under large oak trees

We parked and then went inside to get our tickets to take the tour.

Tabasco Company complex with historic brick buildings and massive oak tree shading gravel courtyard with visitors

After the tour of the Tabasco plant, we headed over to the Jungle Gardens and Bird City. This is the conservation area of Avery Island.

Lakeside park road with Spanish moss-draped oak trees viewed through car windshield Bird sanctuary ponds with observation platforms and two visitors sitting on grass watching waterfowl

Once we got done checking out Jungle Gardens, we hit the road.

Small Louisiana town main street with commercial buildings under dramatic cloud formations Bridge approach crossing waterway with boat launch area visible on left side Straight rural Louisiana highway stretching to horizon under towering cumulus clouds Expansive plowed agricultural fields with distant farm buildings and scattered trees Tree-lined residential street with mixed clouds overhead in rural Louisiana town Wet highway pavement after rain with multiple vehicles under threatening storm clouds

We headed to a place called Rip Van Winkle Gardens. This is another scenic area that my cousin Amber got married at.

Freshly plowed farmland rows with line of trees and roadside billboard

The drive through Rip Van Winkle Gardens was quick. We were soon back on the road again.

Curving two-lane road with 35 mph speed limit and curve warning signs Grove of majestic live oak trees draped with Spanish moss in open field Scenic oak-lined road creating natural canopy tunnel with Spanish moss

I got to see some oil wells tucked in the scenery.

Yellow gate barrier blocking gravel access road with wooded area beyond Narrow paved road through dense forest canopy creating shaded tunnel Rural industrial area with metal buildings and open green field under textured clouds Industrial facility with utility infrastructure and chain link fence under dramatic sky Row of informational display signs at facility entrance with puddles reflecting cloudy sky Three large cylindrical industrial storage tanks with access stairs under ominous clouds Blue Hurricane Evacuation Route sign with upward arrow on rural highway beside open farmland

We then headed past an area referred to as "Lawyer Row." Every single billboard was an advertisement for some sort of lawyer.

Curving rural highway with multiple billboards lining the road under dramatic stratified clouds Two-lane highway approaching commercial area with roadside billboards under overcast sky Highway frontage road with billboard and industrial metal building with white roof Gentle curve in rural highway with advertising billboards under cloudy skies Domingue Wright Roy personal injury law firm billboard on rural Louisiana highway Straight rural highway section with billboards and sparse development ahead

Lawyer Row wasn't too much of a tourist attraction, so we headed back to my uncle's house. We cracked a beer and sat outside. The weather was really nice!

Can of Shiner beer and bottled water on brown woven outdoor table surface Weather app screenshot showing Youngsville, Louisiana at 75°F mostly cloudy conditions

The dogs must have played a ton while we were gone. They were pretty much zonked out.

Small tan terrier dog stretched out flat on floor near chair legs White poodle lying sprawled on brick patio with blue dog toy nearby

Later that night, we hit the road to get something to eat.

Straight rural road through flat agricultural land at dusk with dark sky Rural highway at dusk with road signs visible ahead under dramatic evening sky Cajun Mobile Home Park sign mounted on elevated white mobile home structure Interior street view of mobile home park with manufactured homes and driveways Tree-lined rural road at dusk with vehicle ahead under darkening cloudy sky Open field with tall dead grass and new suburban housing development visible behind fence

We stopped at a pizza joint called JJ's Pizza.

Rural highway approaching commercial area with restaurant sign visible under blue sky

After chowing down on shrimp queso and all the great pizza offerings JJ's had, we headed over to my cousin Shannon's house. From there we hung out a bit and had a couple more beers. My uncle had some quality Grandpa-Granddaughter time with Isabella, Shannon's daughter.

Man with gray beard wearing blue vintage car t-shirt sitting with young child indoors

Their favorite song to sing together is The Ballad of Curtis Loew by Lynyrd Skynyrd. They sung it loud and proud for us.

Same man and child, child appearing animated with surprised expression while talking

After visiting for a while, it was time to go back to my uncle's and get a good night's rest.

Nighttime view from inside a vehicle driving on a suburban road, with street lights illuminating the dark scene and taillights of other vehicles visible ahead on the multi-lane roadway

We stayed up and talked a bit and then I went to bed. The next day I'd be hitting the road and heading further east.

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