For my first 3 months at Oakley Plantation, see this post:
What would you do?
Well, ... My wife and I, and our 2 doggies returned to Oakley Plantation (Audubon State Historic Site, near St. Francisville, Louisiana) yesterday (April 29). We'll be here for the months of May and June. (See the link above for some photos, scroll down through the thread for the events and activities I was engaged in).
Before we left Indiana, I had the 100,000 miles "make over" done on my Chevy Silverado, including new tires. Put me back $3500. Then the trailer brake message came on (I was not towing), and that ended up costing me another $250. But, the truck is in great shape now.
Soooooo....
We arrived at Oakley Plantation (Louisiana) with no incidents after 2 previous days traveling.
We left Indiana and traveled to Paducah, Kentucky (355 Miles) where we stayed for an overnight at the KOA there. This was pretty much a typical KOA, not the type of place I’d select for a “destination” campground, but the location is right in the middle of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation area. So, there is plenty to do in the surrounding area if one did want to use this location for a destination campground. Again, the KOA itself is a pretty typical KOA. It was run by some very friendly people and other campers there for an overnight were all pretty respectful, including turning outside lights off at night.
The worst part about the drive for day #1 was actually getting out of Indiana. What a stinking mess Indiana is with their roads. The Interstaters are beyond horrible, and no matter where one tries to travel on secondary or US Highways, there are detours. The path we attempted to take (this time), was to miss going around Indianapolis completely because road construction is going on EVERYWHERE!
So we went completely out of our way to by-pass Indianapolis. Only thing was, it was detoured and then the detour had a detour, and (Honestly!!!!) …. The detoured detour had a detour! Instead of heading South, we were forced to keep going West! It took us 5 hours to get OUT of Indiana and into Kentucky! Indiana just sucks!
Travel day 2 (about 335 miles) was much more rewarding, but our journey led us through Kentucky, then Tennessee, skipped along the edge of Missouri, then Arkansas, and then back into Tennessee (another detour around Memphis) and finally on-ward South on I-55. We were following I-69 and then I-55 along the Mississippi River corridor. BUT! The wind was beyond awful. We had extremely head on winds. My fuel mileage barely got above 8 mph, when normally I’d be getting 10 – 11 or more when towing.
But, we made it to Hugh White State Park in Mississippi at the end of day 2 travel. (Sunday evening). At Hugh White State Park, we were only 1 of 4 campsites occupied, one being the camp host. It is peaceful and quiet there. And because we did not have a camper beside us, we got the 50 amp plug!
So, day 3 (about 240 miles) had it’s challenges also. I always unhitch when doing an overnight so the Montana will always be level. But, for whatever reason, I absolutely could not get the truck and trailer aligned correctly to hitch up. I still don’t know why I such issues. I just couldn’t get it right. Finally I got hitch and all was OK.
We arrive at St. Francisville (Oakley Plantation) – Audubon State Historic Site, about 2:00 pm (local time) and got set up. Walked the dogs, remembered why I love this place so much as I walked the ground, and stood amazed at how lush and green (and weedy) everything got over the last month while we were gone.
I met with some of the park staff and get the “scoop” on what’s happening over the next few days and got an initial briefing. My “order” for my period dated clothing also came from what I ordered from Townsends. (
https://www.townsends.us/). I know, I could have worn period dated clothing from their stock room, but I really wanted my own. So, here’s what I look like now:
We are at Oakley Plantation for the months of May and June. Then July 1 through August 31 we’ll be in North Carolina.
I’m already on the work list. I’m doing house tours tomorrow (Wednesday, May 1). I’m so pumped-up! I’m about ready to explode!
Audubon State Historic Site is really nice right now. All February and March flowers are gone, but everything is so lush green right now. Indiana is JUST now getting green. Some trees are still bare.
It’s currently 82 degrees here! I’m enjoying this warmth! It feel soooooo good!