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You are here: Home / photography / Wanderin’ South of I-10

Wanderin’ South of I-10

by Road

Wanderin’ South of I-10 from Jacksonville to Los Angeles, that part of the country below Interstate 10, is to be in Another America.

Nowhere is that feeling of being in Another America more evident than when south of I-10 in southern Louisiana. One of the last truly regional areas in the United States, south of I-10 in Louisiana is Cajun Country.

Looking West From the Atchafalaya Spillway over Lake Fausse, south of I-10 in Louisiana
Looking West From the Atchafalaya Spillway Near Sunset

Written with a fountain soda in mind, the grooves of the song Green River always come to mind when wanderin’ south of I-10 in Louisiana.

Well, take me back down where cool water flow, yeh 
Let me remember things I love 
Stoppin' at the log where catfish bite, 
Walkin' along the river road at night, 
Barefoot girls dancin' in the moonlight. 

I can hear the bull frog callin’ me 
Wonder if my rope’s still hanging’ to the tree 
Love to kick my feet way down the shallow water, 
Shoe fly, dragon fly, get back to your mother 
Pick up a flat rock, skip it across Green River

~ John Fogarty, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Green River

Van and off-road trailer on a gravel road atop the Atchafalaya Basin Levee Spillway, south of I-10 in Louisiana.
Gravel Travel, Southern Louisiana style, atop a levee near the Atchafalaya Basin

Cajun Country is one of the last places in America to retain as much of its culture and personality as it has. It’s obvious the moment you get south of the Interstate and away from the cities. Get back into the bayous where there are no big box stores and no fast food, and you’ll see what I mean. There’s plenty of original food, music, mixed patois, and warm hospitality.

Explore Cajun Country

Wind your way down two lane roads through the rice fields between small crossroads towns. Walk into Landry’s Meat & Grocery in Catahoula and get ya some warm Boudin. When I was there I was the only customer in the store not wearing white rubber boots. Head over to Kaplan and ask around where Suire’s Grocery & Restaurant is. Get a couple of plate lunches just for yourself. That way you can taste a wide variety of the best and most authentic Cajun Country food you’ve ever had. “If you want country cooking, come to the country” they say at Suire’s. I recommend the Turtle Piquant, though you won’t go wrong ordering anything there.

Gravel road atop the Atchaflaya Levee Spillway at sunset, south of I-10 in Louisiana.
Looking back down the levee at sunset

Go down through the cane fields and find Bonamis Grocery and get a coke and more warm Boudin. Listen to the local duck hunters talk about da poodoos and how someone used it in gumbo. It’s just an old corner store that sells beer, firewood and white rubber boots. A whole shelf of white rubber boots. Delcambre Reeboks, one Cajun friend explained.

South of I-10 in Lousiana is the best place to slow down, relish your environment, and explore to your heart’s content. I could write pages more about Cajun Country, and hope to soon. I have a mess of images and some video to explain.

NOTES:

The images in this post were done one late afternoon on the Atchafalaya Basin Spillway Levee. It is a long, high, levee in southern Louisiana that runs up from Charenton near the Attakapas Island WMA.

An interesting article with a great 1969 video of CCR performing Green River can be found at Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Green River’ at 50 – Our Essential Guide to Early CCR.

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Filed Under: music, offgrid, photography, travel, vanlife Tagged With: atchafalaya, atchalafaya basin, bayou, boudin, cajun country, charenton, delcambre, kaplan, lake fausse pointe, levee, louisiana, south of I-10, spillway, swamp, travel photography

On the Road in America

THE BIG PAUSE of 2020-21

ROADDUDE.COM is usually about one man’s travels and photography around North America.

During The Big Pause of 2020-21, however, it is about making quality cloth & fabric face masks and face coverings for the public. Every mask purchased enables more to be made for donation.

I have made, sold, and donated thousands, as far away as Sudan.

Stay safe, stay clean, stay healthy!

Thank you for your orders and support!


Kudos from Customers for Face Masks I make, sell, and donate throughout the pandemic:

“The best design I’ve seen.” ~ Richard F, California

“We love your masks and use them all the time! They are the best fit from different types we tried. I was actually thinking of ordering more :)” ~BW, Cambridge MA

“We really love them. The quality is amazing and they are comfortable. Will be great for hiking and work.” ~ Beckie G, SW Harbor

“Both my husband and I love the masks. Fit very well and stay in place when talking.” ~ Susan W, Livermore Falls

“The masks arrived today! Thanks so much. They are terrific! Best fit, most comfortable, most stylish of any I have worn or seen.“ ~ Elaine J, SW Harbor

“Excellent mask! Highest quality and fit. Find it very comfortable and breathable. Much better design than the pleated style. If you care, please wear!” ~ Jane W, Scarborough

“Outstanding quality comfort and fit. These are as good if not better than pictured on the web. Worth the wait and cost. I would buy again. Have recommended you already. Five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating!” ~Janet, Rockport

“Got ‘em!!! Arrived today and they are impressive.” ~ Bob B, Maine

“Thank you so much for the quality masks. The fit is great. Good work!” ~Lynn B, Maine

“Really quite nice and much needed!” ~Kathy H, Maine

“That’s nice, dear.” ~Ma


Where is Road?

Back Cove, Maine, working on:
– making masks
– portfolio & prints
– prep for painting desert art mural
– improving storage functionality in van
– helping folks haul and deliver items
– South of I-10, Another America
– Roaddude Food Cookbook
– website improvements
– my tan

I hear it’s summer. Is that true?

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