Big Thank you

 Ok, many of you are still reading, looking or laughing at the antics of DaGirls. Well guess we'll continue doing something. I mean something is better then Social Media apps, Right ?

So, on Saturday April 20th, we lander in Alexandria, La. Specifically, Boyce. We found this small 10 unit campground many years ago, in the way CG go, this is one lovely and quiet place. The sites are large, well spread out and full hooks-up. It is also less then 10 miles to where my Aunt Joy, lives.

Let me make one thing clear, no-one comes to Alex except for these reasons:

Work, Passing thru to New Orleans, or you really do have relatives that live here. Seriously, those are the only reasons, I have ever ascertained (Ooh big word: more the 7 letters, sometimes I surprise myself).  

One of the reasons, sometimes I do not post photos, is because even though there are some lovely areas. Big homes, golf courses, and other places. It is still a low income for many of the people. Where the minimum wage is still $10. Home ownership is mainly out of the reach for the greater population. Where people buy houses for fixup and then rent them out. 

And sometimes  just plain forget to, or even carry a camera.

I know, these homes, I can remember by relatives living in house like these. Where the average square footages are less the 1000 sqft. and are older then 80 years. So, what is drawing me back here to Alex?

Maybe it is my remaining Aunt. Aunt Joy, who is 95. Here brother, my dad would have been close to 100 now. Or, my 2 remaining cousins Ed, and Mark along with Ronda, Mark's wife. Who's knows what's the draw is, that keeps bringing me back.

Or how about 3 generations of Prichard's that are buried here. 2 generations in Pineville and 1 in Ball. Which is just down the street. 

Dad and Mom

Great Grandmother

Great Grandma Prichard Right Side

Great Grandfather

Great Grandfather Prichard

Grandfather

Grandmother

Grandfather and Grandmother (Left and Middle)

Or is it the other relatives that are buried here in the Alex area. Come to think of it, most of my relatives', both on my Grandfather (Rev Garland Prichard) and Grandmother (Leona (Yarbro) side, are buried from Louisiana, Arkansas and up to Ohio Valley. Also the family name Prichard. I have 1 relative with it spelled Pritchard, and another spelled Pritchett. This is going back another 3 or 4 generations.

So, when thinking about it, what really draws me back to places like this. Definitely not looking to retire, although here the Atwood clan always have a open door, to anyone relative of not. 

Definitely not the area well, humidity really. Green, you couldn't get more greener grass, trees, animals and lots of Private Land. Private land, well lets say, in the olden days the Wood / Paper companies owned pretty much all the forest. 

Anyway, think about yourself. Do you ever feel drawn back to someplace? Similar to what I just wrote about? 

Oh, did I mention, that the Day we arrived I aged by 1 year to 73. Yep, April 20, 1951 at 0830 in Alex I was born. 73, it was that night, I found out I was the oldest one of the bunch. That's Ed in the background.

My Aunt Joy

There is one thing that keeps Joy going. Sewing, yes sewing. Now, she makes small quilts, about 4 x 4. She uses material that she has or Rhonda or Ed brings to her. She heard there were needs for quilts for Children in Distress. She makes about 20 a month, which are then taken down to a facility. All of her quilts are given away. Friends, family, children in need. 

Mark, by the way, sorry we forgot to take the garbage out. Also I forgot to take a group photo of all of us.  Really messed that one up. 

By the way, my aunt's born name is really LeeJoy, one word. However in all the years, census reports, papers, social security, it was always written down as Joy L. It's funny, how when you go back thru history, someone or many someone's always can get it wrong. Oh, you say what about her birth certificate? Back that far, the certificates were a piece a paper. Given to the parents, or the church would keep a written record. 

Both my father and Aunt had a alternate birth certificate. This required a parent going down and filling out a piece of paper, Then with this item, they could get a. Wait for it..... Social Security number. I know everyone thinks a paper trail was kept. Well guess what, if it wasn't for the church, some official office there would be no paper trail.   

Anyway this wraps it up for now.

Anyway, Dakota was given a bath today, as her fur was getting a little dry. The only problem. There was only 1 set of hands to do all the rubbing with towels. You can Never have too many rubbing hands. 

Safe Travels and Journeys

DaGirls Rv

Susan, Tilly, Dakota and me

We have Left Texas - Finally

Our final goal ? Get out of Texas. We have achieved our Goal.

Current location ? Alexandria, Louisiana. Specifically Alexandria Rv Park.

Alexandria RV Park - Clicky

Our first time was in 2018, when we found this spot. It is a family own park with about 10 sites. Within 5 miles of Alex.

We came because of family, specifically to see my Aunt Joy, the last remaining linkage to my father:

Since we were so close, why not, as she will be 91 years old this year. Along with my 2 cousins (Ed & Mark) and their wives (Shelly and Rhonda). Wed., we gather with Ed & Shelly for food and talk, then Thur., with all for dinner and talks.

While we were here, we planned a trip to Baton Rouge to drop off our old Level Legs system.

Sightseeing - none, visits - lots. Plus a day spend at the gravesites of the Prichard's. Normally it is only Susan and I that go and spend time; Cleaning up and visiting. However this time we asked Joy, if she would like to come with us and she did. We all enjoyed a trip out.

My pet peeve on cemeteries ?    Once you've in the ground, spend all the money, very few ever visit, and then no one ever comes. So why spend the money that way. Enjoy it while you live.

Back to real life:
On our way to baton Rouge, we enjoyed a stop at a in an old fashioned truck stop for breakfast and art.

Driving over we stopper in for a cup of coffee and became time travelers.

We continued our journey to Baton Rouge 

Along the way, we spied a Tiger on the prowl.

There are a few ways to and from Alex to Baton Rouge: Then there is DaGirls way: One of them is not being the fasted.

However it was time to leave but not until 1 additional day with my aunt. But Friday evening came and Saturday we broke camp very early (6:55) and headed north to La 167. Our destination; Ruston, where we had friends waiting and a chance to meet another Road Runner, Mark & Cathy Finnesgard.

Just outside Winnfield, we went looking for coffee, then realize this; hey we live in an rv, so we pulled over to a Walmart parking lot, walked Dakota and Tilly and made a pot of coffee. Once that was completed, we hit the road again, inverter on, keeping the coffee warm and continue your journey to Ruston.

Guess what, did you catch the part about Levelegs System? Yes we got a new system installed. More on the New System later.
For now, it is time to say
GOOD MORNING LOUISIANA 

Safe Travels and Journeys
DaGirls Rv
Susan, Tilly, Dakota and me
And Keep an Eye on the Rear View Camera