Today I spent the day exploring local color. The town of Minden, Louisiana had a tour of their historical graveyard complete with reenactors portraying historical figures in the town's history. I decided to go since this had great possibilities to either be really good or really bad. Either way it sounded like a good time. It had a bit of both. Some of the actors really knew their stuff and gave good speeches about their lives. The cutest was a girl dressed in full antebellum regalia that gave an aside about her real ancestors. I did catch one of the reenactors taking a swig from a flask in between crowds, but all in all it was worth the $10. I also bought a book while there about the history of Minden. I've decided that books are a great way to remember a place without winding up with 100 shot glasses and other useless items.
After my trek east along I-20 I decided to continue heading east towards Gibsland, LA to see the Bonnie and Clyde ambush museum and the historical marker denoting where the two outlaws were taken down. The museum is pretty cool and I bought a book about Texas outlaws, but I had a much better time talking to the proprietor. He told me all the best places to go to have my blood drawn in Northeast Louisiana and showed me a newspaper geared towards retirees that will soon feature an article about the museum.
Here's the Little Grey Car (LGC) right where Bonnie and Clyde were shot! Cool huh?
I then went on to Arcadia, Louisiana where I partook of a great sale at the Outlet mall there before I hit the Bonnie and Clyde Trade Days. I'm not sure how often they are held, but I just happened to be there on a Trade Day. It was ok, but I did manage to buy a violin for my sister. Well, I should rephrase that. I way underpaid for the violin, but since I put the violin together and used rosin out of my purse to see if the bow was useable I didn't feel too bad about underpaying for it. Merry Christmas baby sister!
By this point it was 4 o'clock and time for me to make the 30 mile trek back home. It's funny. I go on all of these roadtrips and gigs that are hours and days away from my house, yet today I managed to see just as many cool things in my own backyard. I think I'm going to have to go to some more things nearby. Nacogdoches, Texas may shortly be on my exploration list. I have always talked about it and Gibsland as nearby places I've never seen. I took one of my "Must See" places off the list today.
Tomorrow? Adventures in Symphony Land.
Good for you exploring places right in your own backyard! I was driving up to my mother's house this weekend in my hometown, and I saw signs for several places and thought "I've never been there... I really ought to go." Maybe ideas for quick day trips, just like you're doing. :)
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