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| Finally, leaving him in peace, I left the Blue Star Store (closed) and crossed the bridge which carries La.121over Bayou Rapides. The road seemed to relax and lose its "main route" status with its new occupation, that being to follow the bayou. This seemed a good retirement for a road nearing its culmiation at La. 1. This stretch of road and the homes along its way are so reflective of what I perceive as the way things were in this part of Cotton Louisiana. There were farmers in the fields plowing and seeing them just drove home how cyclonic life is and how some things change and some don't. |
| Bayou Rapides submitted her application and it has been accepted. She will be an upcoming feature. I hope you can see why. |
| I really should do more investigation of the Red River Campaign. It started here and proceeded to Mansfield where one of my straight line relatives was a water boy at the Confederate victory. Why did they win this rare one. They were not dehydrated. |
| The houses along the bayou were traditional country homes. I didn't see any of the plantation "big houses". Had they been burned in the Yankee rampage? |
| When you seen an old house that is no longer in use one of two scenerios usually is taking place. One is that the family was no longer able to live in the deteriorating old home and has opted to desert it, They move to a trailor to be able to enjoy some comfort and modern facilities. It is the best they can do. The old house dies. The second scenerio which I am seeing a lot of recently, is that when the family has left the old home they are able to restored it as a family monument for all to see. This was the case here. It really gives me hope. |
| As with any good road, there are roads intersecting it that have a mysterious flair. There is no more mysterious flair than a road disappearing over a levee. Being a weak person and one diverted easily, of course I took it. The road crossed the bayou which is obviously prone to flooding, thus the levee, and headed up a hill. Did I mention I was riding the border between the Kisatchie Wold and the Red River Valley? Transitions are great. I went up the hill and saw the lake. It is Lake Rodemacher , a man-made lake owned by Cleco, one of Louisiana's larger electric utilities. They use a lot of water and owning a lake is nice for that. Fishing, etc., is allowed on the lake. I went down to the landing, as is my way. |
| The Lake |
| While in the neighborhood I decided to try to find Hot Wells. My great aunt who had lived in the area as a child, often went to Hot Wells Resort. Hot Wells probably goes back a long ways, but this was in the 50's. Hot Wells was Louisiana's "Hot Springs". Mineral baths, the works, suposedly medicinal. Think about it, to make water hot there has to be extreme pressure or volcanic activity as in Yellowstone. So, Louisiana has thermal activity? I understand we have earthquakes but don't feel them because we have miles of insulation. Earthquakes are caused by movement along fault lines. The Kisatchie Wold formed a fault line. Could this fault have exposed volcanic activity which spew forth the hot water. I'll check on that but I'll bet you I'm right. Somewhat. |
| The resort "went under" years ago. From the "modern" architecture I'd say it was built in the mid to late 50's, at least this version of it. The gate was wide open. I am crazy as a loon, not thinking, as this could have been a "crack house" with crazed druggies waiting to have their picture taken. I just went in la'de'da'. No not a crack house but a hang out for a satanic group. I won't show you the grafiti. |
| There was a bathtub. Could the openess and lack of other bathtubs have caused the resort's downfall? Could the installation of the tub been off? |
| There was a beautiful pool to admire while you took your bath. |
| I left the BathHouse and moved toward the main building. Up the stairs and inside I found what must have been the registration desk with bathrooms at either end of the two wings. I did not see access to the main building behind it. Was it through the bathrooms? I was starting to feel over-stayed and a bit spooky so I opted to leave. Leaving often leaves me with a feeling of not completing the investigation. That feeling was not too strong this time. I will do a little reasearch on Hot Wells to see if it has any earlier historical significance. Like an Indian meeting place or did DeSoto bathe here? I talked to a highway worker, a flagman, and expert on the area. He said that the state might reopen Hot Wells. Better get some curtains for those bathtubs first and maybe set them up right. |
| So, I was on an island? Do people on this island need hot water heaters since that water is hot. Or do they need cold water coolers? Louisiana is a mysterious place. |
| More adventure and hyperbolic mysteries to follow. Hit Next |
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| Then and Now |