Along the Bayou Teche in Southern Louisiana

Last week I was in Louisiana and spent an afternoon driving from Lafayette to New Orleans. I really, really, really did not want to take I-10.  Interstate 10 is quite the dull drive from Lafayette to Baton Rouge and from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. I decided to risk a potentially boring drive along US 90, instead.  I was pleasantly surprised. 

For starters - I always forget how long ago Louisiana was settled.  The first French settlement in Louisiana was in 1699.  Wow.  That was early for America, given the Revolutionary War was 76 years, later. (I have a tendency to think that everything west of where I live (Georgia), was settled after this area  was inhabited. Need a little refresher in American history, I do believe!)

My first stop south of Lafayette was in New Iberia.  I didn't stay long, but noticed most of the town was built along the Bayou Teche - which is a river that flows through much of this area of Louisiana. Apparently, the Bayou Teche was the original route of the Mississippi, centuries ago. 

I love how this house is right on the train tracks.... 

Do you see the tracks running down the middle of that street? Windows to the floor and a wrap around porch. 

Here are some more homes I discovered.  With their backs to the Bayou Teche.....

After that cute little town, I hopped back in my rental car and headed south.  I decided to exit US 90 at Baldwin and take the back road to Franklin.  I am all about the back roads.

There were sugar cane fields, everywhere - it reminded me of southern Florida near the Okeechobee.....

I continued to follow the Bayou Teche.  There are many, many old plantation homes along the river.  Beautiful old homes with big oak trees.  All from the bounty of sugar cane, I am guessing. 

I had to peek at the Bayou Teche a time or two.  There is always a draw bridge....

And here is the Bayou Teche....

This little route along Irish Bend was a treat.  I saw this cemetery under some large oak trees along a sugar cane field, right by the river ......

And there were lots of tractors 

There is quite a mixture of old and new, with a trailer thrown in for good measure.

When I got to the little town of Franklin, Louisiana, I was not expecting much.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Franklin is such a cute little town! (And believe me, I know cute little towns when I see them, I live in one!)

 St. Mary's Episcopal Church c1872

Trowbridge House c.1827 

Franklin's downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places.

I followed the Bayou Teche a little longer, and started to worry that I might miss my flight out of New Orleans.  But, I guess I wasn't too worried, as I stopped and took a few more photos of the plantation homes along the river...

Do you see those old oak trees? 

I just couldn't resist hopping off US 90 one more time in Morgan City.....

And then it was back over a few more bridges while on US 90 ....

Here is a map of my route, more or less....

And, "yes", I made my flight!