Eunice, Louisiana (GA415)

Mary is no longer available for RV traveling, but we remain good friends.

Because we have 4,000+ postings, I’ve invited her to continue posting entries on this blog.

I’m currently in my 23rd year of full-time RVing and my lifestyle is changing, For more info click Here

---

The motorhome is parked at Thousand Trails RV Resort in La Conner, Washington. I’ll depart here August 13th.

 

 

 

If you remember yesterday’s Blog entry http://wp.me/pDCku-7dN

 

 

we were parked in Mamou, Louisiana. Shortly after the doors opened 7:30 AM Mary and I enter Fred’s Lounge…the Cajun Music Capital of the World!

 

 

Fred’s is in its 67th year of business with continuous live radio broadcasts for the last 51 years. It is only open Saturday’s from 7:30 AM until 2:00 PM.

 

 

Here are some photos that I took…

 

 

 

 

 

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only a few folks were around as the band began their set-up…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the course of the morning Mary had two large Bloody Mary’s and I had three Miller lites. Twice during the morning the staff came around handing out the delicious French Cajun sausage…Boudin… which you can read about by clicking this Wikipedia link…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boudin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soon people were dancing…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even though she recently retired, Taunte Sue made an appearance with her legendary holster that holds a flask of cinnamon schnapps…

 

 

By 10:00 AM the place was fairly packed which you can see by clicking this link…
http://youtu.be/Xi5gZN6tRQU

 

 

The Cajun band played really loud and really good music and combined with really friendly people made for a really good time. Despite my aching right hip which remains from last year’s may 27th accident, Mary and I enjoyed a couple of dances together. It was a most enjoyable morning!

 

 

Since we needed to drive the motorhome to Eunice, we left Fred’s about 11:00 AM. After lunch we drove the motorhome about 10 miles south where we parked in the rear parking lot of a fire station…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As usual, here’s the view from the dinette window…

 

 

If you want to see and read about what we did on Saturday night in Eunice…you’ll have to read tomorrow’s Blog posting.

 

 

As they say here in Louisiana…Laissez les bon temps rouler…which means…Let the good times roll!

 

 

Enjoying local partying spots is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

 

 

The red dot on the below map shows our approximate location in the State of Louisiana. You may double left-click the map to make it larger…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoying 65-75 degree temperatures most of the year is a primary joy in the RVing lifestyle!

 

 

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”…Albert Einstein

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have not checked out my Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

 

 

TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! MARY WROTE A MANY GREAT BLOGS…SO WHENEVER SHE PUBLISHED A BLOG POSTING THE SAME DAY THAT I DID…YOU WILL BE ABLE TO READ HER BLOG BY CLICKING THE BELOW LINK! DO IT NOW!

https://otrwjam.wordpress.com/2013/03/03/freds-lounge-mamou/

 

 

 

 

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE PHOTOS.

Forecast for today is partly sunny and 73 degrees.

Enjoying nice weather is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

The red dot on the below map shows my approximate location in the State of Washington. You may double left-click the map to make it larger…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoying 65-75 degree temperatures with low humidity most of the year is a primary joy in the RVing lifestyle!

 

 

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”…Albert Einstein

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My current travel rig is a 2006 Fleetwood 26′ Class A Motorhome and a towed 1986 Ford Bronco II, Eddie Bauer Model. This photo was taken in the desert at Slab City near Niland, California…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On October 27, 2012, I created a two-minute video titled America The Beautiful. The music America The Beautiful is by Christopher W. French. The photos, which I randomly selected, are from the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia (not shown in that order)…are mine. Yup, That’s me standing in front of the Post Office in Luckenbach, Texas…Y’all!

Click this link to start the video. Make sure you have your speakers turned on and go to full screen asap.
http://youtu.be/FfZUzEB4rM8

 

 

If you would like to see my YouTube videos, click this link… http://www.youtube.com/user/JimJ1579/videos

 

 

There are more than 700 photo albums in my Picasa Web Albums File. To gain access, you simply have to click this link… https://get.google.com/albumarchive/110455945462646142273?source=pwa

 

 

If you have not checked out my Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

 

 

For more information about my books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

 

 

All original works copyrighted – Jim Jaillet -2018

Mamou, Louisiana – The Cajun Music Capital Of The World! (GA414)

Mary is no longer available for RV traveling, but we remain good friends.

Because we have 4,000+ postings, I’ve invited her to continue posting entries on this blog.

I’m currently in my 23rd year of full-time RVing and my lifestyle is changing, For more info click Here

---

The motorhome is parked at Thousand Trails RV Resort in La Conner, Washington. I’ll Depart here August 13th.

 

Since my RVing life is changing (see above), I’m starting to re-visit previously visited places. So rather than constantly re-blogging past entries, I’ve decided to do something different.

  In 2011-2013, Mary and I did a 682 day, 12,679 miles in the motorhome and 8,000 miles in the Bronco, circumnavigation of the United States, which I called The Great Adventure. I called it so because other than my oldest granddaughter’s high school graduation in June in Connecticut, I didn’t know where we would be going or when we would be there!

So, unless I do something really different and unusual warranting a new blog entry, I’ll be posting entries from that trip.

This entry was posted March 2, 2013…

 

 

 

 

Yesterday we drove the motorhome the about 25 miles from Chicot State Park to Mamou, Louisiana…the Cajun Music Capital Of The World!

 

 

Along the way we stopped in Ville Platte at the Swamp Pop Music Museum which is only open on Fridays and Saturdays.

 

 

Swamp pop is a musical genre indigenous to the Acadiana region of south Louisiana and an adjoining section of southeast Texas. Created in the 1950s and early 1960s by teenaged Cajuns and black Creoles, it combines New Orleans-style rhythm and blues, country and western, and traditional French Louisiana musical influences.

 

 

To read more about Swamp Pop Music, just click this Wikipedia link…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_pop

 

 

Here are some photos that I took…

 

 

 

 

 

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next stop is unusual for us as it is a repeat. That usually does not happen. We were here in 2010 and had a ball! As long as we are in the area…we just had to come back. Over the years…I believe this is my fourth visit.

 

 

Upon arrival in Mamou we pulled the motorhome alongside of Fred’s Lounge – The Cajun Music Capital of the World! Fred’s is only open on Saturday’s from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM. We lucked with our timing as Taunte (aunt in French) Sue was just coming out of the back door. Luckily she remembered me from my previous visits. Asking if we could park overnight where we were…she said no…she had a better spot at another of her properties about one block away. We followed her and the below photo shows our parking location complete with 30 amp electrical hookup…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As usual, here’s the dinette window view…

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s Mary with Taunte Sue…

 

 

 

 

 

After getting settled in, we took a walk to the Cajun Music Plaza…directly across the street from Fred’s Lounge…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the same wall is the Cajun Wall Of Fame…

 

 

 

 

 

Did you notice that of the 12 people shown…only one is a woman? Nonetheless than Taunte Sue! She has lived all of her 82 years in Mamou…

 

 

Taunte Sue was married to Fred Tate…of Fred’s Lounge which you can read about by clicking this link…
http://www.fredsociety.com/mamou.html

 

 

She recently retired after 55 years working there. You can read about her career by clicking this link…
http://www.crowleypostsignal.com/view/full_story/11502385/article-Taunte-Sue-puts-Fred-s-Lounge-doors-behind-her—nephews-nieces–knew-her-rules

 

 

We’ve got to leave shortly as Fred’s opens its doors at 7:30 AM and we want to be first in the line. The drinking starts and by 8:00 AM the place is packed by time the band starts playing at 8:00 AM…nonstop until 1:30 PM. I’ll have a Miller Lite…Thanks!

 

 

We’ll share with you our adventures of this morning in tomorrow’s Blog posting.

 

 

Enjoying local partying spots is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

 

 

The red dot on the below map shows our approximate location in the State of Louisiana. You may double left-click the map to make it larger…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoying 65-75 degree temperatures most of the year is a primary joy in the RVing lifestyle!

 

 

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”…Albert Einstein

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have not checked out my Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

 

TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! MARY WROTE A MANY GREAT BLOGS…SO WHENEVER SHE PUBLISHED A BLOG POSTING THE SAME DAY THAT I DID…YOU WILL BE ABLE TO READ HER BLOG BY CLICKING THE BELOW LINK! DO IT NOW!

https://otrwjam.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/swamp-pop-music/

 

 

 

 

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE PHOTOS.

Forecast for today is sunny and 71 degrees.

Enjoying nice weather is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

The red dot on the below map shows my approximate location in the State of Washington. You may double left-click the map to make it larger…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoying 65-75 degree temperatures with low humidity most of the year is a primary joy in the RVing lifestyle!

 

 

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”…Albert Einstein

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My current travel rig is a 2006 Fleetwood 26′ Class A Motorhome and a towed 1986 Ford Bronco II, Eddie Bauer Model. This photo was taken in the desert at Slab City near Niland, California…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On October 27, 2012, I created a two-minute video titled America The Beautiful. The music America The Beautiful is by Christopher W. French. The photos, which I randomly selected, are from the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia (not shown in that order)…are mine. Yup, That’s me standing in front of the Post Office in Luckenbach, Texas…Y’all!

Click this link to start the video. Make sure you have your speakers turned on and go to full screen asap.
http://youtu.be/FfZUzEB4rM8

 

 

If you would like to see my YouTube videos, click this link… http://www.youtube.com/user/JimJ1579/videos

 

 

There are more than 700 photo albums in my Picasa Web Albums File. To gain access, you simply have to click this link… https://get.google.com/albumarchive/110455945462646142273?source=pwa

 

 

If you have not checked out my Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

 

 

For more information about my books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

 

 

All original works copyrighted – Jim Jaillet -2018

SWAMP POP AND CAJUN MUSIC

Folk Music has an honored place in the music world, but somehow, Swamp Pop is ignored. It came up out of Southern Louisiana, where it was born, and spread unevenly in popularity all over the U.S. The flags show in the millions. As a teen in California I remember many of the songs I saw and heard in the Swamp Pop Music Museum in Ville Platte. Great memories and traditions. I just didn’t know much about the individuals and how it developed.

French Cajuns had some strange-sounding words and names. Tongue twisters for radio announcers, so they developed suitable compilations of their names, shortened, easy. There was also some hesitation from the performers because of their unique language, a blending of English and French and some African lingo thrown in. It suited the community from which it sprung and grew but they were punished for it when they attended school.

Some of these great performers were on the charts along with Elvis Presley. I just look at Dale and Grace and hear “I’m leaving it all up to you.ooh.ooh..you decide, whatcha gonna do…”

“Graduation Night”  TK Hulin. I did not remember his name until I came here. They have a huge collection of 45’s you can listen to.

They sell out a Swamp Pop Reunion every year here in Ville Platte. Wish we had made it. All the living greats return. I hope PBS revives their music like they have the old rock n’ roll groups and folk singers. I’m going to call Sacramento PBS and see if they have plans to do it and point them to Southern Louisiana, the berceau of Swamp Pop.

They have artifacts and autographs and other things to enjoy. It is a small museum. But, it is the music that you remember.  Freddy Fenders, “Until The Last Teardrop Falls..” Warren Storm’s “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights”. Tommy Mc Clain’s, “Sweet Dreams.”  Such fun.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_pophttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_pop

Wikipedia has an in-depth  article on the origins of Swamp Pop (above).

We moved on to Mamou to catch Fred’s Lounge in the morning. Jim  just happened to meet Tauntie Sue coming out the back door. Jim asked if it was okay to park on the side street. She said,”No, come park at my house, I just live down the street. I can hook you up with power.”

She is such a sweet and generous soul. We visited Fred’s Lounge in 2010 and Sue was still tending bar in the lounge she and her husband opened in 1946. Fred died in 1992 and Sue has kept it going for all day Saturday, drinking and dancing to a live Cajun band that is broadcast live on radio.  She told us she quit tending bar, but she goes every Saturday, sets up and enjoys the music and the patrons. The popularity of the place started when Charles Kuralt stopped there and made a segment  about the bar for his television show. It has grown and grown ever since.

This historical plaque is posted on the building.

Jim’s visited Mamou several times but had never walked around the town. We found a square put up by the local rotary club, honoring the Cajun Music Capital of the World.

A huge mural lines one wall of the square. This is a wedding scene. I love the little boy clacking spoons to the music on the porch. Very realistic beginnings for some Cajun musicians. Making the table in the yard  ready for the food to follow. (You can double-click pictures to make them larger.)

And, on that same wall, twelve people honored for promoting and identifying the passion and spirit of Cajun music that have made Mamou the Cajun Music Capital of the World. I tell you, Southern Louisiana  is all about good music and good food and friendly people. Taunte Sue is the only woman on the wall.

We walked Main St., which isn’t very long. Manuel’s Bar across the street from Fred’s Lounge started the same year, 1946. We talked to the son of the original owner who we met on the street. This sign was on their window. I liked the “drama” part.

Tauntie Sue’s rules are No Swearing, No Fights, No dancing on the tables. We stayed all day last time, and everyone danced, drank, ate from the jambalaya cooked up out back by some volunteers, and had a great time. No one got drunk and out of line. Tauntie Sue suggested a great restaurant, right across from her Lounge. But, they weren’t open when we were hungriest and we ate Tasso stew at home instead. And some shrimp with Jack Miller’s cocktail sauce for an appetizer. Good stuff!

Mamou, Louisiana – The Cajun Music Capital Of The World!

Yesterday we drove the motorhome the about 25 miles from Chicot State Park to Mamou, Louisiana…the Cajun Music Capital Of The World!

Along the way we stopped in Ville Platte at the Swamp Pop Music Museum which is only open on Fridays and Saturdays.

Swamp pop is a musical genre indigenous to the Acadiana region of south Louisiana and an adjoining section of southeast Texas. Created in the 1950s and early 1960s by teenaged Cajuns and black Creoles, it combines New Orleans-style rhythm and blues, country and western, and traditional French Louisiana musical influences.

To read more about Swamp Pop Music, just click this Wikipedia link…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_pop

Here are some photos that I took…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

The next stop is unusual for us as it is a repeat. That usually does not happen. We were here in 2010 and had a ball! As long as we are in the area…we just had to come back. Over the years…I believe this is my fourth visit.

Upon arrival in Mamou we pulled the motorhome alongside of Fred’s Lounge – The Cajun Music Capital of the World! Fred’s is only open on Saturday’s from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM. We lucked with our timing as Taunte (aunt in French) Sue was just coming out of the back door. Luckily she remembered me from my previous visits. Asking if we could park overnight where we were…she said no…she had a better spot at another of her properties about one block away. We followed her and the below photo shows our parking location complete with 30 amp electrical hookup…

As usual, here’s the dinette window view…

Here’s Mary with Taunte Sue…

After getting settled in, we took a walk to the Cajun Music Plaza…directly across the street from Fred’s Lounge…

On the same wall is the Cajun Wall Of Fame…

Did you notice that of the 12 people shown…only one is a woman? Nonetheless than Taunte Sue! She has lived all of her 82 years in Mamou…

Taunte Sue was married to Fred Tate…of Fred’s Lounge which you can read about by clicking this link…
http://www.fredsociety.com/mamou.html

She recently retired after 55 years working there. You can read about her career by clicking this link…
http://www.crowleypostsignal.com/view/full_story/11502385/article-Taunte-Sue-puts-Fred-s-Lounge-doors-behind-her—nephews-nieces–knew-her-rules

We’ve got to leave shortly as Fred’s opens its doors at 7:30 AM and we want to be first in the line. The drinking starts and by 8:00 AM the place is packed by time the band starts playing at 8:00 AM…nonstop until 1:30 PM. I’ll have a Miller Lite…Thanks!

We’ll share with you our adventures of this morning in tomorrow’s Blog posting.

Enjoying local partying spots is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

The red dot on the below map shows our approximate location in the State of Louisiana. You may double left-click the map to make it larger…

Enjoying 65-75 degree temperatures most of the year is a primary joy in the RVing lifestyle!

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”…Albert Einstein

If you have not checked out my Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2013
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

PEOPLE KEEP REMINDING ME

I’ve spent the last couple days catching up on some badly needed cleaning, like window washing and yard work. But, family and friends keep reminding me its my birthday. E-cards, Facebook greetings, a delightful rap from grandsons, Owen and Theo, with about 70 ways to say and spell and write 70;  A call from the youngest grandson, Austin before he headed off to school; a hep best wishes from one headed off to college, hey! There are benefits to being an old bag. My computer got robbed of its mechanics yesterday and I’m really happy that its fixed and that I can get on it and make it work. Definitely makes for a happy birthday. But, I’ve had a happy year and thought I’d look back at some of the favorite places I’ve been this past year. I left home in January, 2010.

I met long time friend Sandee Voges at Biosphere in Tuscon, Arizona in January. A very unusual and fascinating place to visit.
Chiracahua National Monument was one of my favorite places in Arizona as well.

Jim Jones In Luckenbach, Texas sang a song about his lost love by the name of Mary. He dedicated it to me when he found out my name. An unusual, off the beaten path kind of place. Homey and wonderful, also unforgettable.

One of the worlds most fun places, Fred’s Bar in Mamou, Louisiana. Jim and I shared a dish of gumbo made by a couple of volunteers out behind the bar.

Mardi Gras was an unforgettable, exciting experience. I still have the beads collected there as part of the curtains on the motor home.

The cold, cold boat ride to Pilot Town. That place, destroyed by Katrina, still haunts me, especially now with the spill in the gulf.
I began to sift through pictures and so many memories of the good times came flooding in and I realized I couldn’t continue because there were so many wonderful places and experiences, I just can’t put them in one blog. I never expected to be a gypsy in my golden years, but I highly recommend it.

RV Trip Fvaorite Photo #10

Jim says:

While Mary and I are taking care of business here at her home…there is little “new stuff” to Blog about daily. So I’ve decided to share with you some of my favorite photos from our recent 298 day, 16,000+ mile RV trip around the United States.

Since scenery and people snapshot-type photos require little special photography skills…and being limited by the abilities of my digital camera…I none the less took some photos that I really liked. They are presented in no special order of favoritism.

Today’s photo was taken February 5, 2010 in Fred’s Lounge at Mamou, Louisiana. Here the owner Tante (Aunt in French) Sue, the owner, plays the accordion on her T-shirt while the band plays the finest Cajun Music in the world!

In other news…

94 degrees yesterday, with 23% humidity. Finished reading my submarine history book and more computer time. Forecast says two more hot days then we drop down into the 70’s.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2010
My three books may be purchased at http://www.lulu.com
Just enter Jim Jaillet in the search box.