Borne on the Bayou

Finally, NOT got a chance to cross another state off his list when he was off to visit Arkansas and northern Louisiana with Russ and J.J..

Except for a few passes through on the way somewhere else, NOT had not had a chance to spread his wings in the Natural State. It proved to be an enlightening trip.

Arkansas was the site of two of the inland "relocation camps" for citizens of Japanese Ancestry during World War II.  Little remains of these camps, except for some markers, and the remnants of the camps, like this smokestack. This camp was located outside Jerome, Arkansas.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello was a nice campus. Their mascot is the Boll Weevil.  Unfortunately, there were not stuffed mascots to be had that day. You could say that day we saw no weevil.

Back in Louisiana, it was off to Natchitoches, (NACK-a-dish), a town with two claims to fame. It is the oldest permanent settlement  established in the Louisiana territory in 1714. And it was where much of the film Steel Magnolias was filmed.

A town full of history as you walk along the levee and historic main street.

NOT wonders why the Indians couldn't have been a tribe easier to spell. He took to calling the town Nacho since he could never remember the proper name.

Natchitoches is also the home of Northwestern State College (not to be confused with Northwestern University)

However, it was a bit disconcerting for NOT to find out their mascot is the Demons.  Here not COULD see some evil.

After all that excitement, it was time to explore Monroe, Louisiana a bit.

Photos by J.J. Kwashnak

Last Updated November 2004