Palmetto SP (TX) to Tickfaw SP (LA)
Didn’t do quite so many miles as the previous two days. Took it relatively easy. We got a late start and didn’t get out of camp until almost 11:15am. We apparently sprung a slight leak in our black water tank and had to stop and make sure it was empty. We haven’t used it this trip since we’ve been staying in State Parks so much, but there was some cleaner and water from several test flushes when we bought the van. So we made sure it was empty and resolved to do some repair work at a later date. We also emptied the grey water tank and were going to fill up the fresh water tank, but the Palmetto SP water was sulfurous and pretty smelly and we really didn’t want that in our fresh water tank.
We hit Houston about 1:30 pm and all the mess that implies. Nasty construction everywhere! Cities like Houston are the reason I usually avoid interstates if at all possible. I was glad Jay was driving because it was pretty hairy.
Even though we weren’t making good time, we stopped at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Chuys. I learned to love Chuys when I lived in Austin, and they are a great local, TX chain. They only have restaurants in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas/Ft. Worth. It’s the home of the Chuychanga! It’s also the place where a coworker and I got quite tipsy during Happy Hour drinking frozen strawberry margaritas once-upon-a-time. Good times. Anyway, Jay wanted to know what all the fuss was about, so we stopped and ate waaaay too much for lunch. So much in fact, that we didn’t stop for dinner and kept driving to make up some time.
So we pulled into Tickfaw SP between Baton Rogue, LA and New Orleans, LA about 8:15. Miracle of miracles, LA state parks stay open (with an attendant) until 9pm, so we actually paid before camping for a change.
Tickfaw SP is a great SP. About 10 miles from I-10, so near enough to be convenient for an overnight stop, but secluded enough to be quiet. As usual, with state parks, there is lots of room between campsites and pretty good facilities. Jay loves the showers, although I still think Picacho SP in AZ was better. I’d definitely spend some more time in this park.