Brick Swap Weekend

            The weather is getting warmer again. I’m reminded of the “Indian Summer” days back in Lockport, NY. I have the doors open as it is warmer outside than in my house. A load of laundry is hanging on the line. My washing machine had been acting up. The transmission was not kicking in right away to start the agitator. I’ve been playing around with the damn thing for the past few months trying to get it right. Finally it seems the grease is working and the transmission is now slipping into gear right away. I’m hoping to get another 30 years from this old washer!

I had the truck into the shop to have the cooling system reflushed as was recommended last August. Things seem to be OK. I’m very close to turning over 200,000 miles. Checking on new truck models and can’t find anything close to my trusty 2002 Dakota. I’ve decided to drive this truck to California for brick swap coming up next August. If it dies en route, it will be just another adventure!

Friday morning I left the house early to drive to the Brick Swap held in Natchitoches, LA. This swap was fairly close for me, only being some 400 miles distant.

I decided on driving out on the “southern route” which would take me through Natchez, Mississippi. This is an old city I have wanted to visit for the longest time.

I got into town around 11:00 and found a good parking place on Pearl Street by one of the old churches. The day had warmed up so I was quite comfortable walking through town in my Utilikilt. I passed an interior design shop with three ladies enjoying the sunshine on the sidewalk. All I could think of was the old TV programme Designing Women. They commented on my kilt and we had enjoyable banter. I swear I meet the most interesting people through wearing that thing!

Explored the downtown area: There were a number of antique malls and resale shops. I’m not in the market to buy anything, but it is fun to look/poke around. Ended up at the park along the Mississippi River. With this being off season I had the entire place pretty much all to myself. There was one house I fell in love with that was modeled after a “Swiss Chalet” built from a builders catalogue of the post Civil War period. That open airy stick style is a favourite of mine.

It was pretty much 2 lane the entire way to Natchitoches. It was about 2:30 p.m. when I arrived. This is a college town and it turned out to be homecoming weekend. The place was packed with people. I wanted to visit the historic downtown area before checking into the motel some 10 miles distant. The main drag is a beautiful brick street with old restored buildings on one side and a gree

n-space/park area to a waterway on the other.

It took a bit to find a parking spot. It was good to get out and walk a bit. The sidewalks were crowded with sightseers. This kind of crowd drives me so buggy as these people just wander from one tourist shop to another. I realize this kind of trade is what keeps these old central business districts going, but that does not mean I have to like it! Out of nowhere a vehicle passes on the street and I hear, “HEY JAMIE!” I had no earthly idea who this was so I just raised my hand and yelled back, “HEY!” Surely it was a friend from the brick swap. I sure felt good being acknowledged in a strange city!

Got me a coffee and caramel/chocolate brownie to tide me over till supper. It hit the spot perfectly. Traffic was a nightmare to the interstate which got me to the motel.

Got all checked in and met up with a number of Brick Collectors who were filtering in. What fun/crazy people this group is.

There was a back way I was able to take to the swap. Greg and Peggy who are hosting this swap are the eighth generation to live in this area. Gregs family descended from and lived at Oakland Plantation until it was taken over by the National Park Service in the 1990’s. What I really appreciate is the Park Service has kept this in the time frame of when the last inhabitants really lived here; the early 1960’s. It was refreshing to see a blend of the old and current existing side by side. (I’m jumping ahead as I toured this on Saturday morning!)

Greg and Peggy’s house is just up the road from here. What a place they have built. Much of the materials have been salvaged from old family buildings which were being demolished. It is so refreshing to see that old first growth lumber being reused and not “dumpstered” or landfilled.

Real Louisiana gumbo was on the menu for supper. It was the real thing! The pecan pie for desert was to kill for. I so wanted another piece, but was good and only had one!

Once the sun started to set the evening really chilled down. It was time to head back to the motel. I made a beer stop on the way. The check out girl loved my Utilikilt. She told me her dad had a tartan and a workmans kilt like mine! She said I made her night and I had to reply she had indeed made mine! I told her to tell her dad to wear his kilts all the time like I do!!