The Bunkie Boucherie Sept. 29 - Oct. 2, 2016

DIRECTIONS: From U.S Highway 71/SW Main Street in Bunkie, Louisiana,

Turn East on Louisiana Highways 29/115–East Church Street,

Cross the railroad & bear right on LA 29/115–Evergreen Road,

Travel ¾ mile to All Star Inn on Left at Lyle Avenue;

Turn Left on Lyle Ave under the Rocky’s arch –¼ mile to Sterling Bains Road,

Turn Right on Sterling Bains Road – ½ mile to Slaughterhouse Road,

Turn Right on Slaughterhouse Road – 500 feet to Ripleys Lane on Right.

Alternative Directions:

 North on Slaughterhouse Road at Scott's Ace Hardware - 1/2 mile to Ripleys Lane on Left.

Yams (sweet potatoes), among the most nutritional of all vegetables, are staple crop of the area and are the highlight of our Friday evening meal.

Yamster the Hamster* extends his personal welcome to The Bunkie Boucherie:

* Yamster is the mascot of the Louisiana sweet potato growers association.

We visited Larry & Barbara, the hosts of The Bunkie Boucherie 2016, this weekend to help install a set of modified triple trees on Barbara's Burgman scooter rig and spend some time at the rally site. Rally central will be their outdoor kitchen and patio with fireplace:

The tent camping area is to the left of the kitchen and under the trees just beyond - the games can be played in the foreground. As for directions, Barbara's white Burgman rig is sitting at the terminus of Ripleys Lane:

The Bayou Huffpower is on the North side of the Boucherie grounds. How about a race across the bayou? Might want to bring a lifejacket

Should you need to make some repairs, rest easy, Scott's Ace Hardware is just 1/2 mile away - and also has Exxon gas, camouflage gear, Stihl chain saws, Purina Chow, boudin & cracklins

And a wider variety of vittles can be found downtown at T-Raks Specialty Meats, including buffalo chicken sausage

conveniently located next to the Donut Shop

Bunkie also has a NAPA, an AutoZone and a Piggly Wiggly:

I made my reservations at the All Star Inn this morning. Looking forward to meeting everyone on the 30th.

Should you arrive early and/or have an extra 1/2 day, I suggest visiting the Louisiana State Arboretum in Chicot State Park 22 miles Southwest via Louisiana Highways 29, 106 & 3042:

Info: http://www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-parks/parks/louisiana-state-arboretum-state-preservation-area/index and https://louisianaarboretum.wordpress.com/about/

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/36UDHQEwa7s

Please ask the park rangers if the North exit is open for a nice short-cut on the return route. If so, be sure to take the 1-1/2 mile side trip to the boat ramp on the North end of Lake Chicot just before the North exit.

ALSO: If you arrive on Thursday, please check with our hosts, Larry & Barbara, as to whether the Katfish Kitchen in Eola is open for supper. (Unfortunately, the family is considering closing the restaurant after 40+ years.) Eola is 7 miles Southwest: https://goo.gl/maps/AnLCLDzP9SA2

Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun: ...Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.... Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?** A quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial....:

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.... He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.... ...your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see....

Yes, Texas, there is a Bend Bend, Louisiana:

**From: http://www.newseum.org/exhibits/online/yes-virginia/

The road to Big Bend ... Louisiana style:

Unfortunately I won't be able to make the event due to a health issue. I was looking forward to it. Have a wonderful time.

 Sorry y'all will not make it down, Ron.  We pray for your good health.

 As of now, the preliminary head count for the Boucherie stands at 42 ±20%.   Average October 1st temps for Bunkie are Low 63° & High 84° so we anticipate mild mornings/evenings and warm afternoons.

But beware:  Averages are seldom reality. 

Got my reservation in at the local motel, looking forward to seeing the gang.

Better shoe on a fresh knobby if I want to follow you guys on the levees.

CCjon

 The preliminary forecast for the Boucherie is about "average" with the greater rain chances ending Tuesday Sept. 27th allowing an extra day for the rally grounds and the levee roads to to dry out.

 It is sugar cane harvest season, as well as cotton picking time, in Central Louisiana, so please look-out for agricultural machinery and debris on the roads:

My daughter Elena and myself will be there and looking forward to our first sidecar event. We will leave as soon as Elena gets out of class Fri. and make the Friday dinner.
Glenn McGovern
gcmcg@mac.com

Hi Glenn, we'll be looking for y'all. Be careful traveling thru the metro areas of Louisiana.

If anyone needs information or assistance on the road, please call/text either:
me (Lee) at 31eight-39three-745four (I will try to have my headset linked to my phone while traveling);
Barbara at 31eight-48one-008five (but note Barbara may be out-of-pocket Friday 'til after 3pm).

Also, if you bring some door prizes, we'll draw for 'em.

Late Development: Barbara has a some Boucherie T-Shirts for sale - $12 - first come first serve.