All Along the River Road

My grandparents grew up along River Road or Hwy. 75 in Sunshine, La. They met, married, and raised their family there. The city was originally named "Forlorn Hope", but renamed in 1944. Across the street from all the homes on Hwy. 75 is a long and winding levee. It stays green most of the year, sprouting clover and other wildflowers in the warmer months. These are some photos I took on my drive the other day:

Snowy egrets looking for lunch behind the levee

Top of the levee

Too early for alligators, but this sure fooled me for a second!

Wildflowers growing on the levee

Nature's "crystal bowl" growing atop a fallen log

Because Baton Rouge has become so overcrowded due to hurricane Katrina, buyers are scooping up property in Sunshine and building some very nice homes. Still, my heart belongs to the decaying structures that were once beautiful decades ago. 

Oh, how I wanted to drive up and investigate the interior of this abandoned structure. Alas, I'm a rule follower and respected the sign.

Mama took me here when I was a young girl and said I could choose any cold drink I wanted.
Growing up I was not allowed to have soft drinks very often. My mother believed water was the healthiest choice. Spying a group of Dr. Pepper bottles sitting on a barrel of ice, I made my selection and enjoyed every sip. Even so, to this day I still drink mostly water.

This was the church that my mother grew up in just a couple miles from Sunshine in St. Gabriel. To the back of the property is the new, modern, brick church. Since the 1700s this church has survived many hurricanes, but in 2008 Hurricane Gustav destroyed the steeple. Looks like it has since been repaired.

Hope you enjoyed your tour along the River Road!