Louisiana Trip - Day Six - Back in Texas and Heading Home

With the decision being made to arrive back home today, we adjust our route according to a few things spotted on Atlas Obscura.  Off to Zavalla, TX we go, only to discover that I didn't do my research well enough and with the rain, it was a bad plan.  At any rate, I locate a quilt shop to check out and Mister agrees.  Locating it is a story all by itself and you can check it out in this Spotlight Post all about Ross Fabric and Crafts.  It's worth a lookie, especially if you sew.

From there the road takes us to Lufkin, TX and we have not stopped at a single antique shop on this trip, so now seems like a great time.  Again, it deserves a post of its own, so click this link
Antique Fun to see all that we did.  As we are driving through downtown, Mister spots a building with a "quilt" pattern on it.  How fun.

Lufkin looks fun and perhaps needs a visit all of its own.  The downtown appears to be alive and well, that's what I love.

It's after noon, I'm hungry and there is a brewery here.  Win, win.

This place is huge.  Kind of empty, which concerns me a bit but as we sit and visit with Trey, the owner of Angelina Brewing Company.  I'm not a huge fan of the beer, which could be why the place has a small lunch crowd, but when there aren't many choices in town, well . . . .

The cracklin's are wonderful though.  I'm in heaven.

Another  quilt shop stop and a separate post that you can get HERE and then we are off again.  Nacodoches is our next stop and I'm instantly in love with the town.   It is considered to be the oldest town in Texas and was founded in 1779.  The history and stories from years past begin with the Caddo Indians, who lived in the area before the Spanish.  Over the course of it's history, Nacodoches had nine different flags rather than the six for the rest of Texas.  The city is nestled right at the intersection of the historic El Camino Real de los Tejas and the La Calle del Norte and still attracts people from all over the world, just like it did in the 1800s when Nacodoches was considered the gateway to Texas.

We stop by the Oak Grove Cemetery where the oldest dated grave is from 1837.

Mister wanted to see the old train station.  He so loves those.

As we come to Rusk, TX - I remember reading about a bridge there that was interesting.  The Rusk Footbridge was first built in 1861 and the 546 foot long bridge was rebuilt in 1889.  The bridge had been restore in the late 1960s on plans left by the engineer of 1889.  It is believed to be the longest footbridge in the nation and is located just off the Courthouse square.  During the town's early years, before streets connected a residential area with the downtown business district, the bridge served as a means to cross a small valley when the creek flooded.  It's in a great setting and I want to stay and play for a long time.

Driving back into Jacksonville, where we were on Day 1, Mister swings back by the basket plant hoping that they are still working (it's after 4) but the factory itself is no longer active.  We are able to watch some baskets come out of the dryer though, so that's pretty cool.  Pretty fancy machine with it's cardboard shields, right?

We end the trip almost as it began, with Sherri.  I didn't take a single picture, of which I am most sad, but we met up with her and Kevin at the Athens Brewery for dinner and some lovely visiting.  It was the perfect end to an absolutely amazing trip with my sweetheart.  Off to home and an inventory of all of our wonderful souvenirs.  I REALLY loved every minute of our journey and we truly loved Louisiana as well.

Where to next?  Mister still has a few days of vacation and I'm sure we'll somehow manage to fill them up.  Stay tuned.