Nov 26 – Now here’s a place I bet you haven’t been! In the town of Patterson on the road to New Iberia sits the Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum.
There’s an F4 Phantom sitting outsideInside are racing aircraft from the 1930s and 1940sWe watched a fun video about the barnstorming aviation era, featuring Mary Hazelip, who held the women’s speed record for 7 years starting in 1932Wedell and Williams both manufactured and piloted their aircrafts. They both died young in plane crashes.In the same building we learned about the logging off of the cypress forests of this area from the late 1800s up until the Great Depression Cypress trees grow right in the water, and are excellent rot-resistant soft woods for making boats, paneling and flooring Pretty sleekThis tree was almost 4,000 years oldPeople also harvested Spanish moss in great quantities to use as furniture and mattress stuffing, and also wall insulation. Who knew?We stopped for lunch in Jeanerette, but arrived too late for the Cajun special. The fried shrimp were tasty, but we’ve really had enough fried food.We walked around the grounds of Albania Mansion, built in 1842It’s right on the water, and is used for weddings and partiesThe back of the house looks just like the front! I wonder where we’ll go next?Nov 27 – Today dawned clear but cold. We are going to see what there is to see around Lake Fausse Point. Lots of palmettoLots of cypress kneesLow bridge, Jim – don’t bump your head!A pretty day
Taking Our Time 