East Texas is a complete turnaround of where we last visited. The area is abundant in lush green foliage and beautiful lakes. The humidity runs high here so we will need to roll up the windows and turn on the Chevy's A/C.
Alligators
Alligators in Texas? Yep...a lot of the East and Southeast regions have them. In fact they have been spotted in my area on the Guadalupe River. Not a pleasant swimming companion.
Lake Livingston
A beautiful sunset on Lake Livingston
The Coyote
Caddo Lake
Moss-hung cypress trees give Caddo Lake in east Texas an eerie beauty. Caddo Lake is the only natural water reservoir in the state.
Wildflowers abound in the lush Big Thicket area.
Javelinas
The Big Thicket
The Big Thicket National Preserve was established by Congress in 1974. This combination of virgin pine and cypress forest, hardwood forest, meadow and blackwater swamp is managed by the National Park Service. The Preserve was established to protect the remnant of its complex biological diversity. What is so extraordinary is not the rarity or abundance of its life forms, but how many species coexist here.
A great way to spend a day.
The Alabama-Coushatta Indians
In the midst of the Big Thicket forest near Lake Livingston Texas lies Texas' oldest Indian Reservation, home of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. This 4,600 acres of verdant timberland in the heart of the Big Thicket was established by General Sam Houston in 1854 as a reward to the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe for their display of courage in remaining neutral during the Texas War for Independence from Mexico.
Looking for bargains? Let's run over to Canton.
Canton First Monday Trade Days
IT ALL BEGAN ... in the 1850's, when the circuit judge stopped in Canton on the FIRST MONDAY of each month. This was the day the Judge held court. People from the area came to town on that day to conduct their business, stock their pantries and sit in on court proceedings ... and watch a few "hangings". History relates one incident where a man was hung for stealing his partner's wagon of goods for trading. He is buried facing south (not east) in Hillcrest Cemetery by the First Monday Park.
Quite naturally, many also brought their own goods, produce and livestock with them to sell or trade. This took place just off the west side of the court house square. Most history versions include the trading of wild horses, which were rounded up in the region and brought to Canton to sell.
FOR THE real flavor of shopping, be sure to start at the one and only original
FIRST MONDAY TRADE DAYS grounds.
IT HAS IT ALL!!! I haven't been but I have heard this is one GREAT place.
By the way...there is no way to "see it all" in one day.
The East Texas Oil Museum In Kilgore
The discovery of oil brought thousands of people to Kilgore. Oil wells were drilled on just about every street corner and numbered closed to 1,200 at the height of the boom.
On a half city block at the corner of Commerce and Main Streets in downtown stands thirteen derricks that have become known as the World's Richest Acre. This 1.2 acres of land produced 24 oil wells and 2.5 million barrels of oil during some thirty years of production. All but one of the original derricks was dismantled in the early 1960s. The corner that produced the greatest concentration of oil wells in the East Texas Field is now a park because of an extensive restoration project by the Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation.
I don't know about you guys but I am sorta tired. Let's rest up.
Well folks let's take a look at pro sports in Texas and call it a day.
