Lake Caddo State Park

In the North East corner of Texas is the oasis of Lake Caddo.  This is the only natural lake in Texas.  We made camp in the well appointed park and wandered down to the jetty.  This lake was formed about 200 years ago by a log jam a few miles further down the river at Shreveport.  Cypress trees grow in the shallow water, some between 500 years old up to 2000 years old.  They stand hauntingly in the water, draped in spanish moss and surrounded by Lotus lillies.  Turtles nibble on the large leaves.  As it gets dark, we walk back to the RV through tall pine trees, fireflys dancing in the undergrowth.

Next morning we take a boat tour of the bayou from the little town of Uncertain.  Uncertain got it's name because it was the last port on the river for the freight boats many years ago.  Not everyone on the river could read or write at the time and they often could not read the address on the freight.  It would end up at the last port and be off loaded with a note "uncertain address".  People would have to travel there to retrieve their freight.  Eventually they would say they were going to "Uncertain".

Only another family of 6 and our 4 were passengers on the little paddle boat called "Swamp Thing" and we enjoyed a lovely hour and half cruising through the narrow passages of the bayou.  There are homes with their own jetty, some quite elaborate with seating.  Pres.Lindon Johnson built a waterfront home here for "Lady Bird" Johnson.

This building (above) was a "Tea Room" during prohibition times.  It actually contained a "still" and people would row across from the "dry" side of Texas to the "wet" state of Louisiana for a drink.  The present owners keep it in a reasonably restored state.

On our return we had lunch at the little Uncertain restaurant and gift shop.  Lovely lady with a really broad accent running it.  Menu choices included Gator tails, Frogs legs, Roadkill burger (which Ross had),  Crawfish etouffe (Jill), Crawfish pie and Jambalaya (John & I), all served with a large helping of local hospitality.