Deep South Trip Day 3: Saying Goodbye to Lafayette and Heading East

My aunt and uncle were going to give me a nice send off before I headed east. They planned a huge breakfast and invited everyone over. They started cooking everything. The first thing cooked was my uncle's homemade venison bacon.

Bacon strips frying in a black skillet on a gas stovetop, with another pan of raw bacon visible in the background Cooked bacon strips draining on white paper towels on a granite countertop

For an appetizer, we had salmon with cream cheese on a bagel.

Appetizer plate with cream cheese block, lox (smoked salmon), and sliced bagels arranged on a decorative paper plate with a knife

There were also mimosas available. Unlike the day before, I did not have a designated driver. I passed on having one.

Mimosa preparation with Cook's Brut sparkling wine bottle, orange juice pitcher, and champagne flute on granite counter

Soon, the biscuits went in the oven.

Freshly baked biscuits arranged in rows on an aluminum foil tray

While they were baking, my cousin Shannon's husband Neil whipped up some grits.

Scrambled eggs cooking in a stainless steel saucepan on a gas burner with a mixing spoon

Then came the eggs.

Scrambled eggs being cooked in a black skillet with melted cheese, showing a Calphalon spatula

I loaded my plate with a little bit of everything.

Plated brunch with bacon, biscuit, and scrambled eggs with cheese on a floral patterned paper plate

Everything was really good! I was happy to try some legit grits. Being that I grew up in Wisconsin, grits aren't a thing. The only time I tried them was out of a box. In my opinion, they were horrible out of the box. This is why I never had them again until now. I'm happy I did try them again because now I know what they're supposed to taste like.

We sat outside, and it was pretty nice. There were a few clouds in the sky but nothing too threatening.

Partly cloudy sky with white and gray clouds and bare tree branches visible at the edge of frame

A little while later, I got the tour of Sam's Kamp K-9. I followed the doggie paw prints over to the building.

Three black paw prints stenciled on concrete walkway surrounded by grass and fallen leaves Sam's Kamp K9 dog daycare and boarding sign mounted on wooden fence showing logo with leaping dog, phone number, and tagline "When only the best will do!" Sam's Kamp K9 facility exterior - metal building with painted paw prints and dog silhouettes on walls, central entrance door

After my tour of Sam's Kamp K-9, it was time to get ready to hit the road. I had a great weekend in Lafayette, but it was time to go further east. I said goodbye to everyone and then packed up the car. I then drove off. I stopped quick to top off with gas before hitting the road.

View from gas station showing cloudy sky over commercial strip with buildings and palm tree, parking lot in foreground Gas pump display showing ethanol warning label, payment keypad, and three fuel grade options (93 Supreme, Plus, Regular)

I got some Alert gum in case I needed it. When I did try a piece, I'm not sure what kept me up more. I was debating if it was the bitter taste or the actual caffeine.

Alert Caffeine Gum container (fruit flavor, sugar-free, 8 pieces) held in car against denim fabric background

I planned to also take the back roads through Louisiana. I set my GPS to avoid highways and away I went!

Rural Louisiana road view with power lines, utility poles, and grain elevator silos visible against dramatic cloudy sky Open farmland along Louisiana highway with tree line in distance under partly cloudy sky, viewed from moving vehicle View driving across high-rise bridge span with metal truss structure under blue sky with scattered clouds Elevated roadway section of bridge with modern trapezoidal support structure under partly cloudy sky View from bridge showing older railroad truss bridge crossing river in distance, with guardrail and concrete barrier in foreground Interior view driving through truss bridge with repeating white steel frame pattern creating tunnel-like perspective under blue sky Highway view with median barrier, bare trees lining both sides, and scattered clouds in blue sky Tree-lined highway with large oak trees forming natural canopy, vehicles ahead in distance under partly cloudy sky Road running alongside white truss railroad bridge with pastoral scenery and large tree in background under cloudy sky Driving across bridge with white painted truss structure and city water tower visible on horizon under cloudy sky Bridge roadway with metal guardrails and industrial buildings including water tower visible in distance under cloudy sky Two-lane rural road through pine forest bathed in warm golden late afternoon sunlight Tall pine trees flanking rural highway with red vehicle ahead in distance during late afternoon light Rural road through mixed forest with bare and evergreen trees in diminishing twilight Straight rural highway through dense pine forest at dusk with soft pastel clouds overhead

I made my first gas stop and also got something to eat.

QuikChek convenience store exterior at dusk with illuminated yellow sign and parking lot with several vehicles Hunt Brothers Pizza box and Pringles can in plastic shopping bag on vehicle seat Ocean Spray Cran-Grape juice bottle, Pringles can, and Hunt Brothers Pizza box visible in shopping bag in dark vehicle interior

It started to get dark fast.

Dark rural highway at night showing headlight beams, reflective road markers, and taillights of vehicle ahead

Before I knew it, I was in Mississippi!

Night highway driving view with headlight beams illuminating road and reflective markers, headlights approaching from opposite direction

I made it to Waveland, MS and decided I'd sleep in a Walmart parking lot. I parked by the RVs. The weather looked like it was going to be good for sleeping.

Walmart store exterior at night with illuminated blue sign and parking lot with white sedan in foreground Walmart parking lot at night showing RVs and vehicles parked under parking lot lights Weather app screenshot showing 66°F mostly cloudy conditions in Waveland, Mississippi at 8:46 PM with map showing location near New Orleans

I then went inside and got some fake crab for a late night snack.

Very dark/underexposed image showing partial view of Classic Lay's potato chip bag

After eating, I cracked the windows and rolled up in my sleeping bag. I wanted to get a good night's sleep because I had a lot more driving to do the next day.

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