Mardi Gras - Alexandria Krewe Parade

Our catches from the Alexandria Krewe Parade!

Mardi Gras weekend looked to be very wet but the weather forecast continued to change. Lucrecia and I kept up to date and as the weather forecast would change so would our plans.

As I wrote in my previous blog we had gone, with the kids, to the Krewe of Bonaparte Parade in Lafayette on Saturday night. This was a fun parade. Unfortunately, with the weather looking so bad for Sunday we figured it would be our last parade of the year since I had to work on Fat Tuesday.

When I woke up Sunday morning and checked the weather I found it was not going to rain until around noon. I also found out that the Alexandria Mardi Gras Association had moved their parade to 10 AM.

I woke everyone up and said let’s take a chance and go to the parade in Alexandria, LA. We quickly got ready, grabbed some towels in case it rained, and headed to the parade.

We arrived about 9 AM and started our wait. There was hardly anyone at the parade route. I talked to a few people and they all said the parade should arrive in our area around 11 AM. This gave me a little pause for thought because the rain was supposed to start again around noon. We decided to wait it out.

During our wait we occasionally got a 30 second type rain shower but nothing soaking. We were able to park our car near us and at one point just sat in the car while it sprinkled rain.

At around 11 AM the parade had not yet arrived and we could hear distant thunder. I looked at the radar on a cell phone and there was a heavy batch of red cells on the radar heading our way.

At about 11:15 AM we could hear the Grambling Marching Band. Soon the parade was upon us. The floats began passing and the beads began flying. The beads were not as big as the Lafayette Parade beads but they were plentiful. In this parade several floats threw cups, small Mardi Gras colored footballs and small Frisbees. I had not seen these items thrown in Lafayette.

I would like to send a special shout out to the Paragon Casino Resort Krewe for throwing some of the best throws. This Krewe had some really nice beads, fuzzy dice and stuffed Mardi Gras Alligators. The kids really liked the stuffed alligators.

As the Krewe of Paragon passed the rain started coming down in a small shower. We had just 4 more floats to go so we stayed. As the last float passed we turned to go but Finnegan, my youngest, wanted to see the fire truck.

As the fire truck passed the rain really started coming down hard. We ran for our car, jumped in, dried off with the towels, started the heater, and headed home.

The Alexandria Mardi Gras Parade was a success for us and those that attended. I think the turnout was so low due to the weather and the fact that the parade time had to be changed to avoid the severe weather.

I have been to this parade in the past so if you want to avoid the really large crowds down south you can always head to Central Louisiana and catch the Alexandria, LA Parade.

Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras Parade

Mardi Gras float - Photo by Vinson Mouser

Phantom of the Opera theme float - Photo by Vinson Mouser

The weekend before Mardi Gras has come and gone and I had a blast with the family.

After a lot of discussion and changed plans we finally decided to go to the Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras Parade in Lafayette. The parade was on Saturday at 6:30 PM.

We arrived in Lafayette around 1:30 PM and decided to stop off for some boudin and BBQ. After the boudin and BBQ we walked a few blocks to the St. John Cathedral and took a peak inside. We then headed to the parade route to scout it out.

Around 4:00 PM we went to the federal courthouse located on Lafayette Street. There were people already there so we decided to stay. This was a nice location, well lit, and it had a lot of room for the kids to play.

We determined that we probably could have arrived around 5:30 PM and still had a front row view of the parade as this was when the bigger crowds began arriving.

The parade arrived in our area around 7:30 PM. There were about 5 bands and a bunch of floats. We really enjoyed listening to the bands as they passed by our area. Each of the bands did maneuvers that could only be described as marching and dancing combined. We must have chosen a good location because four of the five bands stopped and played right by us.

The floats were lit up for the night parade and the themes on the float varied from clowns to pirates. There were a lot of good quality beads thrown, the revelers were generous and we came home with plenty.

I would recommend this parade to anyone interested in a fun Mardi Gras parade.

I will blog later on  our stop to eat and St. John’s Cathedral.

For a view of the parade be sure to watch the video clip below.

Clydesdale Horses

Family posing with a Clydesdale!

Budweiser Truck - Photo by Vinson Mouser

The Budweiser Clydesdale Horses are in Alexandria, LA for the Mardi Gras Parade on Sunday and leading up to the parade they are on display at the Rapides Coliseum. There is no charge to see them.

When we arrived at the coliseum I was happy to learn the Clydesdale Horses were inside. When we entered the coliseum I noticed they had several Budweiser displays. 

One area display was a TV which was featuring all of the Clydesdale Budweiser commercials. Two other displays were of the old Budweiser Horse Wagon and an Old Budweiser truck, both in mint condition. Of course the Clydesdale Horses were on display as well as the Budweiser Dalmatian.



The horses were all in stalls with a rope barricade separating you from the stalls. Each of the horses names were displayed above their stall. The Dalmatian was also in his stall.

We were fortunate because we were allowed to watch two different groomers. One of the groomers we watched was vacuuming one of the Clydesdale Horses. Another groomer was washing and brushing the legs of a Clydesdale Horse.

 Two of the horses were walked past us and it was interesting to hear their hooves clump and echo throughout the coliseum. Seeing them walk by I realized these horses are truly big animals. Somehow though, they did not seem as big as in my childhood memory.

 As I mentioned earlier I remember the first time I saw these remarkable animals and I’m sure my children will remember this visit as well.

Natchez, MS Visitor Center

Natchez, MS Visitor Center - Photo by Vinson Mouser

The other day I was in Alexandria, LA when I got a wild thought. I decided to drive, with the family, to Natchez, MS. I realized I had never been to Natchez but had heard a lot about it. Off we went on what was a little longer drive than I expected.

I have to say I saw some sights along the way that really shocked me. Even at my age I still find it hard to believe that so many of our fellow men live in such poor conditions here in the United States. Some of the homes in the small towns along the way were in such poor condition that people should not live in them, but live in them they did.

When we crossed the bridge from Louisiana into Natchez, MS. We immediately stopped at the Natchez, MS Visitor Center. The visitor center has a large parking area and the building itself is quite large.

Interactive display - Photo by Vinson Mouser

We entered the building and I was surprised. Instead of the usual front desk I have come to expect, I was in a display room with displays of Natchez. We browsed the displays and moved into an adjoining area where we found more displays on Natchez and the Mississippi River. Of course we found the desk. The greeters at the front desk were very friendly and helpful.

We continued to browse the displays and wander through the Welcome Center. I was surprised to find a gift shop stocked with all sorts of items. 

Captains Steering Wheel - Photo by Vinson Mouser

The kids really enjoyed the interactive displays. I especially liked the Riverboat Captains Steering Wheel. It made for a fun display.

There was a second level in the welcome center that offered an overlook of the Mississippi River.

If you plan to visit Natchez, MS be sure to stop at the Visitors Center. It is a good place to learn some history about Natchez and the information they provide is very helpful.

The Natchez, MS Visitor Center is located at 640 South Canal Street, Natchez, MS 39120. You can visit their website at http://www.visitnatchez.org/visitor/visitor-center/.

National Jamboree - 2013

Contingent Jamboree Meeting - Photo by Vinson Mouser

My son and I went up to Camp Attakapas near Jena, LA yesterday for the first meeting of our contingent for the Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree.

Camp was looking good and I really wished I had been at camp on an overnighter instead of the business meeting I was attending. The temperature was in the upper 60’s, there was hardly a cloud in the sky, and the air felt and smelled like spring is just around the corner.


Contingent Scoutmaster Johnny Kiesewetter kicked off the meeting and discussed shirts, trip itineraries, luggage, and more. There were about 22 boys in attendance with parents.

Our contingent will be riding a bus from Alexandria, LA to Monroe, LA to Atlanta, GA where we will stay the first night. The second day we will be going to Six Flags Atlanta and then we will catch a Atlanta Braves baseball game. 

Ordering trading patches - Photo by Vinson Mouser

We will spend a second night in Atlanta and then head for the National Jamboree in West Virginia at the Summit Bechel Scout Reserve. The Boy Scouts of America are expecting over 40,000 to participate in this years Jamboree.

Activities at the Jamboree will include zip lines, rock climbing, scuba diving, archery, skeet shooting, sail boating, skateboarding, canoeing, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, and so much more.

Jamboree looks to be so much fun it makes me wish I was a young scout again. I know all of these boys, my son included, are going to get so much out of the 2013 National Jamboree.

Shortly after the Jamboree meeting my son and I took a short walk around part of the camp and then headed home. It was such a perfect weekend for camping. I sure wish I could have stayed.

Kees Park - Pineville, LA

Climbing Wall - Photo by: Vinson Mouser

We went to Kees Park in Pineville, LA and met some friends for a day in the park. I have to tell you Pineville knew what it was doing when it built this park. If you need a place to go for the day with the children add this park to your list.

So often we go to parks that are out in the glaring sun. I always wonder what were people thinking when they put this park here. This is not the case with Kees Park. This park has tons of tall shady pine trees and plenty of things to do.

For the little kids the park has a pretend school bus, small dinosaurs, and the small play sets with slides. For the older kids they have the bigger play sets with tube slides, swings, and a balance bar. There is also a climbing wall that is about 5 foot high. All of the play areas are either on rubber mats or surrounded by sand.

Swings - Photo by: Vinson Mouser

There are plenty of picnic tables and a few barbeque pits out in the grassy areas. There are also benches around the play equipment. On the day we went we used the picnic tables to have a birthday party.

The restroom facilities were clean, well lit, and well stocked. The park is surrounded by a fence with two entrance/exits.

Play Set - Photo by: Vinson Mouser

This park is very popular and can get busy at times so be prepared to keep an eye on your children. 

Kees Park is located at 2450 Highway 28 E Pineville, LA 71360. Stay safe and have fun!