April 8 - 9, 2011 We “join” the Cajun Caravan...

John and Shirley from NorCal are on the Cajun Caravan, and we are now in their territory, camped at the Lakeview RV Park in Eunice, Louisiana. Shirley and Marcia coordinate a get-together so late in the evening a gray Dodge pulls into our campsite and John and Shirley emerge, along with Roy and Linda, also from NorCal. It is hot so we sit outside, our guests on their tailgate, sipping wine and swatting mosquitoes, talking about their and our caravan experiences.

Inside the Savoy Music Center, Saturday morning - Eunice, LA.

On their suggestion and with the very generous cooperation of their caravan leaders, Richard and Marilyn Solera, we join them the next day at the Savoy Music Center in Eunice, a nondescript music store where at least eight musicians are playing and singing Cajun music. Richard motions us to the back of the store, where Marc Savoy is talking to the group about Cajun music and the Cajun accordion. He plays them, makes them, and sells them; the cheapest for about $2000. There are probably 60 accordion makers in Louisiana. Marc and his four adult children all play in Cajun bands, including his daughter living in Paris. We leave with two CDs, one a joint album put out by Marc’s wife and Linda Ronstadt.

After visiting the Savoy Music Center we join the Cajun Caravan for a Cajun meal at Nick’s in Eunice, opening especially for the group. The meal of pulled pork, dirty rice, and deep fried sweet potato is excellent. Everyone seems very pleased with the caravan, which is of two weeks duration, complaining only that there is “too much food”.

After lunch we dash to the neighboring community of Mamou, on the recommendation of the crowd, hoping to find a hole-in-the-wall bar that is open only twice weekly featuring Cajun music. Unfortunately they have just locked up on our arrival but we hear we missed quite an experience.

Again taking advantage of our caravan connections, we buy tickets to the evening’s performance at the Eunice Liberty Center, but don’t get what we expected; this turns out to be a “Classic Country Music Show” although the performers are Cajuns. I can’t judge country but we had a good time.

John digs in to his Cajun pancake breakfast.

Roy can't pass up a BBQ place, even at 9 am.

The next morning we join John and Shirley, along with Roy and Linda, for breakfast at Ronnie’s, the only place (besides McDonalds) open for breakfast on a Sunday. Afterwards we return with them to their caravan camp in the fairgrounds, finding two or three couples we know from other caravans. But the Cajun is moving out today, and so must we.