Goodby Texas

This is the sunrise that we woke up to this morning. We had originally intended to go to church in Lufkin, but it would have meant doubling back 25 miles or so. Since we were all ready to leave quite early, we decided to drive east to a church in DeRidder, Louisiana, just across the border from Texas. It meant a longer drive, but it saved us driving out of our way by an extra 50 miles or so. So, we bid Texas farewell, and in the process the speed limit dropped immediately from 70 to 55 mph - hurrah! Doreen was glad to see the last of Texas - not one of her favorite states, it looks like.

 

The church we attended was the DeRidder Presbyterian Church, which is a PCA church. And what was the sermon on? Hebrews, of course. This was the second church in a row who's pastor (Dr. James A. Jones, Jr.) was well into a long series on Hebrews. We're getting our own series on Hebrews - only going backwards.

The people here were few in number, but they were really friendly (a far cry from the other churches we've attended on this trip!)

 

After church we drove just a short distance to Fullerton Lake Campground (N31 00 40.8, W92 59 16.1), which is another Forrestry Service campground. It is on the site of a former sawmill and turpentine plant that was in operation from 1907 to 1927, and was the largest such operation west of the Mississippi. The town, which was company owned had a population of several thousand. I gather they basically cut all the trees down and then packed up and left. The depression might have had something to do with it also.

 

This is Fullerton Lake, which I think is just formed by a small dam on a creek, and it was used to dump logs into while they were waiting to be sawed up. The campground area is across the other side of this small lake.

 

Doreen and Tanner are walking a trail through the bush that goes through the area where the mill and town were located. All you see now are a few bits of concrete foundations. I usually just get the back side of Doreen because she doesn't like getting her picture taken!

 

We found this little fellow (well, he was about 8 or 10 inches across) on the trail.