This is The Myrtles Plantation. I wanted to go see it; but we didn't have the time.
www.myrtlesplantation.com
www.myrtlesplantation.com/sightings.html
We went to the hotel and waited for the Barrow buses to get back. These are some Barrows after they got off the first bus. Our Barrow friend was on the second bus of course. I said a silent prayer hoping they hadn't stopped at the Cypress Inn
..wandering around looking at lake by hotel
We finally got to meet up with our Barrow friend. We chatted a bit and let him and his wife rest after the grueling tour of old houses.
The Barrows had a lecture about geneaology. It was all very interesting.
The Barrow family was extremely well organized in the whole family reunion thing. They had a full weekend of events. I was very impressed by the whole scene. I was very happy to be there for a small part of it.
Of course the Barrow family is about much more than just ol' Clyde. They have ancestors that settled frontier areas of the USA; and many folks that built many of the plantations that I love, fought in The War Between the States, and much more.. I was more than impressed by how much each one of them knew about thier own history. I was envious of how they shared all the history and knowledge with each other and how organized it all was.. This is how a family reunion should be done.
When the Barrows had a formal dinner; Jimmy G. and I had more time to kill. We went on a country road I picked out for just such an occasion. We ended up at the Mississippi river.
We found some ancient rusted cranes by the river. I thought they were pretty cool looking. Jimmy got way more excited over them than a person ought to. I think his father may have been in habit of stopping to marvel at rusted old machines or something and he was being nostalgic. I got the feeling that he would have liked to have these rigs in his yard back in Florida.
Jimmy G. scared up a rabbit. I stood well away and took pictures. No telling what else was lurking in there.
.. I soon realised that Jimmy G. would have rooted around these rusty antiques all day if he had the chance.
.. Jimmy G. is starting to realise that if there is an old road that I want to go down; we should go down it because we always end up finding some interesting old stuff...and let me pick the spots to eat at.
.. a classic Louisiana Mystery Machine Moment
The growing darkness put an end to our tour of rusty dangerous things next to the river. We watched the ferry go back and forth across the river. We had time to go eat some great mexican food before it was time to go back to the hotel where reunion was at.
After all the day's events were wrapped up we got to sit with our Barrow friend and talk about cousin Clyde and guns. Here is Jimmy G. about to open Pandora's box.
We came to meet with this fellow. We waited till he had time to talk to us. As we talked to him, a few curious Barrows stopped by.
This Barrow knew a good bit about Clyde. I think he was testing Jimmy at first to see if he really knew his stuff. Jimmy and I were hoping this guy was going to bring all the things he had collected over the years. Sadly, he did not bring his box of stuff like he had done the year before. We exchanged numbers, so maybe we can go see what he has someday.
I had a thought after a bit that maybe this guy did have his box of Clyde stuff but chose to leave it in trunk of car or something. I sure hope not. I think he was used to being the Clyde expert at the reunions each year. It is hard to compete with Jimmy Ray on that field. I thought I knew a lot before I reunited back with Jimmy- but I just wiped slate clean and started over because I realised I didn't know anything. One thing about Jimmy is that he is willing to share. I have good feelings that all the sharing we did that night will lead to even more information coming back our way. I just hoped we didn't steal his thunder in any way or anything like that...
... During all of this I tried to just observe and snap photos as much as I could. I listened and learned as well. Some of the folks asked me a few questions but I usually deferred to Jimmy G. as the expert. The subject of Henry came up quite a lot naturally when the conversation got really detailed. I just didn't have it in me to explain it all. I stayed with 'Tommy' during introductions and handshaking in an attempt to keep things simple. The irony of a Methvin being at a Barrow Family reunion wasn't lost on me though. I am as proud of my family as any human being has ever been proud of thier roots; both good and bad. I felt a kinship to these Barrows and a connection in the fact that their family had some colorful people; but was so much more. My family is also so much more than one outlaw cousin..
I was in awe of how much this lady had gathered about the Barrow family. I like geneaology and have been into my own family tree for as long as I can remember. My efforts pale in comparison to her work. Not just the Barrow family; but all of her family branches.
Jimmy was on a roll now.
I think this guy would have liked to stay up and see everything Jimmy brought along and heard all the theories and stories. There isn't that much time even if we had a month. It was getting well past midnight by now.
This fellow and his wife will be at the Bonnie & Clyde Festival in May. He is bringing a good number of historical guns. I can't wait for that.
me with van (and hat), by the river
Jimmy G. at the Pace, Florida branch of the Bonnie and Clyde Traveling Extravaganza & Circus.
He has that "stop playing with camera and come look at this photo of some old stuff" look.
another "stop and take a photo of something old" moment
home sweet home
