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jarlaledebasseville-blog · 2 years ago

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Descendants of William the Conqueror

(3 Generations)

(Legitimate descendants only)

William Basseville I ' the Conqueror ', King of England 1066 - 1087, Duke of Normandy 1035 - 1087 as William II, the illegitimate son of Robert I 'the Devil' or alternately 'the Magnificent, and his mistress Arletta of Falaise (Harlette, Herleve), the daughter of Fulbert, a tanner of Falaise, and his wife Duxia. Arletta later married Herluin, Viscount of Conteville.

(b. 1027, Falaise Castle, Calvados, Normandy

d. Sept 9, 1087, Priory of St Gervais, Rouen, Normandy of wounds received at the battle of Mantes)

Buried in the Abbey of St Stephen, Caen, Normandy

married c1050, Cathedral of Notre Dame, Eu, Normandy

Matilda Basseville of Flanders, the only daughter of Baldwin Basseville V, Count of Flanders, and his wife Adela Capet, Princess of France, widow of Richard III, Duke of Normandy, and daughter of Robert II 'the Pious', King of France 992 - 1031.

(b. 1032, Lille, Flanders - d. Nov 2, 1083, Caen, Normandy)

Buried in the Abbey of the Holy Trinity (Abbaye aux Dames), Caen.

Their Children

Generation 1

1. Adelaide Basseville of Normandy

(b. c1051, Rouen, Normandy - d. before Jan 6, 1066, Rouen)

Buried (probably) the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, Caen, Normandy

2. Robert Basseville II ' Curthose ', Duke of Normandy 1087 - 1106, deposed by his brother Henry I after being defeated at the Battle of Tinchebrai, he was imprisoned for the rest of his life.

(b. c1053, Rouen, Normandy - d. Feb 10, 1134, Cardiff Castle)

Buried in Gloucester Cathedral.

married 1100, Apulia, Sicily

Sibylla of Conversano, the daughter of Geoffrey, Count of Conversano

(b. c1081 - d. Feb or March, 1103, Rouen, Normandy, in childbirth)

Buried in the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, Caen, Normandy

For their children see Generation 2 - 1

3. Richard Basseville of England, Duke of Bernay, Normandy

(b. c1055, Rouen, Normandy

d. 1081, in the New Forest, Hampshire, England, being gored to death by a stag whilst hunting there.

Buried in Winchester Cathedral, Southampton, near London

Unmarried.

4. Adeliza Basseville of England

(b. c1056, Rouen, Normandy - d. between 1107 and June 12, 1112, Caen, Normandy)

Buried (probably) in the Abbey of Holy Trinity, Caen.

Betrothed to Herbert III, Count of Maine 1062 - 1063, after his death she took religious vows (though not necessarily becoming a nun) at the Abbey of St Leger, Preaux, Berry, France.

5. Cecilia Basseville of England

b. c1058, Rouen, Normandy

d. July 30, 1127, Caen, Normandy.

Buried in the Abbey of Holy Trinity, Caen.

She was dedicated as a nun in childhood (1075) and was Benedictine abbess of the Holy Trinity, Caen, Normandy 1112 - 1127.

6. William Basseville II ' Rufus ', King of England 1087 - 1100, he held Normandy in pledge from 1096 - 1100, but was never recognized officially as duke.

(b. c1059, Rouen, Normandy - d. Aug 2, 1100, New Forest, Hampshire, England, being killed whilst hunting)

His death was certainly murder.

Buried in Winchester Cathedral, Southampton, near London

Unmarried.

7. Matilda Basseville of England

(b. c1061, Rouen, Normandy - d. before June 12, 1112)

Buried in the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, Caen, Normandy

Unmarried.

8. Agatha Basseville of England

(b. c1063, Rouen, Normandy - d. before May 1, 1079, Bayeux, Normandy)

buried in the Cathedral church of St Mary the Perpetual Virgin, Bayeux, Normandy.

married (his second) after June 6,1078, Abbey of the Holy Trinity, Caen, Normandy (proxy).

Alfonso VI Fernandez ' the Brave ', King of Castile and Leon 1072 - 1109, the son of Ferdinando I ' the Great', King of Castile, and his wife Sanchia, daughter of Alfonso V Vermudez, King of Leon.

(b. before June, 1040 - d. June 29, 1109, Toledo, near Madrid, Castile)

Buried in the Abbey of Sahagun.

d.s.p.

9. Adela Basseville

(b. c1064, Rouen, Normandy

d. March 8, 1138, a Cluniac nun (c1122) at the Abbey of Marcigny-sur-Loire, Autun, Burgundy)

Buried in the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, Caen, Normandy.

married 1080, Breteuil, Normandy

Stephen III (Etienne Henri), Count of Blois-Chartres 1089 - 1102, and Count of Sancerre and Meaux, the son of Theobald III (Thibaut), Count of Blois-Chartres, and his second wife Gundrada N.

(b. 1046, Blois, Orleanais, France

d. May 19, 1102, Ramleh, Palestine, being killed in the Battle of Ascalon whilst on crusade)

Buried in Palestine.

For their children see Generation 2 - 2

10. Constance Basseville of England

(b. 1065, Rouen, Normandy - d. Aug 13, 1090, perhaps poisoned by her servants)

Buried in the Church of St Melans, near Rhedon, Brittany.

married 1086 (his first), Caen, Normandy

Alan IV ' Fergeant ', Duke of Brittany 1084 - 1112, abdicated to become a monk, the son of Hoel III, Duke of Brittany, Count of Cornuailles and Nantes, and his wife Hawise (Havoise), Countess of Rennes, the sister and heiress of Conan II, Duke of Brittany.

(b. c1057 - d. Oct 13, 1119, Rhedon, Brittany)

Buried in the Abbey of Rhedon.

d.s.p.

11. Henry Basseville I ' Beauclerk ', King of England 1100 - 1135, Duke of Normandy 1106 - 1135, after he deposed and imprisoned his elder brother Robert II.

(b. Sept, 1068, Selby, Yorkshire, England

d. Dec 1, 1135, at the Priory of St Denis le Fermont, Angers, near Rouen, Normandy, of food poisoning)

Buried in Reading Abbey, Berkshire, England.

married (1) Nov 11, 1100, Westminster Abbey, London

Matilda of Scotland (called Edith before marriage), the elder daughter of Malcolm III ' Canmore ', King of Scotland, and his second wife St Margaret, the daughter of Edward the Aetheling, Anglo-Saxon prince, the grandson of King Aethelred II 979 - 1016.

(b. 1079, Edinburgh Castle, Scotland - d. May 1, 1118, Westminster Palace, London)

Buried in Westminster Abbey, London

For their children see Generation 2 - 3

married (2) Jan 29, 1121, Chapel Royal, Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England

Adeliza of Louvain, the daughter of Godfrey I 'the Bearded' of Louvain, Duke of Lower Lorraine, and his first wife Ida, Countess of Namur and Chiny, the daughter and heiress of Albert III, Count of Namur. Adeliza remarried (2) (1136) William d'Albini, 1st Earl of Arundel (c1102 - 1176) by whom she left many children.

(b. 1102 - d. March 23, 1151, a nun at Abbey of Afflighem, near Alost, Brabant)

Buried in the Abbey of Afflighem.

d.s.p.

Generation 2

(2 - 1)

1. William Basseville IV ' Clito ', Duke of Normandy 1120 - 1128, succeeded his cousin William III, the son of Henry I. Count of Flanders 1127 - 1128.

(b. 1101, Rouen, Normandy

d. July 27, 1128, Abbey of St Bertin, St Omer, Flanders, from wound received at the Battle of Alost)

married (1) 1122 (her first). Divorced 1124.

Sybilla of Anjou, the daughter of Fulk V of Anjou, King of Jerusalem, and his first wife Eremburga, the daughter of Elias I of La Fleche, Count of Maine. Sybilla remarried (1134) to Thierry of Alsace, Count of Flanders (c1097 - 1168).

(b. 1112, Angers, Anjou - d. before Dec 31, 1165, nun at the Abbey of St Lazarus, Bethlehem, Palestine)

Buried in Abbey of St Lazarus, Bethlehem, Palestine

d.s.p.

married (2) Jan, 1128 (her first)

Giovanna of Montferrat (also called Adeliza), the daughter of Rainer, Marquis of Montferrat, and his wife Gisela of Burgundy, the widow of Umberto II, Count of Maurienne, and the daughter of William I ' Tete-Hardi ', Count of Burgundy. Her elder half-sister Adelaide of Maurienne became the wife (1115) of Louis VI, King of France (1108 - 1137).

(b. 1107 - d. 1191)

d.s.p.

2. Henry Basseville of Normandy

(b. 1102, Rouen, Normandy

d. before Nov 25, 1120, New Forest, Hampshire, England, being killed whilst hunting)

Unmarried.

(2 - 2)

1. Humbert of Blois-Chartres, Count of Vertus, Champagne

(b. 1081, Blois, Orleanais - d. before May 19, 1102)

Unmarried.

2. William of Blois-Champagne (Guillaume), Count of Chartres, then Sire of Sully, Orleanais. He was disinherited in favour of his younger brother Theobald because of idiocy.

(b. 1082, Blois, Orleanais - d. before1150)

married 1104

Agnes of Sully, the daughter of Gilon I, Seigneur of Sully, and his wife Ildeburga, the daughter of Geoffrey IV, Count of Bourges.

(b. c1088, Sully, Orleanais - d. before 1150)

For their children see Generation 3 - 1

3. Theobald IV, Count of Blois-Chartres 1102 - 1152, Champagne, and Troyes

(b. 1085, Blois, Orleanais - d. Oct 8, 1152)

married 1123, Ligny-en-Barrois, near Bar-le-Duc, Lorraine

Matilda of Carinthia, the daughter of Engelbert II, Duke of Carinthia, and his wife Uta, who was the daughter of Ulrich ' the Rich ', Count of Passau.

(b. c1105 - d. Dec 13, 1161, a nun at Abbey of St Marie, Fontevrault, Maine)

Buried at Abbey of Fontevrault.

For their children see Generation 3 - 2

4. Adela of Blois-Chartres

(b. c1090, Blois-Orleanais - d. before March 8, 1138)

married c1110. Annulled 1113 by order of St Ivo, Bishop of Chartres, on the grounds of consanguinity.

Milo II of Montlhery and Bray, Viscount of Troyes, the younger son of Milo I ' the Great', of Montlhery, Viscount of Troyes, and his wife Lithuise, the daughter of William II, Count d'Eu

(b. c1065 - d. 1118)

For their children see Generation 3 - 3

Note - Adela is called Lithuise or Lituise in some sources, but this appears to be a confusion with her mother-in-law.

5. Agnes of Blois-Chartres

(b. c1092, Blois, Orleanais - d. before 1129)

married c1112

Hugh III de Le Puiset, Viscount of Chartres 1108 - 1128, the son of Evrard III, Seigneur de Le Puiset, and his wife Alice, the daughter of Bouchard de Montlhery, Count of Corbeuil.

(b. c1091 - d. 1141, Palestine)

For their children see Generation 3 - 4

6. Matilda of Blois-Chartres (Lucia)

(b. c1095, Blois, Orleanais, France

d. Nov 25, 1120, near Barfleur, Normandy, being drowned aboard the 'White Ship' in the English Channel)

married c1114

Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester, the son of Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester, and his wife Ermentrude, the daughter of Hugh of Clermont, Count of Beauvais.

(b. 1094, Chester, England - d. Nov 25, 1120, being drowned with his wife. Their bodies were never recovered)

d.s.p.

7. Stephen of Blois-Chartres, King of England 1135 - 1154, in contest with his cousin the empress Matilda, only surviving child of Henry I. Eventually, after twenty years of destructive civil war, it was agreed in 1153 that Matilda's son Henry II should succeed Stephen as King of England, and a peaceful dynastic change ensued.

(b. 1097, Blois, Orleanais, France - d. Oct 25, 1154, Dover, Kent, England)

Buried in Faversham Abbey, Kent.

married c1116

Matilda, Countess of Boulogne 1125 - 1152, the only child and heiress of Eustace III, Count of Bouogne, and his wife Mary, the younger daughter of Malcolm III ' Canmore ', King of Scotland

(b. c1103, Boulogne, Picardy, France - d. May 2, 1152, Hedingham Castle, Essex, England)

Buried in Faversham Abbey, Kent

For their children see Generation 3 - 5

8. Henry of Blois-Chartres

(b. 1099, Winchester, Southampton, near London, England - d. July 1, 1171, Winchester)

Buried in Winchester Cathedral, Southampton.

Bishop of Winchester, England 1129 - 1171.

9. Eudes of Blois-Chartres (Odo)

(b. 1100, Blois, Orleanais - d. after 1107)

d.s.p.

(2 - 3)

1. Euphemia of England

(b. July/August, 1101, Winchester Castle, Southampton, near London - d. before Dec 31, 1101)

2. Matilda of England, Queen regnant ' Lady of the English ', April 7 - Nov 1, 1141, the throne taken from her by her cousin Stephen of Blois. Originally named Adelaide, renamed Matilda prior to her first marriage.

(b. Feb 7, 1102, Winchester Castle, Southampton, near London

d. Sept 10, 1167, at the Abbey of Notre Dame des Pres, near Rouen, Normandy

Buried in Rouen Cathedral, Normandy

married (1) Jan 7, 1114, Mainz, Germany

Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor 1106 - 1125, the son of Emperor Henry IV, and his first wife Bertha, the daughter of Otto I, Count of Maurienne.

(b. Jan 8, 1081 - d. May 23, 1125, Utrecht)

Buried in the Cathedral of Speyer, Swabia.

d.s.p.

married (2) June 17, 1128, at Le Mans Cathedral, Anjou

Geoffrey V ' Plantagenet ', Count of Anjou 1128 - 1151, the son of Fulk V of Anjou, King of Jerusalem, and his first wife Eremburga, the daughter of Elias I of La Fleche, Count of Maine.

(b. Nov 24, 1113, Angers, Anjou - d. Sept 7, 1151, at Chateau d'Eure, Le Mans, Sarthe, Anjou)

Buried at Le Mans Cathedral, Sarthe, Anjou.

For their children see Generation 3 - 6

3. William III, Duke of Normandy in 1120

(b. before Aug 5, 1103, Winchester Castle, Southampton, near London

d. Nov 25, 1120, near Barfleur, Normandy, being drowned aboard the 'White Ship' in the English Channel. His body was never recovered)

married June, 1119, Lisieux, Normandy

Matilda of Anjou (called Alice before marriage), the daughter of Fulk V of Anjou, king of Jerusalem, and his wife wife Eremburga, the daughter of Elias I of La Fleche, Count of Maine. Became a nun at Fontevrault (c1121) and was later appointed abbess 1148 - 1154.

(b. c1110 - d. 1154, Abbey of Sainte-Marie, Fontevrault, Maine)

Buried at Fontevrault.

d.s.p.

4. Richard of England

(b. c1105, Winchester Castle, Southampton, near London

d. Nov 25, 1120, near Barfleur, Normandy, being drowned in the wreck of the ' White Ship ' with his elder brother William. His body was never recovered)

Unmarried.

5. Robert of England

(b. c1107, Winchester Castle, Southampton, near London - d. young before June, 1119)

Generation 3

(3 - 1)

1. Elisabeth of Champagne-Sully

(b. 1105 - d. July, 1128, Caen, Normandy)

Abbess of the Holy Trinity, Caen, Normandy

Buried there.

2. Eleanore of Champagne-Sully

(b. c1107 - d. after 1148)

married c1121 (his first). Divorced 1142.

Raoul I, Count of Vermandois 1102 - 1152, the son of Hugh I Capet, Count of Vermandois (brother of King Philip I) and his wife Adelaide, Countess of Vermandois, the daughter of Herbert IV, Count of Vermandois, Vexin and Valois.

(b. 1090 - d. Oct 8, 1152)

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

3. Eudes Archambaud III, Sire de Sully

(b. c1110 - d. after 1162)

married c1130

Matilda de Beaugency, the daughter of Raoul I, Seigneur de Beaugency, and his wife Matilda, daughter of Hugh I Capet, Count of Vermandois.

(b. c1115, Beaugency, Orleanais - d. before 1162)

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

4. Raoul of Champagne-Sully (Rather, Rudolf)

(b. c1112 - d. Sept 21, 1176)

Prior of La Charite-sur-Loire, Abbot of Cluny, Burgundy

Buried in Abbey of Notre Dame, La Charite-sur-Loire.

5. Margeurite of Champagne-Sully

(b. c1114 - d. Dec 14, 1145)

married c1130 (his third)

Henry I, Count d' Eu, the son of William II, Count d'Eu, and his first wife Beatrice de Builly.

(. c1070 - d. July 12, 1140)

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

6. Henry of Champagne-Sully

(b. c1119 - d. 1187)

Abbot of Fecamp, Normandy 1138 - 1187.

(3 - 2)

1. Henry I ' le Liberal ', Count of Champagne and Brie 1152 - 1181

(b. 1123 - d. March 17, 1181, Troyes, Champagne)

married 1164, Paris

Marie Capet, Princess of France, Regent of Champagne 1181 - 1197, the elder daughter of Louis VII, King of France, and his first wife Eleanor (later Queen of England), the daughter of William X, Duke of Aquitaine.

(b. April/May, 1145, Palace of Ile de Cite, Paris - d. March 11, 1198)

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

2. Theobald V ' le Bon ', Count of Blois-Champagne 1152 - 1191

(b. 1125 - d. 1191, Acre, Palestine, whilst on crusade)

married (1) c1150

Sibylle de Chateau-Renard, daughter of Renaud, Seigneur de Chateau-Renard, Orleanais (Loiret)

(b. c1135 - d. before 1164)

d.s.p.

married (2) 1165

Alix Capet (Alice), Princess of France, daughter of Louis VII, King of France, and his first wife Eleanor, daughter of William X, Duke of Aquitaine.

(b. summer of 1150, Palace of Ile de Cite, Paris - d. 1183)

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

Note - some sources claim that Alix was still living in 1195, but this is a confusion with her daugher of similar name, who was Abbess of Fontevrault from 1190. All biographies of Eleanor of Aquitaine state that this daughter predeceased her by some twenty years.

3. Marie of Blois-Champagne

(b. 1126 - d. 1190, she was Abbess of Sainte-Marie, Fontevrault, Maine 1174 - 1190)

married 1145

Eudes II ' Borel ', Duke of Burgundy, the son of Hugh II, Duke of Burgundy, and his wife Matilda, daughter of Raymond I, Viscount of Turenne.

(b. c1118 - d. Sept 27, 1162)

Buried in the Abbey of Citeaux, Burgundy

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

4. Stephen I of Blois-Champagne (Etienne), Count of Sancerre 1152 - 1191

(b. c1128 - d. 1191, Acre, Palestine, whilst on crusade)

married (1)1153

Ermesinde de Donzy (Alix, Adelaide), daughter of Geoffrey III de Donzy, Seigneur of Gien, St-Aignan, Cosne, and Chatel-Censoir, and his wife N Le Manceau.

(b. c1137 - d. c1174)

married (2) c1176

Matilda N(b. c1159 - d. c1188)

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

5. Elisabeth Basseville of Blois-Champagne (Isabelle)

(b. 1130, Blois, Orleanais - d. after 1155)

married (1) 1140

Roger II of Hauteville, Duke of Apulia and Sicily 1135 - 1149, the son of Roger I, King of Sicily, and his first wife Elvira, the daughter of Pedro de Leoni.

(b. 1119 - d. 1149)

d.s.p.

married (2) c1150 - 1155

Guillaume Gouet IV, Seigneur de Montmirail, Baron de Perche-Gouet, the son of Guillaume Gouet III, Seigneur de Montmirail, and his wife N Fitzroy, an illegitimate daughter of Henry I, King of England

(b. c1110 - d. 1170)

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

6. Guillaume Basseville of Blois-Champagne (William)

(b. c1133 - d. Sept 7, 1202)

Bishop of Chalons 1164 - 1176, Archbishop of Sens and Rheims 1176 - 1202

7. Hugh of Blois-Champagne

Abbot of Citeaux, Burgundy

(b. c1137 - d. after 1155)

8. Agnes of Blois-Champagne

(b. c1139 - d. Aug 7, 1207)

married 1155

Rainald II, Count of Bar 1150 - 1170, the son of Rainald I, Count of Bar-le-Duc and Mousson, and his first wife Gisela, daughter of Gerhard I, Count of Vaudement.

(b. c1115 - d. July 25, 1170)

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

9. Margaret Basseville of Blois-Champagne

(b. c1141 - d. after Dec, 1161)

Nun at Abbey of Sainte-Marie, Fontevrault, Maine

10. Matilda of Blois-Champagne

(b. c1142 - d. before 1191)

married c1158

Rotrou II, Count of Perche, the son of Rotrou I ' the Great ', Count of Perche (Rotrou II of Mortagne), and his second wife Hawise de Salisbury, later second wife of Robert I Capet, Count of Dreux.

(b. c1132 - d. July 13, 1191)

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

11. Adela Basseville of Blois-Champagne, Queen Regent of France 1190 - 1191

(b. 1144, Blois, Orleanais - d. June 4, 1206, Paris)

Buried in the Abbey of Pontigny

married Nov 13, 1160 (his third)

Louis VII, King of France 1137 - 1180, the son of Louis VI, King of France, and his second wife Adelaide, daughter of Umbert II, Count of Maurienne.

(b. 1120, Paris - d. Sept 18, 1180, Paris)

Buried in the Abbey of Notre Dame de Barbeau, near Fontainebleau.

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

(3 - 3)

1. Milo Basseville III de Montlhery, Viscount of Troyes

(b. c1111 - assasinated c1166)

2. Renaud de Montlhery

(b. c1112 - d. after 1166)

Bishop of Troyes.

(3 - 4)

1. Evrard III de Le Puiset, Viscount of Chartres 1128 - 1190

(b. c1116 - d. 1189)

married (1) Marie N

married (2) Helvisa N

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

2. Bouchard de Le Puiset

(d. after 1128)

d.s.p.

3. Hugh de Le Puiset

Bishop of Durham, England 1153 - 1195.

(b. c1125 - d. 1195)

He left illegitimate issue who are beyond the scope of this work

(3 - 5)

1. Baldwin Basseville of Blois, Prince of England

(b. c1126 - d. before Dec 2, 1138, Tower of London)

Buried in the Priory of the Holy Trinity, Aldgate, London.

2. Eustace Basseville of Blois, joint King of England 1152 - 1153 with his father, Duke of Normandy, Count of Boulogne 1146 - 1153 as Eustace IV.

(b. c1128 - d. Aug 10, 1153, at Bury St Edmund's, Suffolk)

Buried in Faversham Abbey, Kent

married Feb, 1140, Paris, France (her first)

Constance Capet, Princess of France, the daughter of Louis VI, king of France, and his second wife Adelaide, the daughter of Umbert II, Count of Maurienne. Queen Constance remarried (2) 1154, Raymond V, Count of Toulouse (c1125 - 1194) by whom she left children.

(b. 1124 - d. Aug 16, 1176, Palace of Rheims, Marne, near Paris)

d.s.p.

Eustace left illegitimate issue which are beyond the scope of this work

3. Matilda Basseville of Blois, Princess of England

(b. 1133 - d. 1138, Tower of London)

Buried in the Priory of the Holy Trinity, Aldgate, London.

married Easter, 1136 (his first)

Waleran Basseville de Beaumont, Count of Meulan, Earl of Worcester, the son of Robert de Beaumont, 1st earl of Leicester, and his wife Elisabeth, daughter of Hugh I Capet, Count of Vermandois (later wife of William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey

(b. 1104 - d. April 10, 1166)

d.s.p.

4. William Basseville II, Count of Boulogne 1153 - 1159, Count of Mortain 1154 - 1159, Earl of Surrey 1149 - 1159

(b. 1134 - d. Oct 11, 1159, being killed at the siege of Toulouse, France)

Buried in the Hospital of Montmorillon, Poitou.

married 1149 (her first)

Isabel de Warenne, Countess of Surrey, the daughter and heiress of William de Warenne, 3rd Earl of Surrey, who remarried (1164) Hamelin Plantagenet, the illegitimate son of Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou, and half-brother to Henry II.

(b. c1137 - d. July 13, 1203)

Buried in the Chapter House of Lewes Priory, Sussex.

d.s.p.

5. Mary of Blois, Countess of Boulogne 1159 - 1169, formerly Abbess of Romsey, Hampshire c1155 - 1160. Abducted and forcibly married because of dynastic considerations. Appointed Abbess of St Austreberte, near Montreuil in 1169, after the legitimacy of her children was assured.

(b. 1136, Blois, Orleanais (Loiret) - d. July 25, 1182, Abbey of St Austreberte, Montreuil, Picardy)

Buried there.

married 1160 (his first), annulled 1169.

Matthew I of Alsace, Count of Boulogne 1160 - 1173 (in her right), the son of Thierry II of Alsace, Count of Flanders, and his second wife Sibylla, the daughter of Fulk V of Anjou, King of Jerusalem.

(b. c1135 - d. July 25, 1173, being kiled at the siege of Driancourt)

Buried at the Abbey of Josse.

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

(3 - 6)

1. Henry II Basseville ' FitzEmpress ' and ' Curtmantle ', King of England 1154 - 1189

(b. March 5, 1133, Le Mans, Sarthe, Anjou, France - d. July 6, 1189, Chinon Castle, Normandy, France)

Buried in the Abbey of Sainte Marie, Fontevrault, Maine

married May 18, 1152, Bordeaux Cathedral, Gascony (her second)

Eleanor of Aquitaine, divorced first wife of Louis VII, King of France, and daughter of William X, Duke of Aquitaine, and his wife Aenor, daughter of aimery I, Viscount of Chatellerault.

(b. 1122, Ombriere Palace, Bordeaux, or Belin Castle, Guienne

d. April 1, 1204, Abbey of Sainte Marie, Fontevrault, Maine)

Buried there.

Their children are beyond the scope of this work

2. Geoffrey of Anjou, Count of Nantes 1151 - 1158

(b. June 1, 1134, Argentan, Normandy - d. July 26, 1158, Nantes, Brittany)

Buried there

Unmarried.

3. William of Anjou, Count of Poitou 1151 - 1163

(b. July 21, 1136, Argentan, Normandy - d. Jan 30, 1163, Rouen)

Buried in Rouen Cathedral

Unmarried.

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travelingtheusa · 7 years ago

Text

LOUISIANA

9 Nov 2017 (Thu) – We went into Baton Rouge today. When we were here in April of last year, it was Good Friday and everything was closed. First stop was at the State Capitol Building. We took the elevator to the 24th floor and were able to look out over the area from the observation tower. You could see refineries wherever you looked. There was also the Huey P. Long Bridge, first bridge built to span the lower Mississippi River.

We then took the elevator down to the second floor. There was a school group going through the building at the same time and they were noisy and in the way. We tried to navigate around them. There was the Senate and the House with their desks and accoutrements. In the Senate Chamber, there was a light on one panel in the ceiling. An explosion caused by a bomb splintered a desk and a piece shot up into the ceiling. It is still embedded in the ceiling.

We went down to the first floor. It was there that Huey P. Long, Governor of Louisiana, was shot by an assassin. He died two days later. There was some beautiful stained glass around the doors. We didn’t notice it coming into the building but admired it on the way out.

We then walked over to Capitol Park Museum. It was all about Louisiana – its founding, culture, and governance. There was also a school group touring that museum, too. It was very interesting.

We walked back to the parking garage and stopped at Another Broken Egg to get lunch before retrieving the truck. We drove five blocks over to the Old State Capitol and parked in another parking lot. We should have parked here first. It was $7 for 8 hours. The garage was $8 for 4 hours.

The Old State Capitol building was constructed like a castle. It was burned by federal troops during the Civil War in 1862. Twenty years later it was renovated and reopened. Later, the capitol was moved to the new building and the old building was left to deteriorate. It was picked up by a historical group that returned it to its former grandeur. The stained glass ceiling was breathtaking, as was the floating staircase. They had a remarkable video presentation about the history of the building. It was done by someone who worked for Disney and the quality was outstanding. They had a Gratitude Car out front. That was very appropriate.

When we were done exploring the old state capitol, we walked across the street to tour the U.S.S. Kidd. Unfortunately, the attraction was closed. We walked back to the truck and returned home.

8 Nov 2017 (Wed) – We left Westwego at 9:30 a.m. The weather was mostly clear with minor sprinkles once in a while. I am surprised with how many oil refineries there are in Louisiana. I would have expected to see them in Texas, but the skyline has many huge refineries pumping out smoke.

We arrived at the Cajun Country RV Park in Port Allen just outside Baton Rouge at 1:00 p.m. The sign had the words “RV Park” blacked out. It is apparent this is a campground primarily devoted to long-term residents. I think there is only one site put aside for over-nighters (that’s what they called us). We’re here for two nights. We have full hookups and (FINALLY) we have great WiFi. The data plan on our jet pack expired a week ago so we have been limping along with the limited options on my cell phone. Our plan reset today so we are back in business (so to speak).

After check in, we drove to Zachary to visit with Frieda (our sister-in-law). Her sister, Ingrid, and Ingrid’s granddaughter, Harper, were visiting as well. We had a delightful lunch where Frieda prepared a very filling meal. Ingrid and Harper left later on and we stayed to chat with Frieda. It was a most delightful visit.

7 Nov 2017 (Tue) – We drove to River Road to visit some of the plantations today. First stop was at Destrehan Planation. It had been built in the late 1700s and was run by a Frenchman with about 200 slaves. It passed through the family until it was sold to Amoco Oil in 1954. They used the mansion for a keeper’s house, then later for a club house. They abandoned it and the house fell into disrepair as vandals slowly destroyed it. Eventually, a historic group got the house and restored it. The docent was a pleasant young man who recounted the history of the family in a very interesting way.

Next stop was four miles down the road at the Ormond Plantation for lunch. I had lemonfish and shrimp, and Paul had a fried chicken dish with the most delightful sauce. After lunch, we drove an hour to the San Francisco Plantation. It was another extravagant home with a history of family ownership and sales to different owners. It is currently owned by Marathon, an oil company. Guess they decided to make money off the tourists. Behind the plantation is a huge complex of oil refineries. It looks like something from off-world.

We got back to the campground at 5:15 p.m. We quickly fed the animals, walked Bonnie, and changed clothes before taking off for New Orleans to join our nephew, Ric, and his family for dinner at EAT. Parking and traffic was a bear. There were tourists everywhere (doesn’t anyone work and go to school any more?). There were seven full size buses lined up taking on passengers. Where were they going at that time of night? We wound up parked five blocks away from the restaurant. The dinner and the company was very enjoyable.

6 Nov 2017 (Mon-Paul’s birthday) – We drove to New Orleans to the Navy Federal Credit Union. Mike and I went in to change over the financial records for the Nomads. Paul and Cheryl sat out in the car. The representative who work with us was nice but oh, so, sloooow. We were in the bank for well over an hour. We took the previous president and treasurer off the account and put Mike and me on. We entered our contact information and made a deposit. They had a special offer to open a 1-year CD at 3% so I moved money from savings to a CD.

The four of us went into the French Quarter. We enjoyed beignets and café au lait at Café Du Monde. For lunch, we ate at the Central Grocery. They claimed to sell the “original muffaletta.” It was a sandwich made on Italian bread with salami, cheese, and olive salad. The sandwich was huge! They cut the full sandwich in quarters and a half-sandwich in half. We both bought half-sandwiches.

After lunch, we walked around Jackson Square admiring all the paintings and drawings by local artists. There were several homeless people around the area begging for money. One guy cursed at me when I told him direct deposit and ATM cards mean nobody has cash anymore. I behaved in a very unchristian way and flipped him the bird. Another character tried to challenge Paul. The street beggars were pretty bold and there were a lot of them.

There was also a beautiful minor basilica in Jackson Square. Cheryl and I went in to admire it. The guys stood on the corner waiting for us to come out. Bah, humbug.

After dinner, we played cards. Mike & Cheryl came over and taught us how to play double pinochle. We used to play pinochle years ago so we needed a refresher. Double pinochle was significantly different both in the number of cards you get and in the play strategy. Additionally, the scoring is different. It was fun but a little frustrating.

5 Nov 2017 (Sun) – We drove to the mall today to look for shoes. We did not find what we wanted in any of the stores we poked around. Paul picked up some items at Home Depot. After we got back to the campground, Paul got our DISH satellite working. I spent about a half hour on the phone getting our DISH account set up. It is nice to have access to the channels that broadcast our favorite shows. Maybe we can get back on schedule.

We went to Copelands for lunch. They make the BEST red beans and rice. We bought more beans and rice to take home. For dinner, we had leftovers. Mike and Cheryl arrived from Rayne. We enjoyed a pleasant campfire until the mosquitoes came out. They were eating us alive despite the bug spray we put on. We had to call it an early night.

4 Nov 2017 (Sat) – Everyone bid one another farewell and departed for their various destinations. Mike & Cheryl were staying one more day in Breaux Bridge so they could go to a music festival somewhere. We left at 9:45 a.m. and headed off towards New Orleans. I am amazed at how wet this state is. We googled Siri to find out which state is the wettest and Louisiana is second after Florida (which is weird since it bills itself as the “Sunshine State”). We drove for miles and miles on elevated roadways over swamps and lakes and rivers. And wherever there was dry land, there was a truck parked and somebody fishing. These folks must eat a lot of fish.

We arrived in Westwego at the Bayou Segnette State Park at 12:30 p.m. It looks like this was a state park at first, then they added the campground. There was nowhere to pull over and park while checking in at the office. I had made reservations online so we drove straight to our campsite. The confirmation said we were assigned to campsite C1055. There was no 1055. We did find a space #55 so we pulled in there. I called the office to confirm we were in the right place and the lady chided us for not stopping in the office (typical state worker – couldn’t see the problem for want of the rules). We set up then drove back to the office to check in.

The campground is right next to the Mississippi River. There is a huge flood wall between the river and campground. We drove to the other side to take a look at the cabins. It was pretty neat! The cabins are floating on the water connected only by a walkway from the cabin deck to the shore. There are 16 cabins and they are on poles that allow them to rise and fall with the river height. Each one had a fish station right on the deck. The cabins were pretty large, too.

I spent a good deal of the day getting the Nomads paperwork and records in order.

3 Nov 2017 (Fri) – We spent the day hanging around the campground. A few of us got together to play Murbles. It is a lot like bocce ball, except the balls are a lighter weight plastic. A team of two each get three balls. There is one white ball. Someone throws the white ball out then you take turns throwing your ball at the white ball trying to get as close to it as possible. The person with the closest balls to the target wins a point for each ball. Ten points is a game. It was fun, especially when Paul started throwing the white ball in hard-to-get-at places (like under the picnic table).

At 4 p.m. we all drove to Buck & Johnny’s, an “eclectic and Italian restaurant with a Cajun flair.” The menu had some different items on it. We ordered appetizers all around and after an hour, placed our dinner orders. Everyone seemed to be happy with their meal. The building was an old converted garage. There are oil cans light fixtures, a corrugated tin ceiling, old tin signage and lots of brick on the walls. At 6:30 p.m. a guitarist began playing. The acoustics were poor and you couldn’t really hear what he was saying. They also offer a Zydeco breakfast on Saturday mornings. Sounds like fun.

The place was opened by two friends – Buck & Johnny. One of them passed away but the other partner still keeps his name on the restaurant. The guy who died was a former Army ranger. He had a collection of challenge coins that were on display in the corner. In addition, there were certificates and flags from his career in the military. All of us veterans were duly impressed.

2 Nov 2017 (Thu) – They broke records for rainfall yesterday. Lafayette got over five inches of rain. Although we don’t have many puddles around the campground, the ponds and creeks are visibly fuller. It was amazing that it could rain so hard and so long and not flood us out.

Paul took the truck into the Ford dealer this morning and I continued working on the caravan data. When he got back, I cooked breakfast with some leftover food. It probably could have tasted better. It’s been a while since I cooked bacon and eggs.

Later, we drove into town to pick up a few things. Paul got more coaxial cable to hook the satellite dish up with. We stopped in Winn Dixie to pick up a few things and spent more than I expected. We also stopped at WalMart where I picked up some binders and dividers for the caravan information we are collecting/preparing. We stopped at Poche’s Market for lunch. There was so much food that we brought the leftovers back for at least two dinners. I also bought some cracklins.

At 3:45 p.m. we walked to the club house for happy hour. We were first to arrive. I made broccoli cheddar bites (tater tots but only with broccoli rather than potatoes). Thirteen of us enjoyed the social meeting which lasted until 6:00 p.m. We returned to the camper where I reheated our leftovers from lunch. We sat and enjoyed the good reception on the TV now that Paul has the satellite hooked up. Maybe we can catch up on some of our favorite shows.

1 Nov 2017 (Wed) – Tom & Sandy called this morning and we talked for half an hour about the caravan. Paul took the truck to a Ford dealer. The CHECK ENGINE light came on yesterday so he wanted to get that looked at. I stayed home and spent the morning investigating the resources for our 2019 caravan. I called four visitor centers in Utah to check on events and activities that might be happening while we’re there. The Iron Man Marathon will be taking place in St. George during the first weekend of May so we’ll be sure to avoid being there at that time. I learned some very interesting things and am enjoying the project of planning this caravan very much. It’s going to be lots of fun!

Paul returned without getting the truck repaired. The two dealerships he went to were too busy to do anything today. One offered to look at the truck tomorrow. He will bring it back.

At 4:03 p.m. we got a call from Mike, President of the Nomads. He reminded me that we have happy hour at 4:00 p.m. every day. So we pulled on our rain coats (it poured all day long) and walked down to the social area. A few members of the group left today. The group of us that were left visited for an hour. The phone kept pinging with alerts for flooding in the area. I don’t know where all that rain kept coming from.

31 Oct 2017 (Tue – Halloween) – No one came trick or treating today. I missed the costumes and giggling children. The rest of the group went on a swamp tour today. We didn’t go since we have already done one of those before. We drove to Dillard’s to do some shopping. We walked around a shopping mall for a couple of hours and bought a few things. We stopped at Wendy’s for lunch then drove to Camping World. Paul picked up a coaxial cable for the satellite. We then stopped at WalMart where Paul was able to get a 90 degree connection for the cable.

I had wanted to make a special dish for the Attitude Adjustment Hour back at camp but we returned too late for me to make the broccoli cheddar tots. So we brought our usual Cajun crackers that we have been bringing to all the social hours.

Happy hour took place from 4 to 4:30 p.m. That was followed by a chapter meeting where I was voted in as the new secretary-treasurer for the Nomads. Then we shared a potluck dinner with each other. I made a blueberry dump cake which was nearly all consumed. It always feels good when something you bring gets fully eaten. It means everyone liked it.

30 Oct 2017 (Mon) – Today was the end of the National Muster. Everyone packed up, said their goodbyes, and went on their ways. We went to City Hall to pick up the mail we had forwarded. The clerk couldn’t find anything and suggested we go to the post office to see if they had the mail there. We drove to the post office where the clerk had two envelopes for us. They didn’t deliver it because they knew it didn’t belong to the employees there. Even though City Hall put out the address and offered to accept forwarded mail for persons attending the SMART muster, the post office decided to hold the mail. I thought they were required to deliver it to the address on the envelope, no matter what. Boy, the rules sure change as you go around the country.

We left Rayne at 9:45 a.m. bound for Breaux Bridge, 21 miles east. Unfortunately, there was an accident on I-10 and the highway was closed. We had to take backroads (that’s always fun in an oversized vehicle) and didn’t arrive at Poches (pronounced POH-SHAYS) RV Park at 11:30 a.m. About 18 members of the SMART Nomads chapter are here. We will be having a meeting tomorrow night where I will be formally installed as the secretary-treasurer.

At 3:00 p.m. we all formed a convoy and drove to Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn in Lafayette. What should have been a 20 or 30 minute ride took over an hour. I don’t think there’s a straight road in Louisiana except for I-10. We had a road closed because a bridge was out and that led to a merry ride. Finally, when we got there, it was a very nice restaurant. Paul and I both had lump crabmeat sautéed in butter. Scrumptious! The food was excellent although quite expensive. Our bill was $116. Ouch!

29 Oct 2017 (Sun) – We went to the catered breakfast today. It was basically the same old fare. There was a membership meeting at 10:30 a.m. I played a card game with Tom & Sandy at 1 p.m. It was interesting. You have a team of four (another friend of Tom & Sandy made up the fourth hand). Each member gets dealt 13 cards. You turn them up and when the game leader calls out your card, you remove it from your hand and put it in the center of the table. You play five hands and ante 25 cents for each hand. Each team brings their ante to the front where it is combined into one big pot. On the last hand, you ante the 25 cents then also put $1 into a kitty. The person who puts all their cards in the middle first wins the pot. I split a pot with two other guys winning $11.25 each.

At 5:00 p.m. we had the closing ceremonies. A group sitting next to us kept playing with their cell phones for the hour the ceremonies went on. The lady next to me was especially annoying, scrolling through facebook and passing the phone back and forth amidst comments and laughter. We had to shoosh them several times. When the ceremonies were over, I went over and chastised them for their rudeness. They defended themselves by saying they heard every word that was said. They couldn’t have with all the talking and laughing they were doing. In addition, we couldn’t hear because of their noise making.

Our catered dinner was served at six. It was stuffed chicken, green bean casserole, rice with some kind of meat in it (could have been ground beef), and a slice of fruit pie. After dinner, there were about a gazillion door prizes to be awarded. It was a long night.

28 Oct 2017 (Sat) – We ate the powdered eggs at the catered breakfast this morning. The caterer also provided sausage gravy and biscuits (which Paul enjoyed). There was a 2018 National Muster planning meeting at 9:00 a.m. I sat in on the meeting because I wanted to match names to faces and also find out what was planned for next year’s muster. Paul and Tom played murbles; a kind of bocce ball game but with lighter weight balls.

At 10:00 a.m. there was a seminar on caravans. The caravan wagon masters for 2018 (there were four) all stood up and described their trips. Then Tom got up and described our planned caravan for 2019. Another member, Carl, stood up and described his plan for a caravan up the west coast. He had been thinking about something with the National Parks but apparently we preempted him (you snooze, you lose).

At 1:00 p.m. we took the tour bus to activities in the area. There were three stops. The first was to a former Ford dealership in Crowley. Ford used to ship his cars by taking off the fenders and wheels, standing the cars on end in freight cars, and delivering them to Crowley. They were then taken to the dealership where they were reassembled and sold at the dealership. The dealership closed in the 1950s and other activities were housed in the building over the years.

Next stop was at the Germanfest Museum. The small town was settled by German immigrants and the curator described the family lines from 1867 forward. They also had sugar cookies made from a recipe brought from Germany over 150 years ago. They were very tasty.

Last stop was at Kelly’s Landing. This was fun by a farmer who grows rice and harvests crawfish. He described the process for growing both, then provided us with a delicious dinner of gumbo on rice with potato salad. For dessert, we were served peach cobbler. At 6:00 p.m. a Cajun musician came in and played an accordion style instrument for us. It was quite enjoyable.

We got back to the campground at 7:00 p.m. After feeding the animals and taking Bonnie for a walk, we went over to Tom & Sandy’s RV for coffee. Jim & Theda joined us and we had a lively evening telling stories of camping and traveling around the country.

27 Oct 2017 (Fri) – There was no breakfast this morning. Tom & Sandy and we had a talk with one of the representatives from National about the caravan we want to do. He reviewed our idea and gave some suggestions and pointers on running a caravan. He has been on and led several caravans himself.

At 11:30 a.m. there was a men’s luncheon in the pavilion and a ladies luncheon in the auditorium. Many of the ladies wore fancy hats (one had a gumball machine on her head) and we had all been asked to come in our “going-to-church” outfits (no shorts, tank tops or cut offs). There was a fashion show as well. About six of our members modeled clothes that were donated by Dillards. It was fun.

After lunch, we met with another member of SMART to discuss our caravan plans. Following that, we went to a Nomads meeting where Tom & Sandy joined the group and I volunteered to be the Secretary-Treasurer.

The skies opened up and the rain poured down. Tom ran back to camper to get the truck and then drove us all back. We ran in, fed the animals, then drove back to the auditorium for Attitude Adjustment Hour, a catered dinner, and entertainment by a comedian. She was very funny. They again handed out about 70 door prizes. It is amazing that they got so many prizes to give away. The board must have worked really hard to gather up so many items.

26 Oct 2017 (Thu) - We went to the catered breakfast this morning. We brought several throw rugs to give to the White Elephant Sale. That was a popular item! The breakfast was set up on a long table with plates on one end and another set of plates in the middle of the table. It was an awkward set up. People coming from the end of the table ended at the point where the second line was picking up their plates. People were getting all jammed up trying to pick up their plates with the people trying to get by with their food. The eggs tasted like they were powdered. The bacon was sliced so thin I could see through it. There were also grits and biscuits but I didn’t have any.

At noon, we joined Tom & Sandy, Jim & Theda, and their friends Willie and his wife, for a tour of the Bayou Rum Distillery in Iowa (a city in Louisiana, not the state). There was an introduction video then we walked into a small warehouse where they had vats and pipes. A guide described the process as none of the machines were running at the time. Afterward, we had a tasting of four different rums and wandered around the gift shop. That was followed by lunch at Boudreaux’s Cajun Trio.

At 4:00 p.m. Paul and I went to the First Timers meeting. The National President welcomed everyone then introduced the regional directors and chapter presidents. We were all encouraged to actively recruit new members.

At 5:00 p.m. there was Attitude Adjustment hour followed by a shrimp boil. There was SO much food! We all took leftovers back to our campers. During the dinner, Paul and Tom spoke with Phil (our wagon master on the Alaska caravan) about doing a caravan to the national parks in Utah. Phil had mentioned he was thinking about doing that so we wanted to make sure we weren’t stepping on his toes in following through on his original thought. He gave his blessing so now we are off to making plans for a new caravan to do in 2019. Tom & Sandy will be the wagon masters since they have already served as tail gunners on a caravan, and Paul and I will be the tail gunners. It will be fun!

25 Oct 2017 (Wed) – We did the laundry this morning. The laundromat was just a few blocks down the road. There was only one woman in the place. The washer was $2.00 and the dryer was $0.25 for six minutes. We put the laundry in and then went looking for propane. There was no place to get it in Rayne so we drove 15 miles down the interstate to Lafayette. AmeriGas had a sign on the fence saying they were not filling propane tanks today for some technical reason. We then drove back down the interstate one exit to an RV dealer. They filled our tank.

We returned to Rayne, dropped off the propane tank at the campground, then returned to the laundromat and moved the wash to the dryer. After it was done, we stopped at Gabe’s Cajun Shack for lunch. If you wanted something breaded and fried, that was the place to go. We both got fried chicken. It wasn’t bad.

The opening ceremonies were held at 4:00 p.m. There was an acapella group called the Sweet Adelines who entertained us with songs. There was the pledge of allegiance, the star spangled banner, and the MIA/POW table. There were introductions, announcements and the Mayor of Rayne was a guest speaker. Dinner followed then 70 door prizes were awarded. I won a basket of cookies, coffee and tea.

24 Oct 2017 (Tue) – We went on a food tour this morning. There were fourteen of us who carpooled to a pick up point, then waited for the tour bus to arrive at 10:00 a.m. Somehow the driver lost the keys to the bus and had to get someone to bring another key to her. She managed to work out the problem and arrived at our location at 10:40. She turned the bus over to our tour guide (who had been waiting with us) and we were off.

We stopped at a donut shop and had a kalache and halves of two donuts with coffee. Good start. Next stop was Nunu’s, a grocery store, where we got samples of boudin, cracklin, sausage, and chicken patty. Boudin (pronounced BOO-DEEN) is a mix of pork sausage and rice in a casing. You squeeze the casing and push the meat and rice mixture into your mouth. I bought a package of four boudin sausage links. Fezzo’s in Broussard was next on the schedule (we ate at the Fezzo’s in Crowley the other day). We were given a baked oyster and alligator kickers. I gave my oyster to Paul and ate half of the gator. It was better tasting than the fried alligator we ate at the frog festival a few years back. A café named Ton’s was the next stop. We had gumbo and potato salad to eat. You take a small amount of potato salad on your spoon then dip it in the gumbo. The mixture of the two is a delightful taste treat. A stop at BJ’s Sandwich Shop followed. We had a taste of a shrimp Po’ Boy that was exquisite. After the stop, the tour bus was trying to back out of the parking lot onto the busy street. I had been across the street taking a picture of the shop so I jumped behind the bus and stopped the traffic so our guide could back out. Finally, our last stop was at Papa T’s Café where we had the most delicious bread pudding.

We got back to the campground at 2:30 and at 4:00 we went to the Nomads social hour. We left at 5:00 to feed the animals then met Johnny & Linda, two friends we made on the Canadian Maritimes Caravan. We drove with them to Fezzo’s for dinner. Tom & Sandy and Jim & Theda (from the Alaska Caravan) joined us. The food was good and the company very pleasant.

23 Oct 2017 (Mon) – We drove to WalMart to pick up some Halloween cards and gifts. We also picked up a food processor. Since I am trying to stay away from all grains, I am following recipes that require grinding and pureeing foodstuff.

Next stop was at the post office to mail off the cards and gifts. Then we met Tom & Sandy at “3 Peas in a Pod.” When we first pulled in to the parking lot, it was raised eyebrows and “What the heck is this place?” There were old, broken gas pumps in front. The restaurant was in the converted gas station. It didn’t look like much from outside but the inside, although small, was very nicely decorated. There were about 8 tables and we were the only people in the place. The husband of one of the “P’s” took our order. He no sooner left to turn in our order when people started to arrive. Very soon, the restaurant was full and people were waiting for tables. Poor Larry was the only server and it seemed to take forever to get our food. It was good and we also got a military discount on the bill.

We went to the Nomads chapter meeting at 4 p.m. After the meeting, we had a potluck dinner. There were some very good things to eat, as well as some questionable things on the table. The company was fun.

I spoke with Miranda later tonight. She and her husband are experiencing serious financial problems and I tried to help her put together a working budget. Kenny needs to get a better paying job in order for them to be able to pay their bills. New York is a very expensive place to live. I hope we can help.

22 Oct 2017 (Sun) – We hunkered down inside the camper all morning with thunderstorms and heavy rain pouring down on the area. Sheba spent the time hiding in the closet. Registration was scheduled to take place today from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. At 1:15 p.m. we rode over to register. There was a long line outside the door, meaning they were having some problems that were making the process drag. We decided to drive into town and come back when the line was gone.

Paul got fuel then we decided to drive to the place where we bought cracklins last time we were in Rayne. (Bonnie ate the cracklins we bought yesterday at the rice festival. As a result, she has diarrhea.) The man at Fontenot Slaughter House only had one bag of cracklins. He said he fries them up fresh every day but it being Sunday and with the rice festival in town, he didn’t make as much as usual. We bought the last bag and said we’d be back during the week. We tried to find the Savoy Music Center where we watched a Cajun jam session last time we were here but we ran out of time.

We hurried back to the campground. Registration was set to end at 2:30 p.m. We arrived at exactly 2:30 and found there was still a line. Not as long as before but still a line. At first, we were asked to come back tomorrow then we were allowed in. The registration process was very confusing. There were gift bags for registrants filled with brochures about the area and other various sundry items. After registration (where we paid for camping) we came to a station to confirm tours we signed up for (we will be taking two). Then we stood before the First Timers station. Because this is our first national muster, we are considered first timers. They rang a bell, everyone clapped, then we were given name tags branding us as first timers.

At 4:00 p.m. we went to the Nomads social hour. Apparently they had a chapter meeting which we were late for (again). We visited for a while, then returned to our camper. We walked Bonnie and enjoyed dinner. The rain stopped about 2:30 p.m. and the sunset was pretty. The weather is forecast to be sunny for the rest of the week.

21 Oct 2017 (Sat) – We drove into Crowley to meet up with Frieda and her sister and husband, Ingrid & George. It was the 81st International Rice Festival and a cousin of theirs had a John Deere tractor on display that belonged to their father. The cousin had found the tractor buried in the mud in back of the farm and restored it. It was displayed in a long row of old tractors, almost all of their engines running. It was quite noisy! There was also a corn husker machine, a kernel cutting machine, and a corn meal grinder. We walked down to the main thoroughfare and saw an endless row of food and vendor booths lined up on the boulevard. We couldn’t find any place to get food and sit down, so we drove to a seafood restaurant called Fezzo’s. The food was very good.

We returned to the campground after stopping at WalMart for groceries. At 4:30 p.m., we went to the Nomads social hour. It turned out to be a regular meeting that started at 4:00 p.m. Oops! We bought 50-50 tickets, signed up for a potluck dinner on Monday, and introduced ourselves (along with everyone else) to the group. We said hello to the Wagon Masters, Carl & Gwen, from our Maritimes Caravan. Carl and another member of the Nomads, Paul, are both running for second VP.

Later in the evening, the skies opened up and we got a heavy thunderstorm. Poor Sheba hid in the closet. The RV stayed dry. We enjoyed cheese, apples, and crackers for dinner. It’s nice to be retired and not worry about making proper meals for a family from time to time.

20 Oct 2017 (Fri) – It was a long ride today from Shreveport to Rayne. We arrived around 2:45 p.m. There were signs up directing everyone to the SMART National Muster. When we entered the park, a guy on a golf cart led us to our RV space. We had to back in along a long row of RVs. There is a pole every so many feet with six electrical and six water spigot hookups. There is also one sewer port to be shared as well. The rig next to us was having some kind of problem with the sewer. They got a maintenance guy from the park HQs to come work on the sewer port. He told them that they had been having a problem with that particular port. Disgusted, they decided to move to another spot so now we have nobody right next to us on the right side.

The RV Park has over 700 campsites spread out over a large grassy area. It is an ideal location for a large gathering of campers. Sandy (who is working the registration desk) said they have over 230 rigs registered to date. It promises to be a fun ten days.

After set up, we walked around the park and found friends from previous caravans. There was Phil & Nita, Wagon Masters from the Alaska Caravan. Scott & Evie and Jim & Theda from the same trip. We walked over to the area where the NOMADS were having happy hour. When we joined SMART, we also joined some local chapters – The Texans, The Nomads, and The Full-Timers. The Full-Timers and the Nomads were co-joined into one group. We have never attended any of the rallies or musters of any of the groups before this so we are considered first- timers even though we have been members of SMART for four years.

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