This past weekend TLU played its final road game of the 2008 season. The Bulldogs visited Louisiana College and lost, 29-7. TLU stayed in the game until the final five minutes when LC ran off a couple of unanswered touchdowns to put the game out of reach.
In sticking with my travel log idea, this post will not be so much about the game as about getting to Pineville, La. All in all, the trip to and from central Louisiana was a nearly 900 mile journey.
This year’s trip marked the first time I had made the one-way trip all in one day. In previous journeys to Pineville, the drive was broken up by a night in Beaumont. I now understand why. Tackling the drive over in one day means a long time in a vehicle.
The journey started out well, though, as Friday’s lunch was had at Schoebel’s in Columbus. I had not eaten there before and, as was the case two weeks ago at Harold’s in Abilene, a line out the door was a good omen. Just get the buffet and try a little of everything. The chicken pot pie was my favorite. The bread pudding-like pie was the best desert.
After lunch, the driving began in earnest. The trip to Lake Charles was not too bad, but after that construction slowed the journey to a crawl. All 100 miles of US 165 between Lake Charles and Pineville are under construction. The speed limit for most of that stretch is 45 MPH with long sections as low as 35.
The crawling drive had me once again ready to eat and a local suggestion some 10 miles outside of Alexandria was worth the slight detour. Tunk’s Cypress Inn overlooks Kincaid Lake and the food matches the rustic setting. Crawfish galore, alligator, frogs legs, and any deep fried seafood you could imagine. The soups were the best part of the meal. The crawfish gumbo and crawfish chowder get high marks.
As for Saturday, an 11 a.m game meant an early morning and a first look at Louisiana College’s new on-campus stadium, Wildcat Field. The Wildcats had previously played across town at Bates Stadium (Pineville High School’s facility).
The on-campus setting will one day be one of the great venues in the ASC. For the time being, however, the only part of the facility that is completed is the playing surface. The stands are temporary and the press box consists of a long mound of dirt piled up behind the bleachers.
If you ask me, LC would have been better off playing out this season at Bates Stadium than rushing into their new facility. Next year, the permanent grand stands and press areas will be completed, as will a new field house.
The temporary nature of the setting made the game feel less than the key ASC contest it was. Still, the Wildcats no doubt enjoyed securing their first winning season since 1961 on their own campus.
With the game in the books, the long drive back began. Because of the road construction south of Alexandria, the return trip started to the west through Leesville, La. and Burkeville and Jasper in Texas. After reaching US 59 at Livingston, we headed south to Houston.
There, the dinner spot was at a place I’m very familiar. Niko Niko’s is a great Greek place at the corner of Montrose and Missouri north of the Museum District. I keep it authentic and go with the lamb kabobs.
If you find yourself in Columbus, Houston, or Pineville, La.:
Schoebel’s is at 2020 Milam in Columbus.
Tunk’s Cypress Inn is on Kincaid Lake in Boyce, La.
Niko Niko’s is at Montrose & Missouri in Houston
