Day 168 Halloween at Kingfisher

It was 37 degrees when we opened our frozen little peepers this morning at 6:15. Some boats were firing up their engines to leave the marina to head to the lock. We didn't have the desire to follow, so we are celebrating Halloween here at the Kingfisher. Got the courtesy car again to go find Cafe De Monde coffee, my favorite from New Orleans, which we did, so I bought 8 packages from a local grocer. Drove around inspecting some of the local plantation houses. Bluff Hall is a beautiful Greek revival style home built in 1832 by Allen Grover, a local plantation owner, for his daughter and her husband. It stands above the chalk cliffs on the river. (Pic 1) Then we drove around the Gaineswood plantation home. (Pic 2) Another Greek revival mansion that took 20 years to complete. The owner, a former Indian agent, started building it around his original log cabin and completed the project on the eve of the Civil War. He had a large slave population and, ironically, behind the plantation house is the projects - thought that was an odd place to build them since they are mostly occupied by minorities. The marina hosted a Halloween party for the boaters this evening despite the growing winds and dropping temperatures. Some Loopers dressed up but the best costumes were worn by marina employees - the witch and the pirate. The temps are dropping to 33 degrees tonight and 29 by tomorrow night. The winds are predicted to be between 15 - 25 mph, so we just might be here another day...or two. Happy Halloween!