Wind Warning Today
Toledo Bend Lake is rated one of the top 5 Bass fishing lakes in the country. 65 miles in length with 1200 miles of shoreline, Toledo Bend Lake, or Reservoir as it is technically known, stretches for 65 miles along the southern border between Texas and Louisiana. Toledo Bend Dam, which created the lake, is the result of the only public water conservation, hydroelectric power, and recreation project to be completed without permanent Federal Government financing. The dam itself, located on RR 255 near Burkeville, TX and Anacoco, LA, 
is an amazing sight in its own right, especially when the water is released and power is being generated.
Fishing is not the only attraction for this beautiful area. On both the Texas and Louisiana shores, recreation opportunities abound. One of the newer and most attractive spots for campers is South Toledo Bend State Park.
Located in Anacoco, Louisiana, near the southeastern lower edge of the lake, South Toledo Bend State Park sits on several peninsulas that extend out into Toldeo Bend Lake. Campsites and cabins mostly sit high atop hills, sloping down to beautiful beaches and lake views.
When the park was first opened, we took our granddaughters on an inaugural trip to the lake resort. Our campsite was wonderful – sitting high on a bluff with a steep, grassy slope with a path that led to the edge of the lake, or at least what USED to be the edge of the lake. For several hundred feet out, the lakebed lay exposed to the sun and park visitors. We were surprised to learn that the water level of the reservoir had been lowered by nearly 30 feet for “maintenance.” Treasures abounded. Bones of small animals that had long since left the earth, shells of little critters, rocks for the rockhound – all lay there for the collecting. 
But most amazing was the petrified wood the area is known for. We came home with a collector specimen of petrified palm wood, the state fossil of Louisiana.
But the collection from the exposed lake bottom was not to be the most memorable event of this trip. Late Saturday afternoon, a gentle wind started blowing off the lake up the hills to the campground area. As the afternoon moved toward sundown, the wind increased. We decided to pick up any loose items we had outside. There was no rain, and there were no clouds. Still, the wind kept getting stronger and stronger. The wind was now blowing at a sustained 25-30 miles per hour. It was strange and frightening, to say the least. Our granddaughters were huddled in their bunk room, afraid that they would be the stars of the next Wizard of Oz tale.
With the wind howling around us, we decided to bring the awning of our trailer in. Hmmm…. Should have thought to do that several hours earlier! As we were undoing the guide ropes that held it tied to the ground, a strong gust of wind caught the awning, and ripped one of the support arms from the trailer wall. Barely holding onto the other arm, we managed to roll the injured awning up before it flew over the trailer, and left us altogether. We drove the four hours to our home with the damaged awning tied to the side of the trailer with bungy cords. Even though we worked at repairing it several times, the connection was never the same.
The moral of this story: Believe every tale any seasoned RV owner has ever told you about awnings, and err on the side of caution if you even THINK wind might be an issue.