Bayou country . . .

Sat Mar 12th - Last stop in Texas was Beaumont Dunkin' Donuts where we chatted with a couple of locals - talked mostly about oil in Texas (what else?) and how nearby Spindletop  was the birthplace of the modern oil industry in 1901. Also, Al said we will see alligators on our planned route along the Creole Nature Trail (La 82)  in Louisiana.

John & Al told us about Spindletop

Leaving Texas from Beaumont - oil refineries all over the place!

another one . . .

and another . . .

ditto

Closer to the Gulf now - waterways everywhere!

Lots of these long low bridges -
this one at Sabine Lake

Texas behind us . . . and now on a scenic byway
into "Louisiana Outback" along the Gulf of Mexico

All along this route we saw the off-shore oil rigs of the Gulf - LOTS of them!   

. . . every building on stilts!

This drive took us through the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge and then by ferry over to Cameron and the Cameron National Wildlife Refuge, so we saw lots of birds - mostly beautiful white egrets (we think!) but many others, too - also, cattle grazing (Brahmas!), shrimpboats, lots of fishing and some "crawdaddin'",  and more and more structures on those stilts.

Not far from shore at Holly Beach we stopped for lunch near here - walked a bit on the beach and picked up a few shells - even more picturesque than I can capture with my camera . . . 

Swamp and marshes on both sides of the road!

And THIS is where I saw my FIRST alligator - big and gray and sunning himself on a log floating in the marsh!  And then I saw THREE MORE alligators -  sad to say I didn't get a picture as we were just driving by and there they were.  I didn't really want to stop and get out!

And snakes!  One slithered across the road right in front of us - and we saw some on the marsh banks - - - this had Harold singing a new refrain . . .

"In the swamp, in the swamp -
where the snakes and gators romp . . . "

Then moving a bit more northerly towards our day's planned stop, Abbeville, still plenty of water in the form of swamp on both sides of the road.  Then we crossed over the Intracoastal Waterway and found more solid ground at the roadside. Amazingly, some beautiful estate-style homes along the way, but also more of the ramshackle huts that we've seen lots of in the South.  

. . . coming in to Abbeville

So here we are at Abbeville RV Park.  Below is our campsite on Crawfish Lane - very pretty here, very quiet (except for the birdsong which is delightful) and only 75 degrees but steamy with humidity!

Sun Mar 13th - Started with a nice long walk .  Did I say this already . .   Steamy!  And it's still morning!  But it's beautiful and all so "tropical" and new to a couple of Washingtonians!!  Swampy along the road we walked, happened by a few snakes and lizards, big black butterflies and some funny little "mud-piles" (which we later heard are snake holes!), and bird song all along the way!!! 

Some mud piles in the grass 

. . . and a close-up - interesting construction!

Then on the road again - over through New Iberia (where the Tabasco sauce comes from!) and then down a simply gorgeous drive along La-182, the Old Spanish Trail!

Passing thru one of the little towns on the Old Spanish Trail

Stopped in little Jeanerette at Little Lil's for a yummy shrimp po boy sandwich!  OMG!  Delicious!

"two shrimp po boys, please"

Lil's - a dumpy looking place, but with rave reviews!

Hard to get a good picture rolling down the road, so not a great shot -
but you get the idea!

A very bumpy two-lane took us past gorgeous antebellum houses with hot-pink azaleas, stately oaks hung with Spanish moss, sugar cane fields and, everywhere, shrimp ("Live or Boiled") for sale. We paralleled the very watery Atchafalaya Basin until we crossed its mouth at Morgan City and then - it was north to New Orleans.

The last stretch of highway here showed us more and more of this watery landscape as swamps flank the raised roadway for miles.  More trees, more Spanish moss and bridges galore - we're in Bayou country!  

Swamp in the city!

Stopped at a roadside stand to buy fresh local strawberries and oranges and pulled into Bayou Segnette State Park - ready to start our adventure tomorrow in New Orleans!!

So, now it's Monday morning and we're getting a slow start - but we have a great plan for today - a long-awaited scooter ride around bayou-country!   Stay tuned!!