We woke to sunny blue skies. So weird knowing a tropical storm is happening not too far from here. We called the state park in Alabama where we hoped to stay tonight. They said the storm was scheduled to land at 1 pm and advised us to stay put. Okay, time for a bike ride. We decided to explore the Tammany Trace heading south, managing to ride about 20 miles. This direction didn’t have the sweet little towns, but it was a beautiful cool ride thru the woods.
The highlight was unexpectingly coming across Bayou Lacombe. It seemed to be a local gathering place to watch the canoes, kayaks and fishing boats float by. Funny story. As we were chatting wih everyone, one local inquired that since we were from California have we ever had crawfish. We assured him we had our fill and even caught them in Lake Tahoe when camping. He then asked, “Do you know where they came from?” As he tells it, “When the Acadians were sent out of Nova Scotia the lobsters missed them so much that they followed them all the way to Louisiana. But the trip took so long and took so much out of them that’s the reason crawdads are so much smaller than lobsters.” Good one.
Did you know “bayuk” was originally a Choctaw word meaning “slow moving water?” The French gave it their own twist and it’s now known as bayou. Things you learn on a morning ride hanging out at the bayou.
This afternoon we took an eco tour thru the swamp. It was incredible and exceeded all my expectations. Our guide, Desi, was a retired game warden who was raised on this particular swamp, Honey Bayou. It got its named because at one time there was a large number of honey bees here. Desi did an incredible job educating us on the types of flora, animal life and telling us stories of the bayou. We learned what plants were edible and what could be used for medicine. He navigated us through narrow little back bayous regaling us with his stories. Think of the Disneyland jungle ride, only it was the real thing.
We also boated past a Cajun village nestled on the water that has been there for generations. They make their living fishing in the bayou and Gulf. Today was opening day for shrimp season. We saw a shrimp boat heading out.
The wildlife was pretty spectacular too. Of course lots of gators and turtles...
birds such as the yellow crowned night heron, blue heron and egret. We also heard a beautiful bird doing its mating call. It makes the trek every year from the Yucatán, some 600 miles, to settle in the bayou for the spring. I wasn’t able to capture a picture of this fast little fellow, but he was a brilliant little yellow canary...
and we had a good time watching the raccoons too. They put on quite the show begging for food. I think they’ve seen a swamp tour boat or two.
Right now it’s 10 pm and we’re hanging out at a local pizza place watching the Warriors. We just got kicked out so we’re taking our pizza and moving this operation to the beach bar. Be right back...so the bars closed, but they are letting us hang out to watch the game. What a game!! Good thing we got the code to get back in the campground.
