I'm not really in Houston, of course. That's just where my airplane landed. After taking a few pictures of the Houston skyline I drove to my real destination: Lafayette, Louisiana, where I planned to take pictures of the swamps and bayous.
As it happens, that hasn't worked out very well yet. I spent all day Tuesday driving around bayou country and really didn't see very much swampiness at all. I think that on Wednesday I'm going to drive over to Biloxi to see what it has to offer, and then circle back to New Orleans, which I've never visited. On Thursday, after doing a bit more research, I'll tackle the swamps again.
In the meantime, here's sunrise over a small river that runs through sugar cane country, of which I saw plenty.
As it turns out, few swamps are paved! Most any roads as you get down into the delta area are going to be either raised above grade or protected by jetties. There should be plenty of opportunities for a genuine swamp experience to the east of Lafayette, especially around the Atchafalaya River. A pretty long stretch of I-10 goes right over it. You'll probably need to take a boat excursion though to get into the thick of it.
Are rental cars cheaper now? I'd love to do a driving tour through parts of the South and take pictures. I've never been to the deep South before.
Forget the swamps. Lafayette is a place for eating! (New Orleans too, but that goes without saying.)
Acme!
Hey Boats -
Did you see this?
https://www.businessinsider.com/navy-relieves-leaders-of-submarine-that-crashed-into-underwater-mountain-2021-11
{snip}
The command leadership of the attack submarine USS Connecticut were fired after an incident in the South China Sea early last month.
Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, who commands the US Navy's 7th Fleet, decided to relieve the nuclear-powered Seawolf-class attack submarine's commanding officer, Cmdr. Cameron Aljilani, as well as Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Cashin, the executive officer, and Master Chief Sonar Technician Cory Rogers, the chief of boat, due to loss of confidence on Thursday, the Navy said in a statement.
The decision comes just over a month after the submarine grounded on a seamount, which is to say it collided with an underwater mountain........................................After reviewing the investigation, the commander concluded that "sound judgement, prudent decision-making and adherence to required procedures in navigation planning, watch team execution and risk management could have prevented the incident," a 7th Fleet statement said Thursday.
{snip}
But they got rid of COB too? I wonder what that's about
The SC Sea is deep no doubt with a mean depth of 3900 ft or so but a large area is only 390 feet deep on average.
Interesting situation
Who knows? It is, after all, the Navy. 😎
Barataria Preserve visitor center - beautiful, long boardwalk through the swamp there!
That’s a lot of driving on top of the plane travel.
New Orleans, what a treat! Don't forget to take in a Happy Hour Lingerie Show, or hit a drive through daiquiri shop, or see Bridge City! And if you have time Fat City in Metairie oh and Algiers oh and if you go to the Quarter go a little further to Frenchman Street oh and and and...
You sir are a Lucky Dog [sic].
Already jealous of how well you will be eating...
You have some fine driving opportunities in Louisiana. Four of the five longest bridges in the U.S. are in the state. Leave Lafayette and drive over the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, 18.2 miles long, and enjoy the views of the Henderson Swamp as you roll along. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is even longer. The French Press in Lafayette will rustle you up a strong morning coffee and boudin biscuits. The Old Tyme Grocery has some fine fried shrimp and oysters and will serve them till 10 pm. Alas, our mission was beyond Louisiana so we could only eat at the two places, late night and early morning, before moving on.
I will be curious to see if the smell the swamp, of fecund living and dying vegetation, if the hiding hordes of insects bother you at all....or, even if you notice?
If you he some deet you'll be fine.
This was kind of meant as a jokey post, but seriously, take some real care and concern to avoid insect and especially tick bites.
Google Walmart and buy some Cutters or equally serious insect/tick repellent...and wear some almost always when you are out of the vehicle.
Nag, nag, nag....but caring.
Be Good and Best Wishes, Traveller
Oh, I agree with E-6. Louisiana in general, and the Cajun country where Lafayette is in particular, is a place for eating. But I haven't been there in several years and, according to Yelp, my favorite restaurants in both Lafayette and New Iberia have since closed.
Revise your schedule. Go straight to New Orleans. Do a boat trip out into the bayou from there.
Also, summon Marian and cats, sell up from Irvine, move to New Orleans.
Eat some alligator and other things from the swamp. Everyone should have a dinner made up of "Things dragged from the swamp and then cooked" once in their life. Oh, and Maque Choux.
Same thing.
Houston is just a swamp with a parking lot on top.