Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Escape
The weather has been unbearably beautiful for the past week. For once I'm happy that my office area doesn't have any windows to take my mind away from the work at hand. By the time the weekend rolled around my husband and I decided that we would spend the day outside, no matter the venue.
I did some internet searching on Friday night, looking for trails and parks we hadn't visited. I found a few places, but they didn't seem to pique my interest, but I jotted them down anyway. During breakfast on Saturday morning Billy (my husband) mentioned biking on the Tammany Trace. My ears perked up. We hadn't been on the Trace for almost two years, since Billy had rotator cuff surgery. Our bikes were woefully weathered, having sat on the front porch all that time, so off we went to Wally World to buy 2 new bikes and bike seats.
The type of bikes we chose weren't that expensive, really. And they're adequate for the terrain of Southeastern Louisiana. And if you're biking more than a mile, good bike seats are imperative.
We're lucky in the fact that we live about a mile from the Slidell Trailhead section of the Tammany Trace.
The Trailhead is very well equipped, with bathrooms, drink machines, maps, picnic tables, a butterfly garden and a small playground.
But we weren't there for those amenities, we wanted to RIDE!! So off we went, biking to the west.
If you ever want to get away and clear your mind and just enjoy peace and quiet, I recommend biking any part of the Tammany Trace. With a few exceptions, the only sounds you hear are the wind, birds and the rustling of other small creatures as you pass them by. And the air smells so sweet! Yesterday's aroma was that of pine.
Having travelled the trace for many years before Billy's surgery, I struggled with trying to find creative ways to carry the necessities: water, lip gloss, snacks, etc. So when we bought the bikes, I picked up a really nice basket to carry these types of things. To my surprise, this basket is big enough to carry those items PLUS my Nikon with the zoom lens!
From the Slidell Trailhead to Bayou Lacombe is a 6 mile ride. Up to last year, the Trace ended here. But a new bridge was built to allow riders to cross the Bayou as well as take in the beauty of this waterway.
The building on the left will soon hold bathrooms and probably drink machines, as well as trace literature. The building on the right is for the bridge tender. We stopped and spoke with two different tenders on our round trip and these were very interesting individuals. If you can imagine just sitting around waiting for tall sailboats to come by so you can open the bridge, you can understand that these guys find innovative ways to spend their shifts. One of them - a sweet cajun man with a slight accent - showed us just where to drop pieces of bread in the bayou to cause a feeding frenzy among the fish. Yeah, their shifts are quite boring. But I digress.
This home sits on the banks of Bayou Lacombe. I want it.
After the Lacombe trailhead the path takes you into the past. This area is loaded with ancient live oaks, which are breath-taking.
The Louis Cousin cemetery is private, but I sure would like to look at some of those graves, they look very old.
The Tammany Trace is built on what used to be the train tracks. You can still spot sights like these if you look to either side of the pavement
I don't think I'd like climbing up that pole when it was new!
The train worker would have to climb up that ladder to change the signal light at the top of the pole.
After passing the banks of Bayou Lacombe the Trace comes to the City of Lacombe., a small community of less than ten thousand people. But it is a city with history, as this sign attests:
By the time we got to Lacombe we were very hungry, having had breakfast some 7 hours ago. My hairdresser told me about a great Mexican Restaurant in Lacombe called Pepe's, so we rode off to find it and we did! But it didn't open till 4 p.m.
The only alternative was to go to the grocery store on Highway 190, Lacombe's "Main Street". We parked our bikes and I went inside for cokes and snacks. While we ate, we spied this cute driver of a mini Cooper
We'd gone 10.5 miles and decided not to go on to the Fountainbleau State Park but decided to head back, as it was getting late in the afternoon and we wanted to make sure the bridge would not be closed.
The ride back was as pleasant as the ride to Lacombe. We had a slight breeze in our faces (which helped because humidity was a little high) and the sun was at a beautiful angle, enabling us to catch pictures like these:
So if you ever want to escape the everyday hassles, the traffic, the gas prices,
head on over to any one of the Tammany Trace Trailheads with your bike, skates, horse or feet. But remember
Your 4 legged friends aren't allowed.
crossposted at Nolafemmes.
I did some internet searching on Friday night, looking for trails and parks we hadn't visited. I found a few places, but they didn't seem to pique my interest, but I jotted them down anyway. During breakfast on Saturday morning Billy (my husband) mentioned biking on the Tammany Trace. My ears perked up. We hadn't been on the Trace for almost two years, since Billy had rotator cuff surgery. Our bikes were woefully weathered, having sat on the front porch all that time, so off we went to Wally World to buy 2 new bikes and bike seats.
The type of bikes we chose weren't that expensive, really. And they're adequate for the terrain of Southeastern Louisiana. And if you're biking more than a mile, good bike seats are imperative.
We're lucky in the fact that we live about a mile from the Slidell Trailhead section of the Tammany Trace.
The Trailhead is very well equipped, with bathrooms, drink machines, maps, picnic tables, a butterfly garden and a small playground.
But we weren't there for those amenities, we wanted to RIDE!! So off we went, biking to the west.
If you ever want to get away and clear your mind and just enjoy peace and quiet, I recommend biking any part of the Tammany Trace. With a few exceptions, the only sounds you hear are the wind, birds and the rustling of other small creatures as you pass them by. And the air smells so sweet! Yesterday's aroma was that of pine.
Having travelled the trace for many years before Billy's surgery, I struggled with trying to find creative ways to carry the necessities: water, lip gloss, snacks, etc. So when we bought the bikes, I picked up a really nice basket to carry these types of things. To my surprise, this basket is big enough to carry those items PLUS my Nikon with the zoom lens!
From the Slidell Trailhead to Bayou Lacombe is a 6 mile ride. Up to last year, the Trace ended here. But a new bridge was built to allow riders to cross the Bayou as well as take in the beauty of this waterway.
The building on the left will soon hold bathrooms and probably drink machines, as well as trace literature. The building on the right is for the bridge tender. We stopped and spoke with two different tenders on our round trip and these were very interesting individuals. If you can imagine just sitting around waiting for tall sailboats to come by so you can open the bridge, you can understand that these guys find innovative ways to spend their shifts. One of them - a sweet cajun man with a slight accent - showed us just where to drop pieces of bread in the bayou to cause a feeding frenzy among the fish. Yeah, their shifts are quite boring. But I digress.
This home sits on the banks of Bayou Lacombe. I want it.
After the Lacombe trailhead the path takes you into the past. This area is loaded with ancient live oaks, which are breath-taking.
The Louis Cousin cemetery is private, but I sure would like to look at some of those graves, they look very old.
The Tammany Trace is built on what used to be the train tracks. You can still spot sights like these if you look to either side of the pavement
I don't think I'd like climbing up that pole when it was new!
The train worker would have to climb up that ladder to change the signal light at the top of the pole.
After passing the banks of Bayou Lacombe the Trace comes to the City of Lacombe., a small community of less than ten thousand people. But it is a city with history, as this sign attests:
By the time we got to Lacombe we were very hungry, having had breakfast some 7 hours ago. My hairdresser told me about a great Mexican Restaurant in Lacombe called Pepe's, so we rode off to find it and we did! But it didn't open till 4 p.m.
The only alternative was to go to the grocery store on Highway 190, Lacombe's "Main Street". We parked our bikes and I went inside for cokes and snacks. While we ate, we spied this cute driver of a mini Cooper
We'd gone 10.5 miles and decided not to go on to the Fountainbleau State Park but decided to head back, as it was getting late in the afternoon and we wanted to make sure the bridge would not be closed.
The ride back was as pleasant as the ride to Lacombe. We had a slight breeze in our faces (which helped because humidity was a little high) and the sun was at a beautiful angle, enabling us to catch pictures like these:
So if you ever want to escape the everyday hassles, the traffic, the gas prices,
head on over to any one of the Tammany Trace Trailheads with your bike, skates, horse or feet. But remember
Your 4 legged friends aren't allowed.
crossposted at Nolafemmes.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Remnants of Katrina
Over 5 years Post-K and this house still sits where it was pushed by the storm next to I-10 in the East. This is in Irish Bayou.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Discovery's Last Flight
In about four hours the Space Shuttle will launch orbiter Discovery's final flight. Her first flight was August 30, 1984. She's flown 38 missions in the last 27 years. I'd say the American taxpayer has gotten its money's worth out of Discovery
As the Space Shuttle program winds down those of us who are still at work at the Michoud Assembly Facility, where the Shuttle's Fuel Tank (aka "ET") is manufactured, still get excited when there is a launch, even though we've seen over 100 of them. It never, ever gets old.
When you watch a launch and understand what it takes to get that bird into orbit it's hard to put your mind around it. Check out these stats:
a Shuttle must reach speeds of about 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour) to remain in orbit. The exact speed depends on the Shuttles orbital altitude, which normally ranges from 190 miles to 330 miles (304 kilometers to 528 kilometers) above sea level, depending on its mission. Each of the two solid rocket boosters on the Shuttle carries more than one million pounds of solid propellant. The Shuttles large external tank is loaded with more than 500,000 gallons of supercold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, which are mixed and burned together to form the fuel for the Shuttles three main rocket engines.
It takes 8 minutes to get from the launch pad into orbit.
To see a launch in person is an experience you never forget. What stands out in my mind is the time it takes for the wall of sound to travel from the launch pad to the viewing area a few miles away.
Here is a slide show with images from 132 shuttle flights in 132 seconds
We've been on a long, exhilarating and heartbreaking journey and I hate to see it end.
What has impressed me the most in working in the Shuttle Program - especially at Michoud - is the carmaraderie. It's almost a family feeling, along with some of the dysfunctions that take place in a family. It's been an incredible experience.
I'm disappointed that there doesn't seem to be any clear direction for the future of America's Space program.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Scuzzbucket (Wacko) of the Week
Georgia State Representative Bobby Franklin
This one really should be locked up in a padded room.
Bobby Franklin — who last year proposed making rape and domestic violence "victims" into "accusers" — has introduced a 10-page bill that would criminalize miscarriages and make abortion in Georgia completely illegal. Both miscarriages and abortions would be potentially punishable by death: any "prenatal murder" in the words of the bill, including "human involvement" in a miscarriage, would be a felony and carry a penalty of life in prison or death. Basically, it's everything an "pro-life" activist could want aside from making all women who've had abortions wear big red "A"s on their chests.
Excerpt of an article from Mother Jones dot com.
This is truely insane, but hey, who am I to judge? Bobby's got it all figgered out.
Not so fast, BP
From the Houma Courier
Almost a year after the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent poisoning of the Gulf of Mexico, new oil is still washing up on local beaches, including Elmer's Island.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham called the departure unacceptable, especially since new oil is being discovered in places like Bay Jimmy, Red Fish Bay and Pass-a-Loutre.
Oiled birds are still being recovered in these areas and others. A dolphin was also rescued from the area recently and later released off the Florida coast, Barham said.
The most distressing report, though, comes out of Elmer's Island, near Grand Isle. Barham said there's new oil showing up on its beaches, including tar balls and a submerged mat of crude.
Elmer's Island, once a tourist hotspot, remains closed to fishing and recreation.
Barham said he has received mixed signals from BP and the federal government on whether either will continue to clean new instances of oil after the close of this month.
Federal law, though, gives the state final say over when an area is determined cleaned, Barham said.
"In that regard, I have some security," Barham said. "But BP has sent some subtle messages that it wants to take the position that nature should takes its course at this point and that they have basically cleaned everything up. They think they're on the backside of this. But we're going to hold them accountable."
Mike Utsler, COO of BP's Gulf Coast Restoration Organization, said the seasonal low tide of winter was expected to reveal tar mats near shore and tar balls are still washing up in limited areas across the coast.
Utsler, who has hosted Facebook question sessions and is serving as the public face for BP's clean up, contends BP's efforts won't stop when a beach is cleaned.
"BP is going to be in the communities of the Gulf Coast for the long-term, and part of our continuing job will be to closely monitor the shoreline for any signs of tarred material," he said. "We have specially trained reconnaissance teams that patrol the shoreline looking for any signs of tar balls, and if we find any, we will still have locally based response teams and equipment ready to rapidly clean the area."
Initially, he said BP's goal was to have all of the Gulf Coast's "amenity beaches" cleaned up in time for spring break.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
A New Nature Trail
When I was in my 20's New Orleans' Mardi Gras season involved partying and driving home with a buzz after the parades. 30 years later I'm not so much into that scene. In fact, my 'adrenaline scene' nowadays is nature photography. This is one of the many things that my husband and I enjoy doing together. Our hunger for new places to explore was satiated on this past Friday when we ventured into the Camp Salmen Nature Park a few miles from our house in Slidell.
The park opened in September of 2010 and is still in the building process. It will be a jewel when it is complete.
Camp Salmen was a Boy Scout retreat in the 1940's; before that it was the site of a trading post in the Bayou Liberty region which was probably built in the early 1800s. Later it was the site of a major ferry across Bayou Liberty which operated from the early 1800s
all the way into the early 1900s.
The day was one of those perfect days that Southeastern Louisiana residents love: low humidity, breezy and sunny. I'll let the next group of pictures do the talking for me.
click on pictures for larger version
The park has a huge area that begs nature lovers to bring a blanket and have a picnic lunch. For those with kids that like to explore there is an enormous amount of land to discover. There is a wide variety of wildlife to observe, but you have to be patient and quiet to find it. I recommend this area for lovers old and young to visit to enjoy each others' company in a beautiful setting.
I also recommend this area for young families who tend to watch their kids and teach them about the beauty of nature. This is not the place to let your kids run wild and scream and leave trash behind. This is a place to be at awe with Mother Nature and respect it.
The park opened in September of 2010 and is still in the building process. It will be a jewel when it is complete.
Camp Salmen was a Boy Scout retreat in the 1940's; before that it was the site of a trading post in the Bayou Liberty region which was probably built in the early 1800s. Later it was the site of a major ferry across Bayou Liberty which operated from the early 1800s
all the way into the early 1900s.
The day was one of those perfect days that Southeastern Louisiana residents love: low humidity, breezy and sunny. I'll let the next group of pictures do the talking for me.
click on pictures for larger version
The park has a huge area that begs nature lovers to bring a blanket and have a picnic lunch. For those with kids that like to explore there is an enormous amount of land to discover. There is a wide variety of wildlife to observe, but you have to be patient and quiet to find it. I recommend this area for lovers old and young to visit to enjoy each others' company in a beautiful setting.
I also recommend this area for young families who tend to watch their kids and teach them about the beauty of nature. This is not the place to let your kids run wild and scream and leave trash behind. This is a place to be at awe with Mother Nature and respect it.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Scuzzbucket of the Week
Harvey Almorn Updyke Jr, redneck extrodinaire.
Harvey A. Updyke Jr., 62, of Dadeville, Ala., was arrested in connection with the poisoning of iconic oak trees at Toomer's Corner near Auburn University.The trees, which are 130 years old, are Auburn icons. They are not expected to survive the application of a powerful herbicide called Spike 80DF. Police tracked Updyke after he called a sports talk radio show and claimed to have poisoned the trees. Updyke is also said to have placed a call to a turf management professor at Auburn University.
Auburn discovered the poisoning after taking soil samples on January 28, a day after a man called a syndicated radio show based in Birmingham saying he had used the herbicide on the trees.
During that radio show, Harvey boasted to host Paul Finebaum as follows:
"The weekend after the Iron Bowl, I went to Auburn, Ala., because I live 30 miles away, and I poisoned the Toomer's trees,", saying he was at the Iron Bowl.
Calling himself "Al from Dadeville," he said he used Spike 80DF, also known as tebuthiuron, and the trees "definitely will die." The caller signed off with, "Roll Damn Tide."
From an espn sports blog: If there's any real justice in the SEC, Updyke will spend his time in prison watching replays of last season's Iron Bowl, in which his beloved Crimson Tide blew a 24-0 lead in a 28-27 loss to Auburn. Or, even worse, he'll be required to watch an endless marathon of the Mike DuBose era.
Harvey has kids named Bear and Crimson…of course he does.
Bond was set at $50,000. If convicted, Updyke could face one to 10 years in prison.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Film Industry in Hollywood South=Niche Housing Demand
By Jenny Peterson, New Orleans CityBusiness
Updates by Louisiana Entertainment staff
New Orleans’ robust film industry means high demand for short-term rental properties in and around the New Orleans area, and realtors and property owners are jumping on the market.
There are 50 private homes listed on the New Orleans Film Commission’s website as temporary housing for cast and crew. Numerous location scouts and realtors are also listed on the site, offering their services for those in the industry.
The market is so in demand that Robyn Flanery with Restoration Realty has made finding properties for the film industry her full-time job.
“The most lucrative (part) is the cast and crew housing. They want a house with all utilities paid and furnished,” Flanery said. “It’s kind of a niche market because a lot of the things out there for the film industry are not listed on the (Multiple Listing Service).”
It’s takes some creativity to be successful, Flanery said, especially with helping find set locations.
More homeowners have shown interest in listing their properties as well. Flanery said there recently was a seminar for property owners in the English Turn subdivision to learn how to list their homes.
Realtors’ commissions vary for each listing.
“I’ve gotten 60 percent of first month rent, some deals I get 15 percent of each month’s rent. It totally depends. Sometimes I get a flat fee as a consultant,” she said. “I may rent your house for $12,000 a month or $3,000 a month.”
The New Orleans Film Commission accepts submissions and photos from property owners and lists available properties on its website. That includes housing for cast and crew as well as film locations.
Flanery said property owners should factor in the cost for utilities when considering how much to rent their properties for and said to make sure they are working with a production that’s registered with the city’s film commission.
While there are plenty of houses available, there is a high demand for more commercial space in the Garden District and Bywater areaa for post-production offices, Flanery said.
“That’s where they want to have their production offices,” she said. “If we continue to have decent weather and no more issues, I can see this being a really sustainable industry.”
Update: Owners and realtors desiring to make available their properties as potential filming locations can also list them on the Louisiana Entertainment website here.
Updates by Louisiana Entertainment staff
New Orleans’ robust film industry means high demand for short-term rental properties in and around the New Orleans area, and realtors and property owners are jumping on the market.
There are 50 private homes listed on the New Orleans Film Commission’s website as temporary housing for cast and crew. Numerous location scouts and realtors are also listed on the site, offering their services for those in the industry.
The market is so in demand that Robyn Flanery with Restoration Realty has made finding properties for the film industry her full-time job.
“The most lucrative (part) is the cast and crew housing. They want a house with all utilities paid and furnished,” Flanery said. “It’s kind of a niche market because a lot of the things out there for the film industry are not listed on the (Multiple Listing Service).”
It’s takes some creativity to be successful, Flanery said, especially with helping find set locations.
More homeowners have shown interest in listing their properties as well. Flanery said there recently was a seminar for property owners in the English Turn subdivision to learn how to list their homes.
Realtors’ commissions vary for each listing.
“I’ve gotten 60 percent of first month rent, some deals I get 15 percent of each month’s rent. It totally depends. Sometimes I get a flat fee as a consultant,” she said. “I may rent your house for $12,000 a month or $3,000 a month.”
The New Orleans Film Commission accepts submissions and photos from property owners and lists available properties on its website. That includes housing for cast and crew as well as film locations.
Flanery said property owners should factor in the cost for utilities when considering how much to rent their properties for and said to make sure they are working with a production that’s registered with the city’s film commission.
While there are plenty of houses available, there is a high demand for more commercial space in the Garden District and Bywater areaa for post-production offices, Flanery said.
“That’s where they want to have their production offices,” she said. “If we continue to have decent weather and no more issues, I can see this being a really sustainable industry.”
Update: Owners and realtors desiring to make available their properties as potential filming locations can also list them on the Louisiana Entertainment website here.
Jazz Fest 2011
Look what I bought this morning before work
From the art4now website a nice write up of Jimmy Buffett and poster artist and local radio god, Garland Robinette.
I can hardly wait for it to arrive!
From the art4now website a nice write up of Jimmy Buffett and poster artist and local radio god, Garland Robinette.
I can hardly wait for it to arrive!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Another Return from the storm
More than five years after being inundated with over than 5 feet of storm surge which compromised the exterior on five of its six floors, The Towers Building in Slidell is reopening this week.
The Towers Building post Katrina
The Towers Building - 2011
The parish bought the building, called The Towers, in December 1991 from Pelican Homestead and Savings for $250,000 to use as the state's public health unit, with eventual plans to make the building its main office space in eastern St. Tammany.
The long-vacant building, which the bank had repossessed, needed significant structural repairs, and the parish had to remove asbestos throughout, before it could occupy the first offices in March 1993.
The Towers Building is the parish's all-in-one location for residents who live in eastern St. Tammany. Returning to the renovated building are the following agencies:
- Registrar of Voters
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- St. Tammany Parish District Attorney's Office
- St. Tammany Parish Department of Permits & Regulatory
- St.Tammany Parish Community Action Agency
- St.Tammany Parish Assessor and the parish's
- St.Tammany ParishArchive Management office
- St.Tammany Parish Clerk of Court
The Towers Building post Katrina
The Towers Building - 2011
The parish bought the building, called The Towers, in December 1991 from Pelican Homestead and Savings for $250,000 to use as the state's public health unit, with eventual plans to make the building its main office space in eastern St. Tammany.
The long-vacant building, which the bank had repossessed, needed significant structural repairs, and the parish had to remove asbestos throughout, before it could occupy the first offices in March 1993.
The Towers Building is the parish's all-in-one location for residents who live in eastern St. Tammany. Returning to the renovated building are the following agencies:
- Registrar of Voters
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- St. Tammany Parish District Attorney's Office
- St. Tammany Parish Department of Permits & Regulatory
- St.Tammany Parish Community Action Agency
- St.Tammany Parish Assessor and the parish's
- St.Tammany ParishArchive Management office
- St.Tammany Parish Clerk of Court
Monday, February 07, 2011
We found some pelicans
It seems like every day in the last week of January was cold and/or rainy. So when we awoke Saturday to sunshine, we decided to head to New Orleans East to Dong Phuong bakery for some
Banh Mi.
Click on pictures for larger versions
For those of you who don't know what Bahn Mi is, it's basically a Vietnamese PoBoy and VERY delicious. At Dong Phuong they have a large variety of these sandwich for only $2.85/each! Click the link above for more info and a menu.
After getting the sandwiches, five loaves of pistollettes and 2 meatpies, we headed back down Highway 90 armed with our Nikons in search for whatever we could find (hubby and I are avid photographers if you haven't figured that out by now).
Our first stop: The Michoud Assembly Facility where I've worked for 29 years.
The next leg of our journey was down Highway 90 towards Lake Catherine to take a picture of all of the camp signs (the subject of another post).
Before we could get there, though, we had to stop for lunch at Bayou Bar & Grill in Venetian Isles (at the foot of the Chef Pass Bridge). The shrimp poboys were great and we were on our way again.
After getting thru Lake Catherine we headed towards Slidell on LA433. We saw some birds wading in the water and pulled over to try to get some pictures at Salt
View Larger Map
As we were photographing a young pelican coming in for a landing, a couple pulled up in a car to tell us that there were many more pelicans down the road a bit, so we headed into the heart of Salt Bayou. Sure enough there was a group of birds hiding from the strong north winds sunning themselves.
The wind was brutal, even in the sun. It got to a point where I couldn't see thru my viewfinder because my eyes were watering so badly.
We were also told that more pelicans could be found in the Carr Drive area of Slidell, and that's where we headed next.
View Larger Map
At the very end of Carr Drive was a large group of pelicans enjoying the late afternoon sun as well as other types of birds.
We took so many pictures! As soon as I sort thru them I will post additional pictures.
We had the bahn mi for dinner and it was DELICIOUS!
Banh Mi.
Click on pictures for larger versions
For those of you who don't know what Bahn Mi is, it's basically a Vietnamese PoBoy and VERY delicious. At Dong Phuong they have a large variety of these sandwich for only $2.85/each! Click the link above for more info and a menu.
After getting the sandwiches, five loaves of pistollettes and 2 meatpies, we headed back down Highway 90 armed with our Nikons in search for whatever we could find (hubby and I are avid photographers if you haven't figured that out by now).
Our first stop: The Michoud Assembly Facility where I've worked for 29 years.
The next leg of our journey was down Highway 90 towards Lake Catherine to take a picture of all of the camp signs (the subject of another post).
Before we could get there, though, we had to stop for lunch at Bayou Bar & Grill in Venetian Isles (at the foot of the Chef Pass Bridge). The shrimp poboys were great and we were on our way again.
After getting thru Lake Catherine we headed towards Slidell on LA433. We saw some birds wading in the water and pulled over to try to get some pictures at Salt
View Larger Map
As we were photographing a young pelican coming in for a landing, a couple pulled up in a car to tell us that there were many more pelicans down the road a bit, so we headed into the heart of Salt Bayou. Sure enough there was a group of birds hiding from the strong north winds sunning themselves.
The wind was brutal, even in the sun. It got to a point where I couldn't see thru my viewfinder because my eyes were watering so badly.
We were also told that more pelicans could be found in the Carr Drive area of Slidell, and that's where we headed next.
View Larger Map
At the very end of Carr Drive was a large group of pelicans enjoying the late afternoon sun as well as other types of birds.
We took so many pictures! As soon as I sort thru them I will post additional pictures.
We had the bahn mi for dinner and it was DELICIOUS!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
Although it has been open for over four years now, there really wasn't a lot of hoopla about the reopening of the "Bay Bridge"... -
New Orleans will soon be welcoming home a New Orleans native and his wife. Jeff St. Romain is leaving his post as president of Volunteers...