Bayou Lacombe Centre

For the first time in over a month hubby and I had a Saturday where we could do some hiking and picture taking. It was a wonderful release.

A place that's been on our"gotta visit" list is the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters in Lacombe, just 15 minutes from our house.

Upon entering the site, you're drawn to the landscaping. The attention to detail is apparent and it reaches back over 200 years.






This site is rich in history and beauty. The August heat appeared to be too much to handle, but it really wasn't at this site because of the abundance of trees. We arrived at 10 AM and were done by noon.

Here is a brief rundown of the history of this paradise in Lacombe, taken from one of the info boards:

Likely a portion of French or Spanish Land Grant during the Colonial Era, the earliest known owner was Louis Reggio prior to 1820. The property changed hands a number of times later that century, with the Cousin and Ducre names common today in the Lacombe area among the owners during this period into the 20th century.

The land was acquired in 1935 by Judge Wayne Borah (the youngest Federal Judge in the country at the time), who built a residence.










This structure is a Chimney Swift Tower






He and his family did extensive landscaping, laying out the foundation which is known today as the "Bayou Gardens" of Lacombe.



In 1946 the home and gardens were acquired by former (crooked) Louisiana Governor Richard Leche, who settled into the lush surroundings with his family and continued the cultivation of the Bayou Gardens.









In 1956 the land was acquired by the Redemptorist religious order and in 1960 the Holy Redeemer Seminary opened. The seminary closed in 1980, but members of the order continued to live at the site, holding religious retreats. And apparently, a cemetery was established for the priests that stayed until the end of their lives.







The rear of the residence gives way to a great lawn that faces Bayou Lacombe











This site is loaded with walking trails, as shown in the map below



There are walking trails off to each side of the great lawn that are easy to maneuver and full of small surprises if you look for them









A trail that begins at the parking lot of the Refuge leads down to a grotto



which leads to a rudimentary brick staircase:





Made with local bricks

This same trail will also bring you to a lovely little area to sit and ponder the beauty of Bayou Lacombe



If you walk it a little while longer, it brings you to another pensive sight overlooking a pond.






The visitor center is huge and loaded with information and displays.




This little girl was killed by a car in Bayou Teche and her remains were saved and brought to the headquarters





The Headquarters represents the eight of Southeast Louisiana (SELA) Refuges:

Atchafalaya (prounounced A-Cha-FaH-lie-ya)

Bayou Sauvage (through which I traverse on my daily commute)

Bayou Teche (prounounced Tesh)

Big Branch Marsh (in our backyard)

Bogue Chitto (prounounced Boog gah Chitta)

Breton - close to my heart because it's a bird refuge

Delta National Wildlife Refuge

Mandalay - only accessible by boat, near Houma, Louisiana.



A visit to the Bayou Lacombe Center is a win-win situation any time of the year. Besides all of the hiking trails, the kids would love the Visitors Center for the displays (lots of interactive stuff there too). The best part is that admission is FREE!! You can get to the Bayou Lacombe Center by taking exit 74 on I-12. Staffed by volunteers, the visitor center is open Thursdays-Saturdays from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Volunteers are needed to help run the visitor center. Please contact the volunteer coordinator at 985-882-2024.

History that should NOT be forgotten

Another Trailhead for the Tammany Trace

Seventeen years after its first segment was opened, the Tammany Trace continues to evolve.

A handful of St. Tammany Parish officials gathered in the stifling late-morning heat Monday to mark the latest amenity on the iconic recreational trail that cuts across the parish: the new trailhead at Bayou Lacombe.

The trailhead, which features public restrooms, water fountains and a platform to view the bayou and surrounding marsh, also includes a new bridge tender's office. The office is staffed from sunrise to sunset seven days a week with a Tammany Trace employee who raises and lowers the drawbridge for marine traffic on Bayou Lacombe. The bridge stays in the up position overnight.

The new trailhead, just a block or so west of South Oaklawn Drive, cost $255,657 and was completed in July. It was built by McDonald Construction of Slidell.

The state Department of Transportation and Development covered 90 percent of the cost through a grant. The parish footed the other 10 percent.

The trailhead will provide another location "where citizens can rest and view the beauty of our parish," St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis said before snipping the ceremonial ribbon.

Davis said the new trailhead is part of the continuous growth of the Tammany Trace, which opened its first 8.5-mile segment between Mandeville and Abita Springs 17 years ago.

"It will continue to change," Davis said of the trace, which last year had more than 300,000 runners, walkers and horseback riders. "We have big dreams of inter-connecting to a lot of locations."

Davis said the parish has cobbled money from a variety of sources -- including grants, franchise fees and funds raised by the Tammany Trace Foundation -- to underwrite the improvements. He said routine maintenance of the asphalt trail is handled by the parish's Public Works Department.

The next phase of the trace will be connecting the Slidell trailhead to Camp Salmen and to Heritage Park. Those phases should open soon, Davis said, completing the 31-mile trace that stretches from Slidell to Mandeville and then north through Abita Springs and into downtown Covington.

For more information, visit the Tammany Trace's website at www.tammanytrace.org.

 

This is your life!

Louisiana's Natural and Political History

Less than a mile down the road from Fountainbleu State Park toward Mandeville is the Northlake Nature Center , a four-hundred acre park that is absolutely beautiful.

(click on the pictures below to see the full sized version)




This park offers the opportunity to witness four different ecosystems AND a first hand look at an historic example of crooked Louisiana politicians. A recent archaeological survey revealed the Center site as home to ancient peoples more than 500 years ago.

At the end of the initial boardwalk, you will come to an unfinished "hideaway" club house



As stated in the photo below, this exclusive hideaway golf course initially was the idea of Louisiana Governor Leche in the late 1930's for his political cronies. This governor has the unique distinction of being the first Louisiana governor sentenced to prison.




Leche and several of his political pasls were indicted in what were termed the "Louisiana Scandals"



The hideaway was destroyed by fire in March 2010 and is not accessible. However, hubby and I took a trip into the park before the fire and got some of the following shots.








Beyond this piece of history is lush, serene swampland and forest.


There are several trails to choose from, all of them pretty primitive, so be prepared to watch where you step!





The boardwalk crosses what is purported to be an active beaver pond



But on this day we only spotted friendly turtles


Lots of turtles!


There are several benches along the boardwalks and paths through the woods.






This area seems to be where they hold nature seminars and is probably used for the annual Great Louisiana Birdfest that happens here.



We spotted this cypress at the edge of the pond.


Notice how the lower branches are bent down as a result of Katrina's winds.


There are several overlooks constructed throughout the park where you can take in all that this little environmental gem has to offer.





These pictures were taken in February of this year, thus the reason that everything looks muted. If August weren't so darned steamy, I'd love to be out there right now with my camera.


This photo whispers about the circle of life to me. You can see the victims of Katrina being used to nourish the new growth.


Amidst all that gray stood this proud little tree, all decked out in new green leaves.





Throughout the park are bridges which cross Bayou Castine







I'm not an avid hiker, but I managed to walk around the park for several hours and didn't feel the least bit tired (with the exception of my bursitis, but that's a sign of my age :) ).

If you ever want to get away from it all and just listen to the sounds of the woods and waterways, make your way to the Nothlake Nature Center to unwind.

Danziger Trial Ends

5 NOPD officers guilty in post-Katrina Danziger Bridge shootings, cover-up


Danziger victims James Brissette and Ronald Madison


Justice. Not for Lance Madison's brother: Police chased down Ronald and Lance Madison, who had been walking toward the Gentilly side of the bridge, a ways ahead of the Bartholomew family. Hearing the gunfire, the Madisons began to run. Ronald Madison, 40, was injured. Eventually, Faulcon killed him with a shotgun blast to the back as he ran away.

Lance Madison, who was unhurt, was arrested and accused of firing a weapon at police.


I can understand that they weren't convicted of murder, but the fact that these cops acted like they did is - in my opinion - unexcusable. But at least they were convicted on other charges.

To refresh your memory on what went down on September 4, 2005, click here.

Let Them Talk

On my predawn commute through the swamps and bayous of Southeast Louisiana I chose to listen to one of my newest acquisitions,
the Hugh Laurie CD entitled "Let Them Talk".

Hugh Laurie is the star of the TV show, "House", one of the few programs I
enjoy watching.

Some recordings were done in NOLA at Piety Street Recording .
Guest appearances include Irma Thomas, Doctor John and Tom Jones. Allen Toussaint conducted and arranged the horns.

While his voice is not spectacular, it grows on you. Also, Hugh Laurie is a hell of a piano player.

I found this CD the perfect companion for driving through a steamy August morning. The selections made me feel like August, if you get my drift.


I am no music critic, but I know what I like. I love this CD. Some of selections that stand out are : St. James Infirmary, After You've Gone (featuring Doctor John),
Swanee River (great boogie woogie piano and fiddle) and Police Dog Blues.

ALL of the guitar work is fantastic. Kudos to Kevin Breit and Greg Leisz.
Here are the rest of the tracks:



You can get more info here. Enjoy

Why New Orleans Matters

Please follow this link and watch the video.

The link is to Foxessa's blog and the video depicts how the grief stricken country of Norway and how they borrowed from NOLA's jazz funeral traditions to cope with the death of so many last week.

Another loss for America

I'd like to preface this post by saying that I am not a big fan
of the President. I voted for him, yes. But he has disappointed me
in many ways since he has taken office.

Where is this country going? I am sickened to my soul by the countless
"unintended faux pas" made by politicians regarding the President.

The latest supposed "misspeak" was commited by Colorado Congressman Doug Lamborn on live radio:




LAMBORN: Even if some people say ‘well, the Republicans should have done this, or should have done that,’ they will hold the President responsible. Now, I don’t even want to be associated with him, it’s like touching a, a tar baby and you get it…you know you’re stuck and you’re part of the problem and you can’t get away.



This goes beyond simple criticism. This stinks of whiny little racist babies complaining because they cannot steamroll their way through
the supposed process to run this country in the fashion that it was meant to be run according to the constitutional process.

The horrific hatred has been
simmering since Obama began his bid for the White House.

And it's not just Republicans. Here is
an instance where Harry Reid shows his ignorance.

Even in the somewhat liberal state of California people
are stooping to new lows in public, showing how low and base they can be. I find it nauseating.

True, America is a wonderful place to live because of our freedom of speech but there has got to be limits, especially
by public servants. It saddens me that America has fallen so low in the area of respect for one another.