Touring the Coastline

Wow, what a fabulous day of touring the coastline we had today. We headed south from Lake Charles toward the Louisiana coast. We drove through an area of wetlands refuge and prairie refuge. Instead of swamp, we drove through interesting marshy terrain.

We saw many birds, lots of great white egrets and one really big guy that looked like a blue heron. Many smaller waterbirds as well. Unfortunately, I couldn't get any pictures, the birds were all over on the right side of my RV and there was no road shoulder to park on. Soometimes I just hold the camera and point and snap without aiming but It doesn't work with Chorro sitting next to me. But I could snap him, so here's how cute he is looking today.

This was before the trauma of the ferries, which comes later. First, the devastation of Hurricane Rita.

This area did not suffer a lot of damage from Katrina but they were hit hard by Rita, who followed a few weeks after Katrina. I drove on US 82, which runs along the beach or very near it for many miles in southern Louisiana. I don't believe I saw one single house over two years old on the whole drive. I was shocked. Two times I saw big signs saying, "Rita Dump," and "Rita Landfill." There were many, many new homes being built and I assume that they are replacing homes destroyed by the storm.

Every few hundred yards, another modular home. Lots of construction. But nothing old, nothing at all. Not a single big old house standing. I went through two small towns, Creole and Cameron, where there were a few new businesses, mostly hardware stores and restaurants, a new school, up on stilts, a new church getting its steeple built up today, and again, modular homes and RV's. I didn't see an older building standing until I reached Port Arthur, Texas.

I saw many concrete pads like this one across the road, where a building once stood.

And sometimes long stretches of yards, walks, and concrete pads in a row.

We came unexpectedly to a small ferry across the inlet to Lake Calciseu, which goes north inland to the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana. For those ferry-ridin' friends of mine in Washinton state, the fair was $1.00 per vehicle.

Now let me tell you that Chorro is not happy when he can't have his four feet on the ground. He reminds me that he is a terrier. And the word 'terrier' comes from 'terra' which means earth. He is an earth dog, not a sea dog. Not a ferry dog. Not even a moving RV dog, although he tolerates that for my sake.

He could see the road ended right ahead and this made him very nervous.

Fortunately, it is a short crossing.

Then we had a very peaceful drive for a way along the ocean. Peaceful because only one ferry goes back and forth across the inlet and I was the last vehicle to off-load. So nobody was trying to pass me as I ambled along at my very comfortable 60 mph. And the view, the view.

There were thin clouds overhead, but still, the day sparkled and so did the ocean.

Texas announced its welcome. I wasn't quick enough to snap the sign for leaving Louisiana, which, of course, said, "See you later, alligator."

Well this looks more like Florida or California. Texas? Long horn steers and oil wells and dust storms?

I came to a detour while some road work was being done. It was a strange little detour on a very narrow road, as you can see here. Through a little Texas town that also doesn't fit my stereotype. One of those moments that blows a hole in my brain map!

We caught a glimpse of the Port Bolivar lighthouse, which is no longer in use. During an earlier major hurricane in this area, I think perhaps in the 1920's, the lighthouse was refuge to a couple of hundred people who survived the storm safe inside it, while most others in the area perished.

We arrived at the Bolivar Free Ferry that conveys Highway 87 traffic on the Bolivar Peninsula to Galvestor Island, which is our destination.

Chorro gulped and gave me his "Oh no, not again!" look.

We were lucky to arrive and immediately drive on with no wait. And we saw some interesting birds while we waited for the ferry to get underway.

This gull preened for his picture and gave me his best profile.

I think these old pelicans were sitting around playing poker.

And since the guys are occupied, she has time to relax for a few minutes before the kids get home from school.

Here's our counterpart ferry heading east as we cross the bay. These ferries were much larger than the little one at Cameron, although the one we are sitting on as I take the picture is a little smaller than the one in the photo. Passengers could go to sit on the upper deck during the trip, but I didn't go up because it was raining and windy at the time.

These tree large ships were anchored in the Gulf near the inlet to Galveston Bay. The haze is actually rain.

This ship was in a hurry to get back to Sweden, I guess, because he cut right in front of us. Of course, being about 40X our size, I suppose he had the right of way.

And poor Chorro did eventually get onto solid land, although not dry. Here we are finally at our campground, walking on the beach. Well, I'm walking. He's tearing around like a little mad dog. Can you see him way up the beach? I rarely take him off the leash, but the beach was deserted and he deserved to run.

It was a long day and I took many pictures, then posted less than 1/10th of what I had. Aren't you glad I finally got here? Me too.

Tomorrow is a new day.