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Winter, Sunshine, and Louisiana

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Recent events with Hurricane Issac in the Gulf of Mexico brought travel to Louisiana to mind. Sister and I were there during December of 2010. Katrina had done her worst. Ike had marched through the area before that.

Two guys and a girl have hammered the Louisiana coastline this past decade, leaving behind devastation and concerns about the future. Whether by nature’s design or blessings from above, the land and the people rise up to meet the challenges left in storm’s wake. That’s what we learned by watching, searching, and walking the coast.

Many times winter doesn’t favor the traveler. Yet, nobody creates welcome, warmth, and Visitors Centers like the South. We’d discovered that in Texas, and Louisiana’s didn’t disappoint.

Picnic facilities dotted the grounds lending a dash of whimsy. Made for rain or sunshine, the airy little structures beckoned the traveler to take time to sit and enjoy the scenery. The inlet to the south provided a marvelous view toward the gulf, while signs warned of the wildlife.

We learned from one of the greeters about the alligator hibernation cycles. We also discovered that the nature hike trail that we would have explored out to the point was closed due to hurricane activity during the previous season. We were disappointed. We were offered an alternative excursion to the wetlands a few miles further east. As soon as we gathered in details, we headed out.

We found the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Wetland Walkway and Creole Trail. Once we tracked down the exit to the town of Hackberry off the I-10, we drove through the inter-coastal wetlands of the Refuge—picture the Everglades here with an occasional oil tanker moving along the channel—to where the road dumped out at Holly Beach.

A few houses guarded the beach, standing on stilt pylons and occupying the road’s elbow. That pristine beach offered up more perfect sea shells than BJ could find pocket space in which to carry them. The occasional dollop of oil sludge lent an air of disappointment to beach excursions with reminders of from the Gulf’s off-shore oil rig debacle. That poor coast had been sorely tested.

While a watery sun came out to play that day, brother wind seemed determined to cause discomfort for those outside. After picture-taking and shell-reaping, BJ returned to the car and pronounced herself officially frozen. Hence, the move back to the Refuge for bird watching.

Canals paced both sides of the highway. Turnouts allowed serious birdwatchers to stop, snap photos, and watch the intense egret and heron techniques of fishing. The occasional brown pelican dropped in to tutor the bigger birds on handling food volume.

The small ibis kept its dainty ways to itself without socializing. The kingfisher-like bird (species unknown) seemed to ignore all other contenders for the canal’s menu dishes. We spent a peaceful hour and a half with the birds, sunshine, and sea breezes.

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