October 6th/09 - New Iberia, Louisiana
Holiday Inn Express
Mileage: 94 km
Total mileage: 4,780 km
Woke up this morning hardly having slept all night. The heat and humidity in the tent last night was almost unbearable. The inside of the tent dripped and Deby and I wiped sweat off our faces with our towels all night. Morning couldn't have come quick enough. High temperatures had remained through the night with not even a breeze.
Talked with some contractors this morning. They told us to watch out where we put up our tent. They said that the gators are very territorial and you don't want to be close to a nest. Why doesn't someone put up signs for dumb tourists. Anyway, the only bites we got were mosquitoes. They swarm in clouds here.
On our route today, they was also a private alligator hatchery. We were told that the nests are spotted from helicopters, a flag is dropped on to them and they are marked with GPS. Later the eggs are taken from the nests and incubated in the barns. The alligators are fed and cared for over winter and then butchered for meat, hide and heads. 14% of the gators are tagged and put back into the wild. I imagine that this is a greater percentage than would have survived naturally. Sounds like good management...everybody wins.
Peddling north we continued through the swamp for the next couple of hours. Then the trees appeared as the land started to solid up. Ranches and farm land with the exception of a small area near Esther where it looked like Everglades. An intriguing forest of pines appeared with water throughout the underbrush. Rather unique in the area.
Near Abbeville and east to New Iberia it was all rice and sugar cane. The sugar cane was impressive, growing as thick as a corn field and 8 to 10 feet high. I mistook sugar cane for corn in Texas. When sugar cane is young it looks similar.
A local told us the rice fields are flooded for the crop and then after harvest crawfish are put in the field. The crawfish eat the rice straw and are harvested when they mature. Ultimate efficiency.
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Your trip sounds amazing, I'm in awe of your adventures and can't wait till you post again. I hope you get to see and spend some time in New Orleans, a very neat and interesting place. Safe travels, and watch for the gators! Kelly & Bill Rockney
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed visiting with you at breakfast yesterday in Gray, Louisiana. The iPhone pictures came out pretty well. I'll post them on a web album and send you the link.
ReplyDeleteIf you're still in New Orleans, you might visit two of my regular spots in the Quarter ... Napolean House at night (casual and welcoming)(Charres x St. Louis). Loved it for years. Also, the best N.O. flavor and value is at The Old Coffe Pot on 714 St. Louis. Best breakfast in New Orleans.
Travel safely.
Scott Kennedy
Napoleon House is Chartres x St. Louis. Don't miss the Old Coffee Pot at 714 St. Peter.
ReplyDeleteToo damn early to get it right the first time.
Scott
Sorry I missed you guys. Got to Texas a few days too late. Am in Tampico, Mexico tonight. The motorcycle has been running great. www.mytb.org/pat-b is my blog if you have some down time to have a look. Looking forward to visiting you guys in Grand Forks!
ReplyDeletePat B
Take a rest in N.O. and enjoy the newly rebuilt city. Further down the road your going to meet many other blown out towns. Our southern heat and humidity is almost over and the mosquitos will regress back to Saskatchewan.
ReplyDelete