Last weekend was absolutely beautiful as far as great light for photography, so we meandered over to
Barataria Preserve, one of the many parks located within
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Marrero, LA. It encompasses 23,000 acres of wild wetlands, marshes, bayous, swamps, and forests, and is habitat for over 200 species of birds. There are also alligators, nutria and other wild mammals thriving within the vast acreage. We could hear many different birds, but the trees were too dense and green to see them. We did, however, spot various snakes, banana spiders (HUGE!) and an alligator basking on the bayou bank. I'll spare you the spider and snake photos. :) Although it would make for a better Halloween post. Nah...
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| It's amazing how green and thick it still is in Louisiana. The unseasonably warm weather is causing us to have a late fall. |
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| Even though it was a relatively cool day (about 75F), it was very humid, so the mosquitoes were munching pretty hard. The day before I had watched a marathon of Monsters Inside Me, a tv program about parasites growing inside humans. I was really mad at myself for not bringing the bug spray, praying I wouldn't get malaria. Inside my head I was screaming, "You're gonna end up on that show! Stupid, stupid girl!" |
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| Well, whaddya know? A little fall color. |
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| Palmetto Trail |
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Right after I removed the big lens from my camera, we came upon this gator.
Double D helped me change back to the 100-400mm lens promptly.
He had offered his services as my caddy for the day, so you can bet I took advantage of that! |
Warning: Rant ahead.
I am SO OVER the humidity around here! Let's not even discuss my hair; it goes limp as wilted lettuce as soon as I step outside. When you add the humidity to the bad haircut I received recently, along with my sweat glands going into overdrive--well--it's a disaster area up there. I can't be ladylike and perspire, oh no, I SWEAT. Like a man! And my soppy, wet hair is there to announce that fact to the world. Some days I think I'll just buy a wig and be done with it. Maybe a hat....anyhow, this weekend coming up promises to be a little more delightful, so Double D and I are discussing our next day trip. Stay tuned!
31 comments:
Barataria Preserve looks like an amazing and beautiful area. I love that alligator shot. Awesome. And the humidity is one reason I am glad to live a little farther north :)
Beautiful shots! Please be careful about mosquitoes. My little community just lost a sweet 13 yr old boy to Eastern Equine Encephalitis- that he contracted through a mosquito bite. The rarest thing..but you never know.
Your rant could easily be my rant. This Texas humidity is a killer. And the hair...nothing good to say about mine..
I do hope you were protected from that huge gator.. Gorgeous shot!! Sounds like a Double D is most definitely a keeper!! So sweet of him to be your caddy..
Cant't wait to see what this weekend brings for you..
hugs
Gorgeous shots indeed!
I sympathize with humidity! I don't glisten, perspire, I SWEAT too!! And heaven knows, my limp stringy hair would have to be pulled into the never ending pony tail style if I was there!! :)
But your photos make me want to visit that area soooo badly!!
oh my goodness...what a beautiful place! I'm with you on the humidity point...though my hair has the opposite affect...it gets Shirley Temple curly when it's humid. Hate it! Lovely photos as always hun...BTW We are under a Tornado watch until 2 pm...hope it doesn't go as far up as you guys.
i do try to avoid the skeeters since west nile is so prevalent here. but that looks like a great, lush area!
Love it! Except for the spiders. Ick.
The second shot reminds me of something for Halloween and the bridge photo is beautiful! I do hope the humidity takes its leave soon for your sake. Love and hugs!
Oh Gail, I'm right there with ya on the rant...it's horrible...I didn't think a woman could sweat as much as me. When I'm on the sidelines taking pictures at the football games, I think I sweat more than the players, no joke! haha And we had a couple of fabulous days with no humidity, but it's back, and yes I'm so over it too! Okay, I got that off my chest :)
I for one say bring on the snake and spider photos, those banana spiders are incredible and I haven't been able to find any this fall, drats! Love those bridge/path photos, I want to just step right into the photos with my camera.
Looks like a great place to visit but I'm not so sure about bumping into spiders, snakes and alligators! :-)
Girl, you are so funny with your stories of sweat and mosquitoes but it was good for us because we get to see these beautiful shots....
I am so glad you love us so much that you will go through such agony for us....(smile) did you get my email?
Love them all, but the shots of the bridge and pathways are my favorites. Love that shot of the Palmetto Trail.
I don't know how you can tolerate the heat and humidity there. It's a beautiful place, but I don't think I could handle the weather. Give me Indiana farmlands any day. We get our share of humidity, too; but I'm pretty sure it's not as bad as Louisiana's.
WOW Gail I will probably never see this and now that you mention the parasites am not in any hurry:) I will settle with your incredible shots they are awesome. Love that you have a caddy and no way I would go near that thing with the big teeth:)
Your rant made me laugh I am sorry but it is cold here:) HUG B
This place looks pretty amazing to visit and explore... maybe minus the alligator, snakes and spiders. But definitely gorgeous folliage. I know what you mean about the hair. Texas is still pretty hot, and moist. UGH! Ready for some cool dry weather!
Gail, what a pretty place to visit. I love the cypress trees! The wildflowers are beautiful! Lovely images! Have a happy weekend!
The pictures are lovely. Aside from the mosquitoes it must have been a fun time.
That ol' swamp looks kinda spooky. I love the sign.
You're right...the light is fantastic! Beautiful scenery! Love the gator! It's safe to say I'll never photograph a wild one here in Kentucky.
Super shots Gail and what pretty paths.
Sorry about that humidity ~YUCK ,I do hear ya there , humidity sucks the life out of me .
First of all let me just say that you have the most awesome outings with double d. You are seemingly surrounded by wildlife refuges. Secondly, humidity. I don't mind it by itself, but I hate what it does to hair. All those little sticky-uppy things that create frizz? I didn't have this problem when I was younger and lived in the Midwest, except for August, when it was hot & muggy. Here in Oregon it rains from Nov to May & I look like a porcupine-head.
That preserve must be fantastic – I love the cypress trees and your last picture is really nice – the gator looks like he is waiting to be taken in photograph. We were in New Orleans not long ago and it was not too warm, but it was when the storm Karin came by. We finally went there via the City of New Orleans train and loved it.
Ok #1 I hate Gators. They are worse than spiders in my book and they are no where around here except at the Zoo.
Creepy Halloween photo to me.
Hope you can get away from the humidity and the strange autumn weather you are having.
Your 'rant' coulda come directly from MY keyboard. I too sweat like a man in the thick humid air here on the coast. But, if I find a silver lining in it all, it sure beats the heck outta having to drive on the icy, snow-packed highways of Colorado mountains and all the crazy drivers! Any ol' day.
Loved all the cypress. They're so unique to LA, and I love it there.
Beautiful images as always Gail, and really like the caddy concept...will have to show Bud this part and hope he gets the 'drift'.
I'm trying to be better about bug spray. We didn't have to worry about it in Vegas. This summer we were eaten alive by mosquito's and ticks.
Oh.my.goodness!!!! That sign in the swamp, and alligator are my favorites. Awesome photo's as always!
Mosquito's don't ever mess with me much. I think I must have some stinky blood or something. But boy do they love my husband.. I love stopping in here to see your photos. These are all such amazing shots.
Hugs~
The wig will make your head feel hot! Don't do it ;>)
Beautiful pictures...I love the gator, we haven't seen any yet this season (haven't really left the cottage)....It's very warm here too, but it feels good..I'd rather put up with the humidity than be cold.
Such fantastic photos, Gail! Worth any amount of sweat (or rant), Gail ;-)
Ohhh Gail!! Love that path/walk way and the opening shot of the swamp!! How interesting, the same as home in Florida with all the cypress and awesome moss hanging. And yes-- ditto on your rant!! Growing up in fla. had terrible hair. Now I'm old and still have the humidity, but use hair spray!! But nothing can stop the sweat :-/// Grrrrr!
So interesting that our weather is so different....glad the humidity and skeeters are gone here now...gorgeous photos.
So pretty I can hardly believe it's autumn there. ;))
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