My Favorite Web Sites



Freedom Calls Foundation The Foundation's network offers soldiers more than 8,000 miles away the opportunity to participate in milestone family events such as births, birthdays, weddings and school graduations. The Foundation's network will soon include installations at military h

Regional Military Museum - Houma LA A wonderful military museum still in its infancy - but sure bound for greatness! I am proud to say that I did my fair share of helping with the equipment!

USMC Family & Friends Support Center And this is the life saver web site to go to AFTER the recruit becomes a United States Marine! OOHRAA

Parris Island Family & Friends Support Center This is a web site owned and operated by military dependants and is a life saver to anyone whose loved one is a recruit of the USMC!

Logan's Call A remarkable phone call from a 12-yr old boy to Houston radio station KSBJ FM 89.3. So profound, the station has it posted on their website.

Cross Services Inc Dare I mix pleasure with business?? This is the web site for the company that employs me. We are truly a big family! I've been with the Thompson family since I was 16 years old! Through blood, sweat and tears I claim them as my own!

Operation Military Pride "I Got your Back" Awesome video - honoring all our Military heroes.

Circuit Riders International Doc and Pat Louviere - Missionary & Evangelist - truly blessed and led by God! Wonderful servants of Jesus!

World Arnold Chiari Malformation Association (WACMA) In May of 2006 I was diagnosed with a condition called "Chiari". The malformation included a 17mm herniation of my brain stem causing it to sag below the "foramen magnum" - my skull-cap. In short, my brain is too big for my skull!!

The Unbound Bible When you are searching for a particular scripture - this works great!

Christian Assembly Church - Schriever LA This is a very new web site set up by Scott Roten, our associate pastor at Christian Assembly.

Lifesongs Radio The very BEST in Christian Radio!!

Presidential Prayer Team Yep - I'm a member! Check it out!

Interview with God Beautiful music and scenary while a conversation with God plays before you.

Global Incident map It is TRULY an insane world in which we live! and people question why we need a Military Force???

Iris Seismic Monitor I find nature and ALL of it's activities so intriguing. Knowing that ALL is a part of Gods long term plan just adds to my interest! Earthquakes ALWAYS get my attention!

Five Days with Katrina Alvaro's pictorial account of Hurricane Katrina's collision with the gulf coast of Louisiana and Mississippi Sept 2005

Weird but Interesting Tidbits

Just stuff that catches my attention



English Language is very strange. Fat chance and Slim chance both mean the same thing!

At the Moment of Conception you spent about half an hour as a single cell

Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born

Your Thumb is the same length as your nose

Stomach Acid is strong enough to dissolve razor blades

A Pair of Human Feet contain 250,000 sweat glands

Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three

USMC (and others) Quotes & Oaths & Such



Joe Lieberman "But here's the point. We're in a war against Islamist EXTREMISTS who attacked us on 9/11. They've been trying to attack us in many, many ways since then."

John F Kennedy Inaugural Speech 1961 the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.

A Veteran! There is no better way to say it.A Veteran,whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve is someone who, at 1 point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The USA", for an amount of "up to and including my life.That is honor!

It's a Marine Thing! "We steal the Eagle from the Air Force, the Anchor from the Navy, the rope from the Army, and on the Seventh Day when God rested, we overran his perimeter and stole the Globe, and have been protecting our shores ever since."-USMC

Ronald Reagan said... Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem. - Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, 1985

Ned Dolan said... "Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share." - Ned Dolan

USMC Oath "I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the USA

Abraham Lincoln on Congressmen Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale, and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged."

Dwight D. Eisenhower Freedom has its life in the heart,the actions,thesprit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed-else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die

Calvin Coolidge Patriotism is easy to understand in America; it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.

Patton Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.

John F. Kennedy Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

Winston Churchhill If you are going through hell, keep going!

Rudyard Kipling on Danger For God and the soldier we adore, In time of danger, not before! The danger passed, and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier slighted."

Chuck Norris on tempers Men are like steel, when they lose their temper they lose their worth!

Gen. A. M. Gray, USMC Every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman. All other conditions are secondary.

Gen. John "Black Jack" Pershing, U.S. Army The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle.

Karen Aquilar, in the U.S. Embassy; Mogadishu, Somalia, 1991 They told (us) to open up the Embassy, or "we'll blow you away." And then they looked up and saw the Marines on the roof with these really big guns, and they said in Somali, "Igaralli ahow," which means "Excuse me, I didn't mean it, my mistake".

Colonel James M Lowe "As Marines, our message to our foes has always been essentially the same...'We own this side of the street! Threaten my Country or our allies and we will come over to your side of the street, burn your hut down, whisper in your ear 'Can you hear me now?'

Jay R Stark USN Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean, or skinny and mean. They're aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They've got really short hair and they always go for the throat.

Father Kevin Keaney said... You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth- and the amusing thing about it is that they are. - Father Kevin Keaney 1st Marine Division Chaplain, Korean War

Bumper Stickers

Funny, Serious, Questionable, Profound



No Marines No Freedom Know Marines, Know Freedom

Marine's 99% of the population need not apply

All American's know what's right Marines do it

If Freedom wasn't Costly Everyone would have it

the Marines don't accept applications only commitments

American by Birth Marine by Choice

All Men are created equal, then some become Marines

Bird List

Bird Sightings - Local and Foreign



Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 8" (20 cm). Starling-sized. Heavy pinkish-white bill. Male black and white with conspicuous rose-red patch on breast and underwings. Female white above and below with heavy brown streaking; prominent white eyebrow; yellow wing linings.

Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus 5 1/2-6 1/2" (14-17 cm). Larger and stockier than House Finch, but smaller than Cassin's and darker than both. Dusky rose-red of male, more raspberry than purple, extends from upperparts to breast and flanks, brightest at crown and rump. Off-white below, m

American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis 4 1/2-5" (11-13 cm). Smaller than a sparrow. Breeding male bright yellow with a white rump, black forehead, white edges on black wings and tail, and yellow at bend of wing. Female and winter male duller and grayer with black wings, tail, and white wing bar

Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula 12" (30 cm). Jay-sized. Long, wedge-shaped tail displaying a longitudinal ridge or keel when in flight. Appears all black at a distance but is actually highly iridescent, with colors varying from blue to purple to green to bronze, depending on the light. B

Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater 6-8" (15-20 cm). Male black with glossy brown head; female plain gray-brown. Both have a finch-like bill.

Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 7" (18 cm). Bluebird-sized. Adult male has chestnut body and black head, back, wings, and tail. Female yellow-green; immature male similar to female, but has black throat.

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 7-9 1/2" (18-24 cm). Smaller than a robin. Male is black with bright red shoulder patches. Female and young are heavily streaked with dusky brown. See Tricolored Blackbird.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 8" (20 cm). Starling-sized. Heavy pinkish-white bill. Male black and white with conspicuous rose-red patch on breast and underwings. Female white above and below with heavy brown streaking; prominent white eyebrow; yellow wing linings.

Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 5 1/2" (14 cm). Sparrow-sized. In bright sunlight male brilliant turquoise blue, otherwise looks black; wings and tail darker. Female drab brown, paler beneath.

Painted Bunting Passerina ciris 5 1/2" (14 cm). Sparrow-sized. Perhaps North America's most colorful bird: male has bright red underparts and rump, green back, blue head, and red eye ring; female bright green all over, paler below.

White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys 6-7 1/2" (15-19 cm). Similar to White-throated Sparrow, but more slender, without white throat, and generally with a more erect posture. Crown has bold black and white stripes. Upperparts streaked, underparts clear pearly gray. Pink bill. Young birds simil

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis 6-7" (15-18 cm). Upperparts streaked, underparts clear gray. There are 2 color forms, one with black and white head stripes, the other with tan and black head stripes. Both have sharply defined white throat patch; dark bill. Females and young birds are dul

Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus 9" (23 cm). Slightly crested. Brown above, with gray throat, yellow belly, rufous wings and tail, and pale brown at base of lower mandible.

Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis 5-6 1/4" (13-16 cm). This species shows much geographic variation in color. Typically, male of western population ("Oregon Junco") has black hood, chestnut mantle, white underparts with buff sides. Eastern male ("Slate-colored Junco") is dark slate-gray on

Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 7-8" (18-20 cm). Male solid rose-red with pale bill. Female pale olive green above, dull yellow below. Male Northern Cardinal has black face, conical red bill, and crest. See Hepatic Tanager.

Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea 7 1/2" (19 cm). In breeding plumage, male brilliant scarlet with black wings and tail. In nonbreeding plumage, female and male olive green; male has black wings.

Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 6-7 1/2" (15-19 cm). Adult male has brilliant red head, bright yellow body, with black back, wings, and tail. 2 wing bars; smaller uppermost bar yellow, lower one white. Female is yellow-green above, yellow below; wing bars similar to male's.

Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus 6" (15 cm). A terrestrial, thrush-like warbler. Olive green above, white below with dark streaks; conspicuous eye ring; orange-brown crown bordered with black stripes; pinkish legs.

Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea 5 1/2" (14 cm). Male golden-orange with blue-gray wings; no wing bars; large white spots in tail. Female similar but duller.

Northern Parula Parula americana 4 1/2" (11 cm). A small warbler; blue above with yellow-green "saddle" on its back, yellow throat and breast, and white belly; 2 white wing bars. Male has orange-brown chest band.

Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 5" (13 cm). Black and white stripes, including crown. Male has black throat; female's throat white. Creeps on tree trunks.

Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 4 1/2-6" (11-15 cm). Olive-brown above, bright yellow on throat and upper breast. Male has bold black mask, bordered above with white. Females and young males lack face mask, but may be recognized by bright yellow throat and wren-like behavior.

Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens 5" (13 cm). Crown and upperparts olive green, throat and sides of breast black, face yellow. Female similar but duller.

Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia 4 1/2-5" (11-13 cm). Bright yellow with a light olive green tinge on back. Male has fine rusty streaks on breast. The only largely yellow warbler with yellow spots in the tail (not white).

Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor 5" (13 cm). Olive above, bright yellow below, with black spots and streaks along sides; male has chestnut streaks on back. Female and immature have fewer streaks. Bobs its tail vigorously.

Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum 6 1/2-8" (17-20 cm). Smaller than a robin. A sleek, crested, brown bird with black mask, yellow tips on tail feathers, and hard red wax-like tips on secondary wing feathers. Almost always seen in flocks.

European Starling Sturnus vulgaris 7 1/2-8 1/2" (19-22 cm). Smaller than a robin. A short-tailed, chunky, iridescent black bird; long pointed bill, yellow in summer and dark in fall and early winter. Plumage flecked with white in winter. Juvenile is uniform dull gray with dark bill.

Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum 11 1/2" (29 cm). Rufous-brown above, white below with dark brown streaks. Curved bill, long tail; yellow eye. See Long-billed Thrasher.

Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos 9-11" (23-28 cm). Robin-sized. A slender, long-tailed gray bird with white patches on wings and tail.

Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis 8-9 1/4" (20-23 cm). Smaller than a robin. A slender, long-tailed, dark gray bird with black cap and rusty undertail coverts.

American Robin Turdus migratorius 9-11" (23-28 cm). Gray above, brick red below. Head and tail black in males, dull gray in females. Young birds are spotted below.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula 3 3/4-4 1/2" (10-11 cm). Tiny. Similar to Golden-crowned Kinglet, but greener, with no face pattern except for narrow white eye ring. 2 white wing bars with dark area beyond second. Males have tuft of red feathers on crown, kept concealed unless bird is ar

Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus 5 1/2" (14 cm). Rich brown above, buff below, with conspicuous white eyebrow.

Brown-headed Nuthatch Sitta pusilla 4-5" (10-13 cm). Smaller than a sparrow. Upperparts dull blue-gray, underparts whitish. Crown dull brown, with whitish spot on nape.

Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis 4-5" (10-13 cm). Similar to more northern Black-capped Chickadee, but feathers of folded wing usually show less white edging; lower edge of black bib more sharply defined than that of Black-capped. Best identified by voice and range.

Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor (Parus bicolor) 6" (15 cm). Sparrow-sized. Gray above and whitish below, with rust-colored sides and conspicuous gray crest. Black-crested Titmouse (B. atricristatus), found in southwestern Oklahoma and Texas, is similar but has black crest.

Purple Martin Progne subis 7-8 1/2" (18-22 cm). Our largest swallow. Adult male dark steel-blue. Female and immature male duller above, pale gray below. Overhead, similar in shape to European Starling, but flight more buoyant and gliding.

Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata 12" (30 cm). Bright blue above with much white and black in the wings and tail; dingy white below; black facial markings; prominent crest.

Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens 6" (15 cm). Olive green above, whitish or sometimes yellow below (especially on flanks and belly), with distinct white eye ring. Identified chiefly by voice and habitat.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius 8 1/2" (22 cm). A furtive woodpecker mottled with off-white and black; male has red crown and throat; female has only red crown. Both sexes dull yellowish below. Immatures dull brown. In all plumages, distinctive mark is conspicuous white wing stripe, visi

Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens 6" (15 cm). A sparrow-sized, black and white woodpecker. Small red patch on nape in males. Similar to Hairy Woodpecker, but smaller and with short, stubby bill.

Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus 10" (25 cm). Barred black and white above; pale buff below and on face; sexes similar except that male has red crown and nape, female red nape only. Reddish patch on lower abdomen is seldom visible in the field.

Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus Description 3 1/2-4" (9-10 cm). Male has bright rufous upperparts and flanks and iridescent orange-red throat. Female green above, with rufous tinge on rump and flanks, and much rufous in tail. Adult male Allen's Hummingbird has green crown and back; femal

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris Description 3 1/2" (9 cm). Tiny. Needle-like bill. Metallic green above, white below; male has brilliant, iridescent red throat. Immature male lacks red throat. Female green above, with white throat and breast, buff sides, and white-tipped outer tail feath

Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus Description 11" (28 cm). Bright green above and pale gray below, with scalloping on throat; dark blue primaries; long and pointed tail.

Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Description 12" (30 cm). Soft, sandy buff with a long pointed tail bordered with white. Black spots on wings.

Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis Description 8-9" (20-23 cm). Male bright red with crest, black face, stout red bill. Female buff-brown tinged with red on crest, wings, and tail.

White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica Description 12" (30 cm). A brownish-gray dove with blackish wings that have a broad diagonal white bar; rounded tail has whitish corners noticeable in flight.

Bayou Segnette State Park

7777 Westbank Expressway,

Westwego, LA 70094

504-736-7140 or 888-677-2296 toll free

Email: bayousegnette@crt.state.la.us

http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/ibyusegne.aspx

Date of trip: August 9-11, 2008

Camp Site: Number 81

Dino’s Score is 35 of 55 points for items important to us.

Pictures located at:

http://usmarinemama.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!87AB16D5179E5E4F!7629/

(Sorry, I hit my monthly quota again – I’ll post the rest in Sept)

August 8, 2008

When we first got “Dino” we got it home and looked at each other in near panic wondering how on earth we were ever going to figure out and remember EVERYTHING that was involved in our new toy! It was really mind boggling and truth to tell quite alarming! But in the nearly one year (crazy how time flies) that we’ve been the proud owners, we have handled everything quite effectively. Then just when you get over-confident…you realize that you were seconds away from pulling out with the electric power cord still connected to the house! Eeeesh!! Thank God (and I do mean that) Charlie went back to get his gloves for it was then that he realized we were still on “shore power”. I do believe that was the palest I have seen him in a long while!

Over the heart stopping moment we headed out only to discover fifteen minutes down the road that the fishing gear was still at home. There is a reason for everything – right?? We headed back home to pick up what was forgotten and at 4Pm we were “on the road again”. I know you remember me talking about how it is a well documented fact that if the Ferguson’s go somewhere, rain and stormy weather WILL be involved. The day we left town Houma received approximately 4” of rain! Strange thing was that although we traveled only an hour away, there was no rain at our destination. Thank you Lord!!

We checked in a 5PM and it was a breeze – very efficient and believe it or not, our reservation was right there where it was supposed to be – no MIA on this one – I do believe it was a first! We knew where the site was having driven through 2 weeks prior so we went straight there and began set up. We had ANOTHER hot water episode, but we learned another lesson of what not to do – I have to think we have covered all the bases now and should have “no” problems in the future???

We all, including Tar Baby, were anxious to check out the area so we headed out for the closest board-walk which by choice was right next to our site. We headed down the board-walk only to discover that we had picked the shortest one on the campground and it led – are you ready for this – directly to a vegetation filled marsh. Now, if you have never experienced mosquitoes in south Louisiana you may not know that they have a tendency to multiply into huge colonies of marauding bands of bird size (okay, so I exaggerate) blood suckers and their colonies are clustered in and around – marshes!! Hmmm, glad we brought the mosquito fighting gear.

Even with the trepidation I felt knowing that the swarms would envelope us in the evening I had to admit that the area was truly beautiful. From what I can tell the Cataouatche Canal feeds the area with enough water to sustain plant, aquatic, and sea bird life. Probably reptiles as well, but I just don’t care to think about the snakes – ostrich theory, if I don’t see them, they don’t see me. But truly, the sounds coming out of that area were amazing, the grunt of the herons, the bullfrogs croaks, the sweet song of birds, crickets – really really awesome!

We left the viewing platform to tour the rest of the campground. We chose the next boardwalk which was indeed quite long AND busy. My goodness, the birds, the plants, amazingingly interesting banana spiders. If you are arachnophobic do NOT look too closely at the plant-life in Bayou Segnette State Park. These spiders look like they would devour you for supper and spit out the tough parts, but they really are harmless; except that is for the person who has a heart attack over the experience! A bit further down the board-walk and Tar Baby obviously caught the scent of something. We spotted the short shortly in the form of baby raccoons passing under the board-walk. We have baby raccoons that visit our back yard however the mama never brings them until they are growing in size. These babies were tiny – unfortunately I didn’t react quick enough to snap a picture – you’ll just have to trust me on my word that they were absolutely adorable!

We soon headed back to camp for I wanted to have supper cooked before sundown; I had a couple of rib-eyes marinating and I wanted to cook them to perfection! I’ve burned a burger or two in my day, but I consider it sacrilegious to burn a steak! I cooked the steaks to a perfect medium rare, then settled in to wait for what I knew would be a spectacular sunset…and it was!! The only problem I had was trying to find an unobstructed view! I finally climbed the ladder up to the top of Dino and voila!!! There was the view I wanted!

We enjoyed the fire, the sounds and a really nice north wind (highly unusual for Louisiana in August) while oohing and aahing over the star filled sky, the abundant fire-flies and the sparkling “eyes” in the tree-line. And I am not kidding about that – we obviously were not alone, I am just grateful that the ‘critters’ didn’t seem to mind sharing their home with us! We retired a bit early for we were both tired after our full day. A note to all you ladies out there who might be a bit forgetful like me. Should you ever discover that you’ve left the bottoms to your PJ’s at home…simply commandeer an extra pair of your husbands boxers, they are amazingly comfy to sleep in!

August 9, 2008

Never one to sleep late I woke up at 5:30AM. After dressing and “harnessing” Tar Baby, we headed out for our morning walk. Oh my goodness, I have concluded that God made this area with His spoiled daughter (me) in mind! I am amazed I didn’t end up with whiplash as much as my head was snapping this way and that! I saw more birds and animals in a one hour walk than I have seen in a whole day elsewhere – and that is NOT an exaggeration! Egrets, herons, hawks, yellow warblers, cardinals, mocking birds, blue jays, chickadee’s downy wood-peckers, rabbits, squirrels and on and on and on!! Truly Bayou Segenette is a nature lovers heaven!!

I cooked an awesome bacon and egg breakfast which we ate outside on the picnic table while sipping our coffee. It was just one of those blue sky days when you just KNOW everything is right in your world! I know I should do it all the time, but times like this absolutely compel me to take full stock and gratefully count all the blessings God has put in my life!

We decided that our bikes and the perfectly laid out roads were indeed crying out for our attention so we gladly answered. We rode down to the boat landing where we watched the boats coming in and out. I love to people watch, but it’s even better when those people are in boats in the water! Such an assortment to see at Bayou Segnette – quite impressive. I kept hearing Otis Redding crooning “Sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting time…” Trust me, there was NO waste involved – we devoured EVERY minute of the pleasure!!

As we left the boat launch to return to our site we opted to ride through the private pool area. There is a huge wave pool in the public portion of the park, however there is also a pool open only for over-night and group campers. Unfortunately there was apparently a large “party” that day for the pool was chock a block full – to the point where I completely changed my mind about swimming! It was a pretty little area however and I do look forward to being able to swim there one day in the future. I was quite perturbed however by the really rotten attitudes I encountered just a few moments later. As we rode on the trails leaving the pool area there was a group of six females headed towards the pool. The path was narrow but certainly wide enough for people AND a single bike to pass, provided of course, the six would NOT walk side by side monopolizing the entire width! It rankled my nerves a bit and though I certainly would not have attempted to hurt anyone I was also determined to wait until the last minute to give up my “rightful” portion of the road. At the last moment one of the women moved behind the group thus allowing us room to pass. I appreciate that she did move however it was just so wrong for them to act as though the road was 100 percent theirs. Other than the nasty taste left in my mouth for such rude behavior there were no lasting effects from this show of defiant better than thou attitude.

Back at the campsite, quite exhausted I might add, we settled into our recliners to catch our breaths AND rest our back-sides (I can vouch for the need for mine)! As we lay there watching the clouds and the sky we were blessed with a soaring performance by a falcon, WOW! The sun was bearing down on us and the humidity that had been chased away the day before by the cool front was now working its way back with a vengeance. We have to watch Charlie’s breathing, for his lungs just don’t cope well on high ozone days nor on days when the air is too still and heavy with humidity. He became uncomfortable so we decided to rest a bit in the AC; Charlie napped and I watched a PBS special on the worlds oceans. Quite interesting if I might say so.

Up for the nap and feeling ever so much better we decided to take another bike ride. This time we went up over the levee to the road where the campground cabins are located. Sadly the cabins have still not been put back into use following Hurricane Katrina. Katrina really devastated the state park, not only the wind but the water from the storm surge as well. Hopefully the cabins will be repaired and offered in the future for they are so nice with large screened porches and fishing piers sitting right on the water front. That loss was in a way our gain that day for with the road closed off to normal traffic we had the perfect bike riding area all to ourselves. There is some construction equipment back there but all was still when we were riding. There WAS one lone worker who nearly gave me a coronary as he popped up from behind the flood gate.

We stopped at one point to walk to the waters edge – always checking out fishing spots you know! It was really quite scenic so I set the camera up to take an auto pic of the two of us with the water in the background. Ya’ll all know my paranoia over alligators…imagine my surprise when as I later reviewed the pictures, right there behind us (safely in the water) was, yep you guessed it – an ALLIGATOR!! See!! I TOLD you they were out to get me!

As we were stopped a man and lady came by walking two enormous beautiful dogs. We spoke briefly as I complimented their beauty and inquired into their breed. Mutts was the reply – they had rescued the dogs, presumably after Katrina, as so many were. The new owners obviously cared for them for not only were they just beautiful, but VERY well behaved as well!

On to the nature walk – WOW WOW WOW – what else can I say. I do not know when this was put in, but it is truly an amazing walk. The path varies between gravel, boardwalk, dirt and just enough “mud” thrown in to keep it interesting. It is so very scenic as it winds along side the canal – just gorgeous! The first boardwalk rest area was where I actually SAW, live and in person, an alligator – it was a small one, but menacing none the less. Of course, after that I was “on guard” for I was convinced that the entire direct AND extended family was hidden in the bush just waiting for me because I AM after all THE number one target of all alligators! HA! Actually, I was nervous just for a bit, then I returned to the land of ooohs and aaaahs as we continued on our journey.

One down side, we did have to stop several times for Charlie to “catch his breath” and rest a bit. I made a mental note then which I DID follow up on when we returned home, to schedule him an appointment with his pulmonary specialists. I KNOW without a doubt that God takes care of us, but I also know that He uses doctors to do some of His earthly work!

As we neared the end of the nature trail we came across a large family “fishing” off the last boardwalk. Not wanting to just barge on through we stopped briefly and asked if they were catching anything. An adorable little boy about 4-5 years informed us proudly that they were catching crabs. He was a cutie! We asked the older young man if we could pass behind them and he kind of panicky nodded yes and shook no - simultaneously …okay then! That was when I realized that the little boy was probably the only English speaker in the group. I felt bad because I have been in their situation – just reversed languages when we were in Mexico.

We passed several more family members on our way to the end of the trail, which incidentally ended at the boat launch. As we stopped to rest the “State Federal Enforcement Agent” pulled up in their awesome boat. Excuse me, not a boat, Boston Whaler, fully equipped with two 250HP Mercury’s. Nice looking rig! They offered us a bit of entertainment as we watched their efforts. As the agent drove the boat onto the trailer, the power of the boat actually pushed that huge truck forward and up! The other agent quickly shifted the truck into four-wheel drive and this time they were successful. Until that is, they tried to move the truck forward, the wheels simply spun gaining no ground. Obviously equipped with a sense of humor the agent still in the boat hollered out – “Hey you need me to give you some help?” I guess you “hadda be there” to fully enjoy the story, but trust me, it was funny to watch!

We headed back to camp where I cooked burgers and hot dogs. We sat by the fire as long as we could but finally gave up when the mosquitoes were threatening to carry us bodily away! After a full day of walking and riding, that shower was a gift from Heaven and I do NOT exaggerate!

August 11, 2008

OMGosh! I slept later – ALL the way to 6:00AM!! That is quite a fete for me, just goes to show how tired I was form the previous day. Knowing now how to “get to the sunrise”, Tar Baby and I set out intended to go over the levee, through the flood gate and down to the canal. On the way we saw another inhabitant of Bayou Segnette, an armadillo digging in the earth. By now Tar Baby had seen so many rabbits, she didn’t even flinch over the “shelled football with a tail”! The sunrise was magnificent, all packaged up in ribbons of pink and blue clouds; hand delivered to me from my Lord, heaped up and overflowing with promises for a beautiful day! I accepted it with gratitude and grace as any Princess of a King would!!

On our return toward camp I spotted a yellow crowned night heron in on of the marshy canals. It blended in so perfectly that only a slight movement caught my eye and I was finally able to discern the creature before it took flight. Be sure to look at the picture I was able to snap – it certainly was a site!

One of our campground neighbors informed me that the day prior he had spotted the largest red –headed woodpecker he had ever seen in the same area. I need to remember next time we go to watch that area carefully! As we walked down the boardwalk it seemed the entire world was hushed then suddenly an explosive sound! Tar Baby and I both jumped and I am sure her little heart was beating just as hard as mine was slamming within my chest. What was it? Civilization invading nature – that’s what it was! A VERY loud air-horn was the culprit, I guess it was just so sudden and compared with the stillness, quite jarring!

Back at the camp site we relaxed in our easy chairs – do you notice a pattern yet? We watched fascinated as always at the little wren who took a dust bath by our board-walk. The wrens do the same thing at home, but there they bath in the charcoal dust which I dump from the barbeque pit. As we lazed around watching nature and enjoying the coolness of the early morning a man rode by on his bike. He pointed to our little Tar Baby and said “Fat boy needs a walk – eh?” How cruel!! Poor Tar Baby has been suffering from low self esteem since! Just kidding – she is quite proud of her girth! But seriously, she really is not that over-weight. As a pug she is naturally wide in the back. And no, I’m not just making excuses!

Being so excited about the gem we found in Bayou Segnette we decided to make a survey of the camp sites for our NEXT visit. We loved our location except we decided next time we wanted to be a bit removed from the marsh (due to the mosquitoes) AND we wanted a site with more shade. In 081 we had very young trees that will one day become towering shelters but for now they just barely support the birds. On our survey trip we located the last board-walk of the park. It was by far the longest within the park, though it by no means compared to the segmented board-walks of the nature trail. It was very nice and scenic, but apparently more narrow, for both Charlie and I had a bit of trouble keeping our balance. We toured the park taking pictures of our site choices and have made reservations since our return.

We decided that one more ride to the boat launch was in order so after completing our “survey” we headed over to that area. As we were “sitting on the dock of the bayou” a young woman and her two sons walked up with their fishing gear. We said good morning and I enquired as to whether they fish there often. She laughed and said, “we don’t have any idea what we are doing”. She got lots of points for her delightful laugh and her total honesty! She carried an awesome back-pack chair that opened up into a chair complete with a roof – be sure to look at the pictures. I loved the way she had such a visible close relationship with her boys and they VERY obviously respected her.

Check out time at Bayou Segnette is 1PM so at 12 we reluctantly left the launch to go back and start breaking camp. Just as we neared the end of the launch drive I saw several “cat-sized” black creatures crossing the road some distance ahead. I pedaled hard to get within eyesight and was able to discern that it was a mama nutria rat and several babies. They raced across the road and headed up the levee. When they reached the flood wall the mama and two babies scrambled across but one little one was having difficulty. Finally the mama reached down and grabbing it by the nape of the neck gave it some assistance across. Now, I am not a fan of nutria rats, they are an invasive species and truthfully, just the name is a put-off, but…the universal display of motherly love surely brought a tear to my eye and even Charlie was mesmerized watching them.

We decided to ride through the “Groupie” Area (Group Camping, for those of you not familiar with our term). It was on that road that I was AGAIN “haunted” by the resident red-tailed hawk! The first day we toured Bayou Segnette that hawk swooped down as we passed and has continued to do so each time. I have though, as of yet (yet being the operative word) not managed to get its picture, but as Arnold would say “I’ll be back”!

Today was Sunday, nearly two full days since we’d arrived and the FIRST time we saw a snake (Thank you Lord!). It was on the side of the road by the bush and just visible enough to make its presence known. If I HAD to see one, I’m glad it was just as we would be leaving!

We started breaking camp at 12:15 and at 1:15 we pulled away from the dump site having completed everything. WOW, we are getting faster and faster, which is great because now we know how much longer we can delay that “always sad” departure!

We always depart campgrounds with so much regret for having to leave these sites of natural beauty created ‘just for us’ as a gift by God. But we always find consolation that another day, another time, another p

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