After a clean up day we are ready to go exploring. Our first stop is at a marina close to the state park. It is such an interesting area, so many waterways and canals. There is more water than land. A crew of Air Boats comes roaring into the dock. They work for BP? British Petrolium, or the Louisiana Government. Not sure, but a quick conversation with one of the operators tells us they are working transporting BP workers out to the oil rigs. Apparently there was a hurricane a couple of months ago that did more damage in the Gulf and they are still doing repairs. It is a well orchestrated manouver as they bring three boats ashore and put three new ones into the water. We watch and listen and hear that the water is 'rough out there'. Some of the 600 oil rigs are as much as 150 miles out into the Gulf.
Each boat is manned by one person, but they travel in threes from dock to rig across open water that is probably dangerous on any given day. We never know what we will find when we turn down a road.
Through the town of Grand Isle on our way to Port Fourchon, the Center of the oil industry and the southern most point of Louisiana. We stop at Bridgeside Marina in search of a 'PO Boy' recommended as the best. Unfortunately for us they have closed down their food section for the season. There is an interesting looking thing on the counter ...I ask what it is and the young woman tells me it is from her 'Honeybee Party'...a wedding shower that her granny in law made for the party.
I wasn't sure what it was...turns out it is a rice crispy cake made in the shape of a fish. Her fiancé didn't want to cut it up cos it was sooo pretty. Someone took the head off it and she brought the remainder to the store. We are now the proud owners of the tail portion. From the Yukon to Louisiana I always seem to be the recipient of someones birthday, anniversary and now wedding shower cake. Back to the truck.
There is a fishing pier that we walk onto. I am always eager to converse with people, asking what's happening. This is the first time I felt we were speaking a different language. Apparently they are fishing for fish, lol..go figure...a small fish is sitting on the dock called a croaker, no more that 6 inches long. It's not long on conversation either.
Port Fourchon is hard to describe. It appears to be the hub of the oil rig jump off site. There is so much to try to describe, huge deep sea rig ships, crew boats for the oil rigs, helicopter pads, every kind of supply company needed for this huge industry. Names like Haliburton, Chevron, British Petroleum.
We stopped to take pictures of a huge "rig ship". Everything is fenced off, gated and no trespassing. Again I am always willing to risk our safety based on being innocent tourists. As we took this picture I went to the gate to ask if there was any way we might get a tour, Bahahaaa ...the young woman at the gate politely told me they will watch us for maybe 2/3 minutes then a security person will approach us and remove us. She was very personable and gave me some good information about touring in the area after we left this particular place. A highly protected and probably very political area.
Right in the middle of all this is a commercial fishing harbour. I remember when the BP spill happened in the Gulf in April 2010 where 11 people died and a horrendous spill compromised the environmental health of the Gulf and it's fishing industry. Interesting to see it all. How does everyone justify their existence and how do the active fishers feel today about their lively hood.
These are things we read about and watch on the news but it is discomfiting to see it in reality. Everywhere we have traveled people have been very forthcoming and friendly. Today I felt a somewhat negative atmosphere. Can you blame them. Their fishing livelihood doesn't seem to be able to compete with the global need for oil.
On a brighter side, on our way back to camp along the bayous we spot flashes of pink birds. We are able to pull over on the side of the road that takes us back to Grand Isle. They are Roseate Spoonbills, from the Ibis family, feeding in the grasses. There are Curlews, egrets and pelicans. It is a wonderful moment to see them feeding and somewhat oblivious to us watching them. These pictures are from my iPad. Bobs pictures from his camera are much clearer but I can't attach them to my blog. A
Back to camp and BBQ and a sweet sunset.
An interesting day on the Gulf.
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