Around Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge

As previously noted, record rainfall in October provided us with a wet welcome to Monroe. However, we still managed to find some dry ground to explore the area, both on and off the refuge.





On one of our drives Becky shot this one as we followed a truck along the highway. She grew up in North Carolina where tobacco was king so never remembered seeing so much cotton packed into a truck!!!

Further out in the country we stumbled across another symbol of farming country - this old structure. We could not decide what kind of business it had housed but had to assume the upper floor had been either a restaurant or offices. Quite a majestic old building.

Did not take any photos but not too far from here we stopped at a pecan grove where an older man and his wife still sold pecans as a supplement to their income. Very small operation with a small nut cracker and drying rack with the cracked pecans put in paper sacks and sold by the pound (generous weight given). It was our first time to buy pecans already cracked - I could get used to that convenience!




Meanwhile, back at the refuge - this is the nationally used symbol for the National Wildlife Refuge system.




Plentiful wildlife is, of course a given here and being on a lake, waterfowl was our most common. I did not manage to get that really great shot but enough to remind us of our stay. If it was easy, what sense of accomplishment could you get out of it?







As I am sure you can tell, I never tired of the look of the cypress trees reflected on the water.









The refuge had two cemetaries located on national land. Both were black cemetaries and I suspect dated from the time the land was a plantation and used for the slaves. This one - Bufferin - had a couple of head stones with the emblem you see here. It reads Supreme Royal Circle of Friends of the World. A bit of research on this organization provided an interesting story that originated in Arkansas. After I posted the info on Facebook, an acquaintance from my college days relayed that he remembered one of their buildings in Little Rock. Small world indeed.

Our Journey from Oregon to Missouri/Louisiana

Our time in Oregon has passed very quickly!! Time to move south for the winter and although we have REALLY enjoyed our time with Larry and Linda, as usual we are looking forward to our next adventure. First a visit to family, friends and doctor before our first time for an extended stay in Louisiana and to volunteer at a National Wildlife Refuge.

Here is our journey (newest photos at the top getting older down the page)



This is our 'office' for three months. The Visitor Center doubles as a gift shop for Friends of Black Bayou - a local group of volunteers who have done much to improve Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge. More details to follow.

The entryway to the Visitor's Center. It is a restored 100 year old plantation house.





Monroe had record rainfall in October so our first view of the refuge was not the typical one. The lake was about 3 feet over flood stage so very few of the walks were accessible. However, we continued to have quite a few visitors who just came to look at how flooded we were.













Caught this photo during one of my morning walks. Obviously the snake is a small one but it was still interesting how they pretty much just ignored each other as they sought the sun (and lunch).

Below is another shot of one of the footpaths we walk in the next month or so but began pretty much out of bounds (without boots!)








We left Oregon before the color really arrived but we did capture a little sample of what it would eventually become. I am sure the colors for some areas is superb with the wide variety of trees they have.





Becky had never seen or tasted persimmons so when we found ourselves surrounded by them at the Corp park in Texas, she had to try them. We picked quite a few and ate our fill. Yes, I had her taste one that wasn't quite ripe just so she could identify with all the sayings about persimmons.

Around Klamath Falls, OR and Heading East

Whilst we were in Oregon Becky 'happened' to find a quilting group just down the road from where we were staying (in the small town of Rocky Point). They were a very interesting group - especially the owner of the shop!!! Delightful character. This is the quilt pattern Becky chose. Point of interest - the quilt is now on our bed.




One of my cousins in Benton, AR has trained sheep dogs for years plus sheep dog trials are regular tv fair in England. Therefore when we discovered the Northwest US Sheep Dog trials were being held about 30 miles away, we just had to attend. Here are a couple of shots.











For most of the year the area is a bird watchers paradise. However, come the fall bird watchers take a back seat to bird shooters!!! The last week we were there was the 'youngsters' weekend to duck hunt. Here you see one of the boats coming back after the hunt. The dogs are in their usual position ready to jump.













We don't book a place to stop when we are in 'travel' mode so Becky has to use all her skills to get us a decent place to tie up. Not all her choices are as good as this one - back off the road with nice views and very clean. I liked their sign so much it earned a shot.






Becky insisted this shot be included. It is not obvious what it depicts but if you look at the skyline on the right of the hill on the left, that is the road. Looking up at the road from the bottom of the hill (long straight stretch of road) it looks rather intimidating. Actually, other than being a 'long way down' the road wasn't too bad if you didn't get too close to the edge (who me?).







As you leave Nevada headed East on I-80 you have a l-o-n-g straight road ahead of you. Don't remember exactly how long it was but seems like I noted at the time that it was over 20 miles of perfectly straight and almost perfectly flat road!!!






On the way back to Missouri we stopped at my sister's house in Oklahoma. I made contact with an old friend from high school who now lives in Hope, AR and we made arrangements to meet for lunch half way between us. It was great seeing and talking to Barrie!!!