January 26, 2022 Road Trip to Holly Beach and Cameron in Louisiana

We both woke up feeling good and decided to do a road trip.  We did sightseeing here in 2011 and I wanted to go back to some of the places.

We started heading south on SR27 – The Creole Trail.  It is a nice two lane road that passes thru many wildlife refuges.

Yes, we did see so much damage from the storms – it was so sad.

These are pine trees that were stripped of their greenery. We found some trees just stumps and those stumps were twisted and shredded.  But there is still beauty along the way.  All the birds and creatures have returned.  And the refuges have survived.

Our next stop was the Intercoastal Parish Park.  We were on our way here on Monday until I found out that the RV camping is closed for now (not sure why?!)  Anyway, we decided to have lunch here.

This is where we camped 10 years ago, facing the intercoastal waterway and watching the barges.  Each RV site has a shelter and water and electricity for $12.00/night. The bridge in the background is a draw bridge.

The Gulf Intercoastal Waterway:

In the background is a barge in waiting:

Some damage here from the winds – part of the fences were missing or shredded:

After lunch we continued on our way down SR27.  This is the road and there is water on both sides of the road (bayou).

We stopped in the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge – isn’t it just beautiful!

This is looking north:

This is looking south:

They had a nature trail but we decided not to do it.  The weather was windy and in the 40’s.  Yes it is cold.  And then we saw this at the beginning of the trail – Yikes!.

We will be back someday when it is warmer and explore these refuges.  They are just amazing.

We continued our journey to Holly Beach.  Holly Beach is a resort town and sits on the Gulf of Mexico.  They also were affected by the storms.  Some places were fixed up, some in the process, and some lots that were empty.

Cool looking houses:

 

The Gulf of Mexico:

 

 

I also call this shell beach..  There were not as many as I remember in 2011 but still scads of shells – all colors and sizes.  I did pick some of the little ones cause I would like to see how I can incorporate them in fused glass when I get home.

We continued on our way to the next town – Cameron.  But first we had to cross the Calcasieu Channel.  There is a ferry that runs every 15 minutes for 24 hours a day 365 days per year.  Not only do tourists use it but many workers walk on and go from one side to the refinery on the other.

Here it comes:

Leaving the docks:

Heading across the channel:

Coming to the other side:

The Ferry – we were second in line:

This little one guided us in to port – LOL!:

And we were off and on our way to Cameron.  Oh my!  This town has suffered greatly in the last couple years.  We saw so many homes and business destroyed.  Some are rebuilding, some are not.  We saw many trailers and 5th wheels where people are living.  And so much debris in the swampy areas.  It was so sad.

One of the Catholic Churches:

It does look like they are starting to rebuild the parish center:

One of the many sites.  If you look closely at the road on the right, it ends at a concrete slab where a house once stood.  In the background is still debris and some of that debris goes for miles.

This looks like a business stood here and they decided not to rebuild.

It was very emotional to see.  Some of these folks keep rebuilding.  I am not sure if I would.

Tomorrow we may do another adventure so stay tuned and enjoy today.

 

March 14, 2011 – The Creole Nature Trail

Follow along with us on the Creole Nature Trail main loop – LA-27.

First stop was the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge – the wetlands:

The bayous (water, water, everywhere):

And the birds – this is a birder’s paradise!:

And the houses on stilts:

Next stop was the Gulf of Mexico at Holly Beach – oh my!

 

 

Up and down the beach – yes, we were able to drive it and you can even camp there – :-))).

And the shells – another oh my!   I just had to take this picture – there were thousands of them!

So I picked up a few:

 

Aren’t nature’s colors and designs awesome – :-))):

    

And one of the houses – they are all on stilts:

We continued on our way along the coast – even crossed a waterway on a free ferry (sorry, no pictures – I could not get out of our car and the car was between two trucks.

And on to Rutherford Beach where we could also drive or camp on the beach.  Notice the oil rigs in the Gulf.   There were many rigs in all directions:

 

We had lunch in a small cafe in Creole – catfish sandwich that was yummy – :-)).  Then continued on our way.

Now one thing I have not talked about was the hurricane damage.  We saw a lot of rebuilding which is good.  We also saw many areas where there was a driveway that led to a concrete slab (where there had been a house).  We saw many areas where people are living in RV’s on their property.   We did not see a lot of debris in this area – an occasional car, or truck or building in the middle of a swampy area but that is all – which says a lot for these communities.   There is no pictures because I just can’t take them.   We see too much suffering on the daily news.  (With that said, please keep all those who are suffering in Japan.)

But there was one picture that says it all:

The sign says “Buffet Pizza”.

Our final stop was at the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge where we did the Pintail Loop.

This was another birder’s paradise – oh my!

 

But this loop had an added treat – gators, gators, everywhere:

 

 

 

This one was hiding:

This guy looks like he ate a lot of the ducks over the hill behind him:

 

This is what nightmares are made of:

Yikees!!!  

This is the first time we saw alligators in the wild – Amazing!!!

What a wonderful day!