Canoe Cane Bayou

Cane Bayou

If you are going to travel to New Orleans for the Jazz and Heritage Festival http://www./nojazzfest.com/index.php?http%3A//www.nojazzfest.com/music/gala.php in the next couple of weeks, you might want to take a side trip to Cane Bayou. After a couple of days of ear numbing music, excess eating of Cajun food and way too much Abita Beer, the thirty mile trip north of the city, by way of the causeway, may be just what you need. Taking a canoe or flat bottom boat down this pristine bayou will calm your ears and your stomach.

CYPRESS ADORNED WITH SPANISH MOSS

COLOR IS JUST MAKING A SHOWING

The bayou is bordered on the west side by Fountainbleau State Park http://www.stateparks.com/fontainebleau.html and on the east by Big Branch Marsh http://www.fws.gov/bigbranchmarsh/igbranchmarsh/. Sitting low to the water in a canoe is the best way to enjoy this waterway. Just keep your hands and feet in the boat so alligators aren't tempted. They love the smell of stale beer.


Osprey

A pair of Osprey moved their previous year's nest from the water's edge to a dead old growth cypress tree about a hundred yards east. I could just barley see an osprey chick popping it's head out looking for mom and pop.

Proud parent diverting my attention away from the nest.

I watched the male osprey swipe a clump of Spanish Moss from a low hanging tree. He made a wide circle and when he felt safe he dropped to the nest, adding a bit more cushion to the den floor. Even a bird likes comfort.

After being entertained long enough by the Osprey I moved further south, closer to the bayou's exit into Lake Pontchartrain.

An alligator's den sat exposed as the water level was low. I have to admit I was a little more cautious when I came close to the bayou's banks. My small canoe would be no match for an eight foot gator. But isn't this why I come here, for the beauty and the possibility of danger?

Northlake Nature Center

Eagle Trail

Travel from New Orleans is a quick 45 minutes to the Northlake Nature Center in Mandeville, Louisiana. So if you find yourself waking up face down on Bourbon Street with the sweet smell of pee and stale beer you may want to take this short trip just for the fresh air.

The Nature Center is adjacent to St. Tammany's Pelican Park, a huge youth sports center with multiple fields for soccer, baseball, football, basketball and the new skateboarding area.

( http://www.northlakenature.org/ ). It is a mix of habitat with swamp, wetlands, pine savanna and hardwood forest making this small 400 acre track a diamond in the rough. Which is why I like it so much. There are three main trails, North loop, South Loop and Eagle Trail. All are easy trails to manage except when it rains then you might have to don your shrimp boots ( that's white rubber boots, if you don't know). Eagle Trail, a 3/4 mile hike, has some of the prettiest scenery. It begins at the Hwy 190 parking area with a raised walkway over cypress laden swamp and beaver ponds filled with turtles, egrets and wood ducks. This particular day I saw more squirrels than usual jumping from tree to tree as the sounds of birds lingered in the thick humid air. The mud trail narrows to a thin cut through hardwoods and pines with palmetto palms guiding your way. Summer here is not easy, hot humid days and mosquitoes so thick you may need a blood transfusion by the time you leave.

North Loop Trail

It is actually a wide fire road that begins at the Grey Field in Pelican Park. You can make this one even with a hangover. Only a short way in and you feel as though your miles from no where. It feels wild out here in this pine savanna. This area took a big hit during Hurricane Katrina when thousands of pine trees were destroyed and then again as the weakened trees that were left became an easy target for pine beetles. A restoration effort is under way. With more open range you get to see the expanse of this habitat for deer, rabbits, raccoons and a variety of birds. As I walked along I noticed a large amount of animal droppings that appear to be coyote. A great deal of animal fur was in the scat. Paw prints along the muddy trail confirmed my suspicion. I have to admit I was a bit more cautious as I walked along, watching my back now and again. A water moccasin dashed from the warm sun and headed for refuge in Bayou Castine as I quickly jumped back to get out of it's way. Getting bit by a poisonous snake when alone would not be a good thing. I would have to use my pocket knife that I haven't sharpened since, well I hate to admit. So after trying to open the wound with the dull knife I would then have to suck out the venom. The snake bit would likely be at my ankle. I doubt that I am actually flexible enough to bend over to reach the bit site. So it really doesn't matter that the knife is dull, I will likely die from the poison anyway.

By the way there is no entrance fee to the Nature Center.

Cane Bayou

Just a short 2 1/2 mile drive east from Norhlake Nature Center is Cane Bayou. You can put in a flat boat or canoe at the free public launch just at the foot of the bridge that crosses Hwy 190. I really enjoy cruising this bayou. It is a very beautiful natural area that is bounded by Fountainblue State Park (http://www.stateparks.com/fontainebleau.html) on the west side and Big Branch Marsh (http://www.fws.gov/southeast/pubs/facts/bgbcon.pdf) on the east. The bayou empties into Lake Pontchratrain. If you are lucky you may see a wild hog at the water's edge or an Osprey nesting in one of the old growth cypress trees.

New Orleans Home Town Visitor

New Orleans

Susie and I went to New Orleans last weekend to play tourist. Although we live outside the city it is still our home town and we want to support it as much as we can. As we traveled over Lake Pontchartrain brown pelicans sored on the updrafts from passing cars. The Lake was deep blue and it was still. Low clouds reflected from the Lakes surface and remained me how much the water quality had improved since Hurricane Katrina. Since the disaster of 2005, previously known as Katrina, much has been done in the French Quarter to improve its cleanliness. There was a noticeable change for the better. However, it is still sickening to me that after over 2 years there is still much more to be done. As a tourist, if you stay only in the French Quarter and the downtown business district, you will never see the underbelly of the disaster recovery that is still very evident in New Orleans East, 9Th Ward and LakeView areas.

BIG EASY PARKING AT FRENCH QUARTER
If you are driving, the most convenient place to park is at the river on Decatur just down from CAFE'Du Monde (http://www.mapquest.com/). It is just a short walk to everything that matters from there. Just watch out for the horse "poop".

WE LIVE TO EAT NOT EAT TO LIVE
While we were there we had lunch at the French Market Restaurant and Bar. This place has been in New Orleans since before I was born but it was the first time I have ever eaten there. Usually I try to stay away from the tourist spots. We sat at a small table facing the bar. A bar that had seen many tourist and locals knocking back beer on tap and raw oysters. We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food. True south Louisiana cuisine at a reasonable price. The service was O.K. but what "T"S me off is when it is time to pay the bill and wait staff ask if I need any change. " Lady, I gave you a hundred, the bill was $35.00. What do you think?". When did such poor manners by wait staff start? The only thing that gets me more upset is when poorly trained staff are let loose on the unsuspecting public.
But let's get back to food. From the French Market Restaurant it is a short walk to Cafe Du Monde where you can get New Orleans beignets ( type of doughnut) and coffee. While sitting enjoying your beignets you will usually be entertained by nearby street musicians, or other street smart acts.
Another one of my favorite restaurants is MR. B's Bistro on Royal Street. It has great Barbecued Shrimp. It is a little messy to eat but worth it. And remember, don't refuse the bib. It cost me an extra $18.00 for dry cleaning the last time I was there.
There are some many great restaurants in New Orleans you may want to check out a list at http://www.nomenu.com/.

WHAT ELSE TO DO IN THE CRESCENT CITY
First let me say, don't try to out smart the street hustlers. Enjoy them for who they are but realize you gon'a be giving them money if you want to play their game. Best thing to do is ignore them.
It is worth a stroll around the French Quarter just to take in the architecture. Just a short walk from Cafe Du Monde is St. Louis Cathedral (http://www.stlouiscathedral.org/). A cathedral that is an active working church. It can take years to set a date for a wedding in the cathedral. Built in 1720 this Catholic church was the primary architectural feature of the city and some would argue still is.
I do not want to forget the Aquarium of the Americas (http://www.auduboninstitute.org/) which I believe is the best in the country ( yea, yea yea, I know Atlanta's is great but you will see animals here that are native to Louisiana and the Gulf Coast , several albino alligators for example). Also, there is an Imax theater next to the aquarium that has some really great short movies. You can check out the current movies at the Audubon Institute web site listed above.
Hope you will make the effort to visit our great city. Send me a question and I will be happy to answer.